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MATERIALS EXPLORER
WORKING TOGETHER, PLAYING TOGETHER
GRADES 3-5
The process of creating art is one
of decision-making. Artists must
choose their materials and decide
how they will manipulate them.
Therefore, art reflects its creator, and the artist’s choices
affect the way the artwork is
perceived by others.
Isamu Noguchi had tremendous respect
for the natural world and valued the organic characteristics of his materials. In addition to stone, he used metal,
wood, light, plastic, paper and water in his sculptures. Many of these materials were featured
as elements in spaces sculpted by Noguchi. In order to construct these sculpted
spaces, Noguchi collaborated with choreographers,
architects, engineers, technicians, artists
and artisans throughout the
world. Noguchi shaped, placed and
planted entire natural environments that invite the viewer to be a part of
the space as well as the sculpture. The garden of The Noguchi Museum
is an example of this work; a whole environment, designed with consideration
to scale, shape and placement.
PLAYSCAPES! MAKING MAPS USING COLLAGE
GRADES 3-5 SAMPLE LESSON
OBJECTIVE
Students will learn that Isamu
Noguchi was an artist who created ‘playscapes’
– his word for a playground or sculpted landscape. Students will also learn that before
realizing a large project like a playscape, an
artist or designer must first have a plan. Students will then create a mixed
media map for their own Noguchi-inspired playscape.
COOPERATIVE DISCIPLINES
Language Arts, Science, Math, Social
Studies
MATERIALS
Construction paper
Scissors
Markers
Glue
Image of U.S. Pavilion Expo
’70
MOTIVATION/PROCEDURE
o
Show students the image of the U.S.
Pavilion Expo ’70 model.
o
Ask, “Can anyone tell me what
they see?”
o
Have students list shapes, colors,
and anything else that they notice.
o
Ask, “Does this remind you of
anything that you have ever seen before?” Elicit park, mini golf course, etc.
o
“What do you see that makes
you say that? How is this
different from a real park, golf course, etc?” Elicit that it’s
smaller, not real grass, etc.
o
Explain to the students that this is
a model for a playground that the artist, Isamu Noguchi, designed in
1968. If students have not been
learning about Isamu Noguchi, please introduce. Explain to students that Noguchi
created models like this for places he called playscapes
(define), just as many other designers and architects do and that the models
served as sculptural ‘maps’ for many of his larger projects.
o
Next, tell the group that they are
going to now create their own playscape maps.
o
Tell students that, like Noguchi,
you want them to think about shape and color when they create their maps and
what sorts of things they would like to see and experience in an outdoor
environment.
o
Explain to students that unlike the
Noguchi model, though, their map will be flat.
o
Provide construction paper (it may
be good to have some pre-cut shapes from construction paper that had been
listed in the conversation about Noguchi’s work already on hand),
scissors, markers and glue for each student along with one larger piece of
construction paper. Ask students to think about how they are going to begin
their playscape map. Will they start with the grass? Will they start with a design for a
special piece of playground equipment?
What sort of shapes will they use in their designs?
o
Give students time to create and add
to their playscape maps. As they work, ask them individually to
tell you about the different choices they are making.
SHARING
o
When students are finished with the
collage and design aspect of their playscape map,
have them create a ‘key’ as the last step in the process. This
key will explain what each important item on the map is, for instance where
N, S, E, W are, etc. Invite them
to create directional arrows that would guide someone looking at the map
through the space, too, if they would like.
o
Finally, have students share their
maps. What did they do
first? Second? How did they decide what to include in
their playscape? Etc.
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