Name of Project: Yayoi Kusama Paper Sculpture Flowers

Grade Level or Age of Participant: Ages 5-11

School, Teacher and Classroom: Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Family Day - May 8th, Supervisor - Victoria Myers

MCAD Teaching Artist: Natalie Vilter 

Number of Students: ~400

 

VISUAL ARTS CONTENT OR STANDARDS

 5.1.2.3.1 Visual Arts 

Grade 1: Create original artistic work 

1. Identify and use symbols when creating art

5.1.2.3.2 Visual Arts 

Grade 1: Create original artistic work 

2. Practice safe use of art materials and tools while making art

 

OVERVIEW OF PROJECT

Students will create their own flower paper sculptures inspired by Yayoi Kusama’s flower sculptures. Students will also use various techniques to make paper into a three dimensional form.

 

“BIG IDEAS”/ ESSENTIAL QUESTION(S)

How can one use paper, a 2-dimensional object, to create a 3-dimensional sculpture using a series of techniques?

What do you think are important features of a flower and what shapes do these features take in your mind?

STUDENT OUTCOME OBJECTIVES

Students will:

  • Recall the contemporary artist, Yayoi Kusama, and her art practice

  • Compare Yayoi Kusama’s flowers to their own idea of a flower and visualize important features of a flower

  • Construct their own three dimensional flower using paper

  • Explore various techniques to give their flower texture and stand

 

PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

  • Know basic features of a flower

  • Using a glue stick and scissors

LESSON PREPARATION TIMELINE

  1. Create art example

  2. Write out a lesson plan and short bio about Yayoi Kusama’s work

  3. Create a visual of various techniques to use for a paper sculpture (example shown below)

Visual of Paper Techniques

  1. Meeting with Victoria Myers about revisions to lesson plan

  2. Revisions to lesson plan

  3. Ordering materials

  4. Cut stips of colored paper that are a variety of 0.5 and 1 inch thick

  5. May 8th - Set up for the event 

  6. May 8th - teach for the event

  7. May 8th - take down the event and put away extra supplies

 

EXAMPLES OF ARTWORK

Paper Sculpture Example

Up Close Example


ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Yayoi Kusama, Flowers that Bloom Tomorrow (L), FRP, metal, and urethane paint, 2010

https://www.victoria-miro.com/artists/31-yayoi-kusama/works/artworks13475/

Yayoi Kusama, Flowers that Bloom Tomorrow (L), FRP, metal, and urethane paint, 2010

https://www.victoria-miro.com/exhibitions/411/works/96bbb645b1a41a/

ASSESSMENT

The outcome will be successful if the students are able to use basic shapes to create a flower, real or imaginary. Students will see their own success, if they were able to make their flower three-dimensional using various paper sculpture techniques. 

 

MATERIALS

  • 8” x 6.5” brown paper bag

  • Scissors

  • Ruler

  • Pencil

  • Eraser

  • Pencil sharpener

  • Gluestick

  • Hole Puncher

  • Assorted colors of construction paper that are 0.5” to 1” thick

  • A table for participants to work on

  • Stapler and staples 

LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TIMING

  1.  Greet incoming participants and ask if they would like to create a paper flower sculpture (5 minutes)

    1. Explain it’s inspired by Yayoi Kusama’s flower sculptures

      1. Explain that Yayoi Kusama is a Japanese contemporary artist who creates a variety of artwork from performances, sculptures, installations, and paintings. She’s known for coating her artwork in polka dots, which has given her the nickname, “The Princess of Polka Dots”. 

      2. Point out the abstract form, but still has features that make it identifiable as a flower

      3. Point out the curves and polka dots on the flowers 

  2.  Give participants a paper bag and scissors. Participants will disassemble the paper bag by removing the entirety of the twine and cutting a slit vertically down the bag until they reach the bottom of the bag. Students will then cut off the entire bottom part of the bag. Students will then unfold the bag, so it becomes one long strip (7 minutes)

  3. Students will then take the long strip and fold it cleanly in half. Then using a glue stick, students unfold the bag, coat the bag in glue and refold the bag. Participants will push down on the bag to make sure the sides stick together. (3 minutes)

    1. NOTE: recommend that they coat the edges of the bag in glue and create a large “X” in the center of the bag with glue

    2. This will be the base for their flower sculpture. 

  4. Pull out a visual of the various techniques students can use for their paper sculpture. (1 minute)

  5. Ask participants what makes a flower identifiable as a flower (1 minute)

  6. Hand out various colors of paper, gluesticks, and scissors for participants to start assembling their flowers. (1 minute)

  7. Students will begin to assemble their flowers. TA will offer guidance when the participant asks. (17 minutes)

  8. Offer hole punch and foam stickers to decorate the base and flower. (5 minutes)

 

TEACHING ARTIST REFLECTION

  • Depending on the age of the participants, they might have difficulty disassembling the bag with no tears. The teacher and volunteers will be there to help disassemble the bag. 

  • Participants might have difficulty using the glue stick and patiently holding down objects so they stick. Staplers will be provided just in case. 

  • Family Day at the MIA is a public event, so others will be able to see their finished product as they walk through the MIA. 

  • The teacher will receive feedback based on participants' enthusiasm for the project.