Yuji Honbori, the A-Team and Group Projects

I first saw Yuji Honbori's work at the Nanzuka Underground gallery in Tokyo a few years ago. As I stepped off the elevator  I noticed this metallic looking Buddha statue hovering about a stark white room. As I approached the sculpture, I noticed it was not made of metal but rather strips of wax-coated cardboard; the kinds you would deliver produce in. The idea of using re purposed materials is very prevalent in Art classrooms for many reasons, but to take this simple material and create a thing of beauty is really something that needs to be seen in person.

Here is a link to his latest Exhibition: http://www.aishonanzuka.com/honbori.html

This Artist/Educator is a great starting point for scarboard sculptures. My last Art II class was given the task of creating a bust from cardboard. 

This project was given to them as a group assignment and each student was assigned a specific task. There were now personality conflicts amongs the groups but I did begin to see a pattern of work ethic that somewhat resembled an episode of "the A-Team"

who are you in a group task?

Students can:

• Leap forward and take charge with little or no direction "Hannibal the leader"
• Do all the "grunt work" with ease "B.A the muscle"
• Devise new and interesting ways to work I had not anticipated "Murdoch the wild card"
• Socialize with everyone, not do much but boost morale "Face the schemer"

In the end some impressive work was created and I learned a lot about group projects in the art room.

Papier Mache Alien

Started off with cardboard newspaper and wire

For Halloween I decided to create the baby Alien from the film "Alien"

Clear gloss medium added a "shiny goo" film to the finished piece.

I attached it to a belt and it was protruding from my Chest all day , but it was worth it.

At the end of the day I gave the baby alien away to a student who promised him a good home.

Papier Mache- Cheap and limitless!

Many students love the power of  the pulply paste. I have done many sculptures with papier mache over the years and it always works best when students want to work big. I mean big as in carry it off off in a trailer big.

Just borrowing some rocks to weigh it down. It may be big, but it's really light

something this big needs to be painted with a sprayer

Finishing touches

    

Garbage bags filled with paper is a quick way to build form

Papier mach can really take the form of just about anything, it lends itself well to lessons on form or any other type of sculpture. smaller pieces that are created in my studio are supported by wire frame armatures. The armature is made from donated coat hangers.

Town of Sahuarita Summer Youth Art Program

For the past three years during the month of June a small handful of students are selected to work on a massive public art project. The students design, create and install tile murals and mosaics depicting nature scenes of Southern Arizona.

Using a document camera to trace one of the designs onto tile

Students work everyday Monday-Friday for 8 hours a day, it's a full-time job with many responsibilities. Teamwork is essential and everyone must be able to collaborate in order to be a truly successful program.

The kiln is always fully loaded

Tiny applicator bottles are sometimes used for details

Hand-made porcelain tiles ready to be installed

An incredible amount of tile!

Each piece has the jagged edges ground off

Many students find the glazing to be the most rewarding

The first year I began as director we were in charge of the inside of the tunnel walkway that connects the SUSD school district with the Town of Sahuarita Municipal Complex. Working on one side and the next year the other, our theme expanded from native birds and plant to native wildlife.

The length on one side is about 150 feet

We didn't know how spoiled we were working in the shade

Last year we began to work on the north side of the tunnel and our style of artwork needed to change. The painted look of the murals would quickly fade in the Arizona sun, even though it is essentially made of glass, the colors would only last a few years. We decided to create a mural of a day/night theme on each side of the tunnel entrance and work with a combination of hand cut porcelain tiles and small mosaic pieces.

Starting to work in the sun really shortened our outdoor work time

the day side under construction

The Night side under construction

That feeling you get when the job is done! (for now)

This upcoming year our task will be to develop designs that tie-in to the towns history. I already have a student working on ideas based on historical photos if we can find any. I will keep you posted on our progress.