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"A Faithful Attempt" is designed to showcase a variety of K-12 art lessons, the work of my art students, as well as other art-related topics. Projects shown are my take on other art teacher's lessons, lessons found in books or else designed by myself.
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LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I acknowledge, with deep respect, that I am gathered on Treaty 7 territory. I acknowledge the many First Nations, Métis and Inuit whose footsteps have marked these lands for generations. I recognize the land as an act of reconciliation and gratitude to those whose territory we reside on or are visiting.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Collage Pop-Out Fish


This is a fun and colourful fish project suitable for elementary students. I usually do it with Grade 3 classes. I found this project in an art activity book years ago-I will take a guess and say that it might have been from an Usborne book, but I truly don't remember for sure. 

This would be a great project to collaborate with any classroom teachers if they are studying fish and underwater themes. Students could research a specific fish and use the correct colours and shapes of fins, etc. This also makes a really nice hanging display.

So the supplies you'll need are very simple: tissue paper, regular white paper, white glue, aluminium foil
Start by choosing two or three colours of tissue paper for your fish.


Rip them into a bunch of strips.


I had my 2 year old niece try this project out for a little summer activity. Preschool kids can do the collage part, but adults or older siblings would have to do the cutting and folding for them. 

Take some watered down glue in a container and use a flat paintbrush to gently glue down all the strips of tissue paper, covering all the white paper. Paint over-top of the tissue paper as well, to really seal it down.
My niece used ALOT of glue and only managed to cover about 10% of the paper before she lost interest ;)


Overlap the tissue paper to create new colours.


Once you've covered all the white paper, it's time for the aluminium foil.
Oh, you could also add some glitter at this point as well!!!!


Rip or cut the foil into some thick strips and glue those down. Use full strength white glue 
because the watered down glue won't hold it.


Let the paper dry over night. The next day it will have curled at the edges, so it helps to 
flatten it with heavy books for a day or so.


Ok- once the paper is dry and relatively flat, lay it out portrait style and fold it in half 
(bring the bottom up to the top)


Draw half of a simple fish shape- just the body and a tail.


Cut it out. 


Now take the top of the body and fold/bend it down until it almost reaches the bottom fold.
Crease well (the paper will be thick due to the collage layers, so crease it well).


Turn the fish over. Bend/fold the other top edge over in the same way. Crease well.


Unfold. Draw 8 lines going from the bottom fold up to the top fold. Make these about a finger width size. Also cut a mouth. 


Cut the lines, making sure to stop at the top fold.


Open up the fish. At this point, some of the foil may have peeled off- it doesn't seem to stick very well (seeing it's a non-porous surface). You can glue it back on or rip it off in frustration like I did ;)


Ok- now for the 'pop-out' part.

Hold the head and pull the first strip out. Keep the second strip inwards. Keep going, making sure to alternate out, in, out, in and crease each strip well.


Done!


Success!


Now to add the features. Use the scraps of the collage paper (students can swap 
papers to mix and match) to cut out fins.
Glue on a large eye.



If you want to hang them up for a cool display, punch a hole at the top and 
add some yarn/string/ribbon, whatever.


Ta da!
















Saturday, August 4, 2012

Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry Documentary Trailer

I've blogged about the famous Chinese artist Weiwei before. Now, a new documentary about his work is coming out. The trailer looks pretty compelling. As an antique lover, I cringed when he dropped the 2000-year old Han Dynasty vase :( But this is what Weiwei does: questions authority, defaces classical objects, and combines old world artifacts with symbols of the modern, consumerist age.

From Youtube:

Plot Summary: Ai Weiwei is China's most famous international artist, and its most outspoken domestic critic. Against a backdrop of strict censorship and an unresponsive legal system, Ai expresses himself and organizes people through art and social media. In response, Chinese authorities have shut down his blog, beat him up, bulldozed his newly built studio, and held him in secret detention. Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry is the revealing inside story of a dissident for the digital age who inspires global audiences and blurs the boundaries of art and politics. First-time director Alison Klayman gained unprecedented access to Ai while working as a journalist in China. Her detailed portrait provides a nuanced exploration of contemporary China and one of its most compelling public figures.


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