|
Annual LAUSD Elementary and EBIC School Counselors Faire
Theme: “Ripples of Gratitude”
Session IV: Undoing the Effects of Asphalt and
Cement
Room
210
Luis South, Facilitator
The beauty about Nature
Art Collage- making is the fact that resources are voluminous and
accessible without charge. Also, being a new medium, it offers a chance
for creative educators to not just “do some art”, even more interesting
is being on a whole new frontier of limitless discovery. Nature Art
Collage-making is an intervention process where the artist gathers
decaying bits of nature to find ways to transmit messages that other
people can relate to. It is an art form that requires us to find that
side of our soul where what you end up with---the self expression
factor---takes others beyond the reality of dead matter glued to paper.
After first coming up
with the idea of trying to conduct this art I began communicating with
college professors, librarians, artists holding perspectives and working
from a variety of different backgrounds. As well, I researched trying to
find if anyone ever had the idea to work cooperatively with Nature to
create sustainable colorful miniature frames depicting scenes, masks or
basic abstractions that were interesting to look at. The closest thing I
found to a distinct art form that may have some similarities to my
thoughts was a statement in a craft book where it was mentioned that
there have been a few unnamed American folk artists who have worked with
creating collages using nature in frames. However, to date, this
researcher has not found any major world art movement similar to what
was being projected through thoughts and verbal exchanges with others
who found it interesting to ponder the thought.
There’s the annual
Parade of Roses here in Southern California. Part of the quest was to go
to Pasadena to view the floats after the parade was over. I just made it
in time to walk for an hour through a long corridor trying to see if
there were any secrets they held that could be incorporated in the
development of my own unique approach to creating miniature frames.
Verdict? Not really. On many different levels that very unique art form
operates on a much grander scale, and is “cuckoo for coco puffs” very
commercial. However I early on was apprised that there are a host of
major developing artists dealing with a Nature art collage-making of
sorts. They enter a given habitat to work with Nature as a means to
leave a human imprint that transmits messages that are powerful and
visually striking. I managed to connect with one such artist named Michell Lee. Please see her creations at
http://www.energyart.com/Michele E. Lee/choice page.htm . She
comes to Los Angeles often and promises to look me up when she comes
again. That’s just a small example of how life has gotten unbelievably
beautiful.
This however is not a
seminar focused on abstractions. I promise to bring you now to the
preparation and performance of Nature Art Collage-making.
Basics
“Natural” is a
self-defining term. So there are no chemicals ever applied to preserve
color or form. The purpose of this art form is to collaborate with
Nature. There are no pencils, no erasers, no crayons, and no paint. The
artist has to “think and move beyond the box.”
Gathering-
Perhaps the most scientific aspect of Nature Art Collages is applied in
the gathering stage. How you handle and store natural resources controls
final outcome concerning vibrancy of color and tone, and has a direct
impact on texture and shape. This aspect often leads to very interesting
dialogues between artists. The student-to-teacher sharing takes on a
much greater level of expression. Typically, the “teacher” has much to
learn from the student. Facilitator is perhaps a better word for the
role the teacher plays in this art form. It’s better to admit that this
is all new, there are no “experts” on high.
Pressing-
The next step is also interesting. All it takes is placing the gathered
parts in between newspapers and placing them under a heavy weight.
Simple. This actually becomes another topic for debate. Room atmosphere
can influence outcome. Depending on the succulence of the plant drying
can take from 1-3 weeks. There are shortcuts, but understand that
patience most often yields better results. We’ll have to deal with short
cuts at a later time, sometime after you actually demonstrate excellent
skills.
Paper-
Background color and texture have a direct effect on the artistic
expression. Pieces chosen will either blend or contrast to different
degrees. We’re now in the early stages of planning to make our own
background paper.
Gluing-
Elmers loves our blunt use of their product. However, Nature Art
Collages requires students to be very conservative because excessive
glue will ruin the art project---as it often does in other art projects
in schools. So students, perhaps for the first time, consciously work on
refining their fine motor skills. Early on they are given the task of
completing a frame where there is no sign of glue.
Now you are ready to
create---or actually recreate---because it’s all been in existence
before we came into the picture!
The one basic underlying
question is: Can you let go of your personal barriers to make a
progressive statement in this medium? Critical thinking operates at a
premium level when performing this art. Yes, we can utilize any tool
that makes it convenient to express ourselves in this art.
Proceed. Today all you
want to do is pick and glue. If something more happens…..
|
