Found Object Rocking Chair, ca. 1950
Welded and painted steel farm implements
32 3/4 × 21 × 36 1/2 in. (83.19 × 53.34 × 92.71 cm)
The Michael and Julie Hall Collection of American Folk Art M1989.186
Photo credit: Efraim Lev-er
Objective: Students will create a sculpture from found materials.
Materials:
- Found objects
- Adhesive
- Paint
Introduce: Accidental Genius: Art from the Anthony Petullo Collection was an exhibit at MAM in 2012 featuring a group of artists associated with the Art/Brut Center Gugging, located outside of Vienna, Austria. Formerly a psychiatric institution, the center emerged from a program that one of the original doctors founded when he discovered and encouraged the artistic talents of a number of his patients. Artists represented in this section include Johann Garber, Johann Fischer, August Walla, and Oswald Tschirtner. Many of the works in the Accidental Genius exhibition were made from found materials. Found materials are common objects (like house paint, cardboard, or other leftover materials and odds and ends from around the house or rummage sales) or recyclable materials (magazines, cans, paper), all of which are inexpensive or free.
Ask:
- Why do artists use found materials to create art?
- What materials can you use to create art?
Activity:
- Collect discarded and/or recyclable objects
- Demonstrate various attachment techniques for students to use
- Students can then paint their sculpture as desired
National Standards:
- VA:Cr1.2.2a Make art or design with various materials and tools to explore personal interests, questions, and curiosity.
- VA:Cr2.1.6a Demonstrate openness in trying new ideas, materials, methods, and approaches in making works of art and design.
- VA:Cr2.2.5a Demonstrate quality craftsmanship through care for and use of materials, tools, and equipment.
Share your artwork with us on social media @milwaukeeart #MAMLearn or email pictures to teachers.mam.org. We’d love to see your creations!
This project could be used to create a “community of art” in your classroom.