CLAES OLDENBURG SCULPTURES

Claes Oldenburg Sculptures

Learning Targets 

I can...

• Create a Claes Oldenburg Sculpture using techniques learned in class
• Use form (two dimensional, three dimensional), shape variation (geometric, organic), and space (positive, negative) based on American Sculptor (1929-Present) Claes Oldenburg
• Use Paper Mache techniques (combining, armature, constructing) and design principles (movement, proportion, unity) inspired by Public Art
• Define Soft Sculptures (using soft materials -clay, foam, paper- to create three-dimensional works)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. French Fries And Ketchup (1963) Claes Oldenburg
2.  Watch The Street And The Store by Museum of Modern Art
3. Discussion Questions "How is popular culture influenced by advertising? How are people influenced by the media and advertising? How and why do advertisers promote product? How does media have an effect on an artists' life? Why or why not? Why gets to decide what is art and what is not art? Do their ideas change? What materials did the artist use? How did he use them? Wha can we learn about the artist by looking at this? How is this different from traditional self portraits?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 12" X 15" Newspaper
2. Use modeling techniques (hand building, forming shapes) to make three-dimensional sculptures
3. Use assemblage techniques (attaching, slip/score, blending) to connect all parts of the Claes Oldenburg Sculptures

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Claes Oldenburg Sculpture for Assigned Table
2. Giant BLT (Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Sandwich) 1963 Claes Oldenburg
3. Discussion Questions "How does an object go from being ordinary to becoming art? What colors did the artist use? What does his sculpture remind you of? What might the location smell like? Is it somewhere you would like to visit? What kinds of foods are representative examples of the American experience today? What is Public Art?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use addictive techniques (container, toothpick, straw) to add details to three-dimensional sculptures
2. Use Paper Mache to layer geometric shapes (cylinders, spheres, bowls) of three-dimensional sculptures
3. Cover all of the newspaper with Paper Mache strips for Claes Oldenburg Sculptures 

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Claes Oldenburg Sculpture for Assigned Table
2. Set Up Studio Area (acrylic paint, puff paint, paint brushes)

Lesson Activities

1. Use primary colors (red yellow blue) to fill in positive space of three-dimensional sculptures
2. Use primary colors (red yellow blue) to fill in negative space of three-dimensional sculptures
3. Use tint (white) and shade (black) to add depth within the Claes Oldenburg Sculptures

Artist Examples

Student Examples