Hanging Paper-Bead Sculpture Get creative and make art together! Explore how art can celebrate personal identity and offer moments of respite during stressful times by creating hanging paper-bead sculptures. Through artistic expression and the repetitive motion of rolling and stringing paper beads, discover art’s therapeutic and meditative benefits as inspired by the work of Unprecedented? artist Akiko Jackson. Activity Age Range: The whole family! Materials Needed: Paper, Pencil or Pen, Watercolors and a Paintbrush (use markers or crayons as an alternative method for adding color and design), Scissors, String or Yarn, and Glue or Glue Stick.
CONNECT This activity connects with our BCA Center fall 2020 exhibition Unprecedented? The exhibition features the work of artists from New England and Vermont who are responding to current events and expressing emotions and experiences of the times. Featured artist: Akiko Jackson How do artists create art that tells a story about their identity? How can art be used as a form of healing? Look closely at Akiko Jackson’s sculpture, neckbones. Describe what you see. What does this sculpture remind you of? How do you think Akiko Jackson created this sculpture? For neckbones, Akiko Jackson created resin casts of the c1 through c7 cervical spine that she repeatedly molded and strung together to express the concept of healing. She made this work while receiving physical therapy in an attempt to recover from an injury. The amber and gold hue of the sculpture is believed by many cultures – both historic and contemporary – to have therapeutic properties.
Akiko Jackson, neckbones, 2019, cast resin, 15’ x 3’ x 3’ Learn more about our BCA Center fall 2020 exhibitions at burlingtoncityarts.org.
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CREATE Step 1: Gather your supplies Materials Needed: *1- 2 sheets of paper: Recycled, Drawing, Watercolor, Notebook (any type of paper will work) *Scissors *Glue (liquid or glue stick) *Pencil *Watercolors and brush (alternative- draw and color with markers or crayons) *string or yarn
Step 2: Paint your paper How are you brave and strong? Think about your strengths as you paint your paper. How can you use lines, shapes, and colors to say something about you and express your personal strengths in an abstract painting? *Use watercolor to cover your paper with an abstract design that represents your personal strengths. *Let your painting dry.
Step 3: Create a template for your beads Divide your paper into long triangles by drawing a zig-zag line across your paper, reaching from edge to edge.
Step 4: Cut out the paper triangles Cut along the zig-zag lines to create paper triangles.
Step 5: Roll the paper triangle into a bead. Add glue. Repeat to make multiple beads. Add Glue
Step 6: String your beads on string or yarn Slide string or yarn through the center of the bead to make strands. Add a knot at the end so the beads are secure. You could make multiple strands and hang them together or make one long strand. See our Family Art Saturday video for a demonstration on techniques for stringing your paper beads. *Friends and families working together may choose to connect their strands to make one unified sculpture.
Finally: Display and admire your beautiful hanging sculpture!
Decide how you want to display your sculpture. You may wish to hang it from the ceiling, on a wall, or in a window. Paper beads are light and can be hung with a small tack or tape.
Happy Creating!