Artist: Keith Herring. Concept: Sculpture Lesson: Wire Sculpture Action Figures

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1 Artist: Keith Herring Concept: Sculpture Lesson: Wire Sculpture Action Figures Objectives: Students will create a wire sculpture of a figure in action Vocabulary: Movement, Shape Materials: (per student unless otherwise noted) (1) 30 piece of colored wire ( use the less expensive green, gold, and/or silver floral wire available at craft stores. (3) 12 pieces of more brightly colored wire (Twisteez brand or find less expensive colored craft wire on sale or online guage works well. Pencils to twist wire around for hair, etc. (students can use their own) Scissors (for cutting wire) Push Pins (for display purposes) Construction paper (for display purposes) Optional Sharpies (for student s name for display purposes) Optional Wooden figurines (if students need help to visualize how to position a figure in a certain position.) ** Please Note ** Have the students pick 1 longer 30 wire and 3 different colors of the 12 wire. Using the longer wire, have the students follow along with you, step by step, following the diagram for their figure. They can then pose their figure into any action pose they want. Using the other 3 colored wires, they can make hair, clothes etc. The wire is very easy to cut with scissors. They do not have to use all of the 3 remaining wires if they do not want to. Students can share small leftover pieces and/or save for the next class as many accessories can be made with very small pieces. Process: Use a 30 wire for the figure. (See diagram in project binder) 1. Fold wire in half. 2. Twist to make a head.

2 3. Fold ends up so that head is in the middle. 4. Twist around neck. 5. Stretch top wires out to sides, bend across to other side overlapping the center about one inch. 6. Twist arms. 7. Twist body. 8. Twist at wrists and ankles. 9. Whala!!! You have a figure that you can pose in any position you desire. 10. Now use 3 remaining wires to create hair, clothes, etc. (wrapping a wire around a pencil makes great hair). See diagram in container containing the sample sculptures for other instructions on clothes, etc. You may display on a bulletin board with pushpins. If you want, you can put a ½ sheet of colored construction paper with the student s name on it and display it behind the figure on the bulletin board.

3 5th GRADE--PROJECT #7 Artist: Keith Haring Masterpiece: The Cabinet-Makers Lesson: Wire Sculpture Action Figures Project Samples:

4 Art Masterpiece Keith Haring Keith Haring was initially viewed simply as a graffiti artist who used vacant advertising boards in the New York subway as his canvas in the early 1980s, Keith Haring provoked debate on the street and within the exclusive art establishment with his radiant comic figures and increasingly political messages. Working with remarkable speed and clarity, Haring's images convey a conspicuous energy in the brevity of his line, bold color relationships conveying his early interest in graphic design, and simplified figurative forms. Art Masterpiece Keith Haring Keith Haring was initially viewed simply as a graffiti artist who used vacant advertising boards in the New York subway as his canvas in the early 1980s, Keith Haring provoked debate on the street and within the exclusive art establishment with his radiant comic figures and increasingly political messages. Working with remarkable speed and clarity, Haring's images convey a conspicuous energy in the brevity of his line, bold color relationships conveying his early interest in graphic design, and simplified figurative forms.

5 Keith Haring Initially viewed simply as a graffiti artist who used vacant advertising boards in the New York subway as his canvas in the early 1980s, Keith Haring provoked debate on the street and within the exclusive art establishment with his radiant comic figures and increasingly political messages. Arriving in New York in 1978 to study at the School of Visual Arts, Haring was inspired by the East Village club scene identified with punk and rap music, breakdancing and graffiti as a public statement of personal expression. Working with remarkable speed and clarity, Haring's images convey a conspicuous energy in the brevity of his line, bold color relationships conveying his early interest in graphic design, and simplified figurative forms. As he became prominent with the gallery and museum world, Haring provoked additional debate by purposely commercializing his own work, reproducing his signature figures on an array of products and opening his own retail stores including Wham Bam in Miami and the Pop Shop in New York. Success afforded him the opportunity to control his own market and remain independent, crucial to his vision of his work. From 1985 until his death in 1990 from complications due to AIDS, Haring concentrated much of his extraordinary energy on visual political messages. He focused on domestic violence, child abuse and most passionately AIDS awareness. He generated action by his messages of the dangers and effects of AIDS to the world. His cause was cut short by his own battle with the disease. He was 31 when he died.