Paper Sculptural Face Mask Reliefs

Submitted by: Linda Smith, St. George's School, Spokane, Washington
UNIT: Paper Sculpture - Mask making
Grade Level: Middle School (grade 4 and up)

Objectives:

• Students will explore a variety of paper sculpting methods and create a white on white mask form.

• Students will be aware of several different forms of relief sculpture and a variety of masks

• Students will create a relief face showing personal identity, animal totem or cultural mask - write reflection about the piece.

Related Lesson: Paper Relief by Barbara Felsecker | Peter Callesen - See more examples of Callesen's work

Instruction/Motivation:

1. Optional: Present a variety of relief sculpture via PowerPoint. Various cultural masks can be shown. Discuss different types of masks and reasons for masks.

2. Present examples of paper engineering (Robert Sabuda pop-up books are a good choice).

3. Demonstrate a variety of paper sculpture techniques.

Materials:

White Tag board or card stock
X-acto Knife
Scissors
White Glue
Drawing Pencils
Old magazines
Sketchbooks
Robert Sabuda books

Note: Students also made animal faces.

Robert Sabuda Books

• Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
• Encyclopedia Prehistorical Dinosaurs: The Definitive Pop-Up
• Cookie Count: A Tasty Pop-up
• America the Beautiful: A Pop-up Book
• Winter's Tale

Procedure:

1. The students are introduced to paper engineering by viewing samples of pop-up books and cards, and paper sculpture. A discussion of how they think some of these art forms were created follows as well as an introduction to the career of a paper engineer. We discuss how some paper sculpting methods do not require any glue. The students are typically amazed at the new forms a simple piece of paper can take.

2. Experimentation with cutting and manipulating paper follows. They are given an X-acto Knife and paper and use an old magazine as a cutting surface. After a safety demonstration on using the knife, they are shown a few simple techniques such as scoring and slotting. They are given time to record as many different methods that they can think of. Time is given for practice and sharing results. Fringing, curling, bending, slotting, creasing, and weaving are just a few of the methods they think of. They are told that they may use these methods and any combination of, or any new methods learned along the way.

3. Their challenge is to create a white on white cut paper mask-like form. Students are encouraged to sketch out their plans ahead of time though they may change their direction along the way. They are encouraged to browse the reference files for ideas. Generally, students brainstorm their ideas in three or four thumbnail sketches. Note: Because of the emphasis on cutting and paper engineering, I only briefly discuss mask making of other cultures as I feel that they have enough to absorb with the project at hand. One could certainly add to this lesson and integrate a study of mask making.

4. Students are given guidelines such as: no pencil lines should be visible, paper should be cut, not torn, glue should not be visible, etc. The finished forms may be of any size though this is a project that we complete in three, 45 minute lessons: one day to introduce and practice, and the two days to create their forms.

5. Mount finished forms on black paper or black poster board for display.

6. Student critique (and further discussion on mask making if time permits). Write reflection piece about the mask/face form. You might be able to adapt some ideas from the book, Complete Book of Paper Mask Making.

Evaluation/Assessment:

We create a class generated rubric which we use for self evaluation. I typically choose five or six areas of emphasis and create a rubric accordingly.

Sample Rubric (adapted from Rubric by Marianne Galyk)

Student Comments:

Teacher Comments:

National Standards: (Standards 4, 5, 6 are brought in with discussions on mask making - connection to social studies, music and dance)