Character Masks and Popsicle Stick Figures

Three dimensional projects continued this week with masks inspired by Nick Cave and popsicle stick characters inspired by Edgar Degas. 

Both projects had elements of play that students loved – they felt like they were making toys for themselves. We had to remind them that glue takes 24 hours to dry, but that didn’t stop students from play-acting in class. 

For our first figurative sculptural work, we started with simplified popsicle stick characters. Edgar Degas’ Little Dancer served as an inspiration for our simplified forms. 

Next, we looked at Nick Cave’s soundsuits, which blend elements of fashion, sculpture, and identity, to create our own masks. 

Both assignments had strong design elements, which meant that students could do practically whatever they pleased with the materials provided. To our delight, students began mixing various mediums for these projects. 

It’s especially encouraging to see students’ individual visual styles emerge – it’s now possible to recognize their works simply by their aesthetic! 

Noormah’s work at Children’s Workshop School is supported by the Emergency Arts Education Fund, which provides free arts education to NYC school communities whose art programs have been decimated by recent budget cuts.

Children’s Museum of the Arts’ three Residents Artists are currently implementing ambitious arts curriculum at each of our partner sites throughout New York City: Hudson Guild in Chelsea, Sid Miller Academy in Crown Heights, and Children’s Workshop School in the East Village. Come spring, our residents will showcase their students' work through exhibitions and installations across the city. Learn how you can support the work of our residents here.