Modular Toothpick Sculptures

Purpose: To create a free standing linear sculpture

composed of units.

Objectives: Student will design modular unit using at least 2

toothpicks. Construct as many modular units as possible with

100 toothpicks. Design sculpture made from modular units.

Materials: Toothpicks - 100 per student - zip lock bagswood glue

(or Elmer's glue. Styrofoam blocks, plaster gauzespray paint

(assorted colors)

Emphasis:Line,

negative space,

movementand

repetition.

This is a great example of movement and repetition.

Other student work: http://www.flickr.com/photos/artteacherroom46/sets/72157616427346936/

What does Modular Mean?

• Constructed with standardized units or dimensions

Notice how the hexagons are repeated to create an almost wave like

appearance.

Giant Gorilla Constructed

with coat hangers

REPETITION

HISTORY• Modular constructivism-is a

style of sculpture that emerged in the 1950s and 1960s and was associated especially with Erwin Hauer and Norman Carlberg.

• It is based on carefully structured modules which allow for intricate and in some cases infinite patterns of repetition, sometimes used to create limitless, basically planar, screen-like formations, and sometimes employed to make more multidimensional structures.

Erwin Hauer• is an Austrian-born American

sculptor who studied first at Vienna's Academy Arts later under Josef Albers at Yale.

• Hauer was an early proponent of Modular Constructivism and an associate of Norman Carlberg. Like Carlberg, he was especially known for his minimalist, repetitive pieces in the 1950s and 1960s.

Norman Carlberg• Born in 1928-Is an American

sculptor and printmaker. He is noted as an exemplar of the modular constructivist style. Born in Roseau, Minnesota. He studied at the Minneapolis School of Art and at the University of Illinois before going on to study under Josef Albers at Yale. "Recent Sculpture USA", a 1959 exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, featured Carlberg's work.

More:

Line• A continuous extent of length, straight or

curved, without breadth or thickness; the trace of a moving point.

Negative Space • Negative space, in art, is the space around and

between the subject(s) of an image.

Repetition • Repetition is created when objects, shapes,

space, light, direction, lines etc. are repeated in artwork.

Movement • The act or process of moving, especially change of place or

position, an effort. In art movement has to be more subtle, i.e., the artist must capture how movement would look without actually making the artwork move.

Assignment1. You will be given approximately 100 toothpicks (pre-counted in a zip lock bag)

2. You will begin by gluing two, three or four toothpicks together creating a unit. The unit can be a geometric shape such as a square or triangle or as simple as two toothpicks glued side by side (examples: ∧,∨, ×,>,≠)

3. Make some thumbnail sketches of sculpture plan using unit.4. You will then create as many units as possible using all the toothpicks.

Construction of the units can’t be done quickly. The wood glue will take approximately 30 minutes to dry.

5. 6. Once all units have been created you will begin to create a three dimensional form

using all the units. The form created must show movement, repetition, negative space, and line.

7. The base for the sculpture will be Styrofoam. Plaster wrap will be added to the Styrofoam to make the base sturdier and to keep the Styrofoam from disintegrating when spray-painted.Once the sculpture is created and the Styrofoam base has been plaster wrapped with entire sculpture will be spray-painted all in one color. More than one coat may be needed to completely cover the sculpture.

8. Critique finished work. Discuss what is successful with each work.