Roaring Recycled Jungle Animals

 

This unit focuses on the use of RECYCLED GOODS to make art.  First, we examined the work of Robert Bradford, and when students looked really closely they were able to see TOYS were the main material used in his work.  After some discussion, most students agreed these toys were not bought to make the animal sculptures but probably were found or collected or a period of time.  We started to brainstorm what we could define as TRADITIONAL ART MATERIALS (most commonly used) vs. NON-TRADITIONAL ART MATERIALS (not used often).  Some traditional materials would include paint, pencils, and oil pastels while non traditional materials could include tape, discarded/found objects such as boxes, cardboard, newspaper or a single mass produced item such as toys, shoes etc.  Below were different artists we referenced.  

Artist Examples

Robert Bradford, The Cool Hunter, Toys on Wood

Dean Patman

Will Kurtz

To start our own artwork from non traditional art materials, students had a variety of recycled materials such as different size boxes, toilet paper roles, wine corks, bottle caps, and some plastic utensils.  Students were shown how by combining a variety of shaped boxes and properly attaching them with masking tape, (making sure to run their finger across the whole piece of tape to stay down) they could form the basic shape of an animal.  We were limited to choosing jungle animals  and were able to use the smaller recycled objects to add details.  Some strategies by our young artists were using a part of a fork for alligator feet, cut toilet paper rolls for the main of a lion, the top of a knife, and bottle caps or corks for eyes.  Students were able to help each other when attaching tape and making a sturdy animal that could stand up on its own.  The last step was painting their jungle animal friends! 

Students in Progress

Student Examples