Oaxacan Sculptures

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Oaxacan Sculptures Background: For generations the Oaxacan (pronounced Wa-Haw-Ken) Valley of Southern Mexico has been rich with folk art. The valley artisans have produced woodcarvings, tinwork, ceramics and weavings. Many of the Oaxacan wood carvers of today are descendents of the Zapotec Indian Tribe.

These hand carved whimsical figures are made from the Copal tree, which grows abundantly in the hills surrounding the Oaxacan Valley. The artists carve the basic shape of a figure in a few days, then hand sand and meticulously paint each piece in great detail. In Mexico the figures are believed to bring good luck and for this reason they are placed throughout the home.

Each carving is unique and is signed by the artist. Resources: Crizmac 3 Art and Cultural Education Materials, Inc. (catalog) Book/Magazines/videos: Oaxacan Woodcarving: The Magic in the Trees by Shepard Barbash (Book) Oaxacan Woodcarving: Innovation Meets Tradition featuring (Video) Arts and Activities, February 1992 and February 1997 Smithsonian 3 Spring 1991 Internet Sites: www.lafuente.com/oaxacan.html www.alltherest.com/wood.htm www.arowheadgallery.com/oaxacan.html www.elcoquigifts.com/carvingsox3.asp www.whimsicalarts.com Oaxacan Clay Animals Beth Thomas / Sharon Williams Cape Girardeau Public Schools Lesson: Grades 2-5 3-4 art periods (60 min.

each) The student will make an animal using patterning to decorate in the style of the ... more. less.

Oaxacan wood sculptors. Materials: Clay (ceramic, self-hardening or Model Magic) Clay tools (stylus sticks, Popsicle sticks, or clay tools) Clay boards or canvas for tables Acrylic or tempera paints Clear acrylic spray Objectives: 1. 1. The students will learn to manipulate clay using pinch pot beginnings, pinch/pull method, or coil method to create an animal. The method depends on the animal. 2. 2. The students will learn about the modern craft of the Oaxacan woodcarvers of Mexico. 3. 3. The students will study sculpture, form, pattern and exaggerations. Instructional Procedures: 1. 1. Discuss sculpture, Mexican crafts, and the Oaxacan woodcarvers. 2. 2. Demonstrate clay technique. The best technique depends on the animal being created. (ex. Turtles and frogs may work best using a pinch pot turned on side or upside down; lizards, jaguars, dogs, and cats may work better using pinch/pull or coil method) 3. 3. Allow to dry for firing, fire, paint animal a solid color, let dry, paint patterns, let dry, spray with acrylic spray. Note: If clay is not dry enough for firing or you need to allow time for absent students to catch up you may want to plan a one period assignment on patterning. Show-Me Standards: (1.6; 1.9; 2.1; 2.5) (FA 5) Oaxacan Papier-mâché Animals Beth Thomas / Sharon Williams Cape Girardeau Public Schools Lesson: Grades 4-6 4-6 art periods (60 min. each) The student will make a three dimensional papier-mâché animal using patterning to decorate in the style of the Oaxacan wood sculptors. Vocabulary: Papier-mâché Armature Sculpture Folk Art Materials: Cardboard tubes Newspaper Masking tape Wheat paste Paint Clear Acrylic Spray Objectives: 1. 1. The students will become aware of design qualities, symbols, and uses of papier-mâché in folk art. 2. 2. The students will learn about the modern craft of the Oaxacan woodcarvers of Mexico. 3. 3. The students will study sculpture, form, pattern and exaggerations. Instructional Procedures: 1. 1. Discuss sculpture, Mexican folk art, and the Oaxacan woodcarvers. 2. 2. Have students build an animal using cardboard tubes as their armature and newspaper for the animal appendages. 3. 3. Students will papier-mâché over the form using newspaper and paper towels for the final layer. 4. 4. Students will paint the animal one color and then embellish with a variety of patterns. Show-Me Standards: (1.6; 1.9; 2.1; 2.5) (FA-1, 3, 5) Oaxacan Stuffed Paper Animals Beth Thomas / Sharon Williams Cape Girardeau Public Schools Lesson: 2 nd Grade 2-3 art periods (60 min. each) The students will create whimsical stuffed paper animals in the style of the Oaxacan wood carvers of Mexico. Materials: 12x18 white drawing paper Oil Pastels 12x18 manila drawing paper Thin tempera paint 12x18 colored construction paper toilet tissue Objectives: 1. 1. The students will learn about the modern craft of the Oaxacan woodcarvers of Mexico. 2. 2. The students will study sculpture, form, and pattern. Instructional Procedures: 1. 1. Discuss sculpture, Mexican crafts, and the Oaxacan woodcarvers. 2. 2. On 12x18 white paper create an overall random pattern of shapes. Have the children choose one color of oil pastels and draw a shape on the paper. Continue to draw the same shape, same color about 15 times. Choose a 2 nd color and shape and draw about 15 times on same paper. Continue until paper appears to be full enough. 3. 3. Paint over the oil pastels design using one color of very thin tempera. Let dry. 4. 4. On 12x18 manila draw an animal keeping legs and tails either tucked inward or very fat. 5. 5. Staple drawing (on edges) to the painted paper. Cut out animal. Discard manila animal leaving only the painted/designed animal. 6. 6. Glue edges only of animal to 12x18 colored paper leaving an opening large enough for stuffing. (It is best if the teacher does this step) Allow glue to dry. 7. 7. Stuff with toilet tissue and glue opening closed. Show-Me Standards: (1.6; 1.9; 2.1; 2.5) (FA 5) Oaxacan Paper Animals Beth Thomas / Sharon Williams Cape Girardeau Public Schools Lesson: Grades Kindergarten-3 rd 1-2 art periods (60 min. each) The students will create whimsical construction paper animals in the style of the Oaxacan woodcarvers of Mexico. (1.6; 1.9; 2.1; 2.5) (FA5) Materials: Construction paper Crayons or oil pastels Scissors and glue Tempera paints and brushes Objectives: 4. 1. The students will learn about the modern craft of the Oaxacan woodcarvers of Mexico. 5. 2. The students will study sculpture, form, and pattern. Instructional Procedures: The following are suggested ways to make construction paper animals. They may be decorated using tempera paints, crayons, or oil pastels. 1. 1. Three-Dimensional Animals Fold 9x12 or 12x18 in half. Cut head from open side of folded paper. Glue head to body. Cut tail and glue to body. 2. 2. Paper Animal Puppet Bend 9x12 construction paper into cylinder and glue. Cut slits in one end of cylinder. Bend slits outward and glue to 2 nd sheet of construction paper. Cut excess paper away and then cut head. Add paper legs, ears, eyes, mouth, tail, etc. 3. 3. Symmetrical Animals Fold construction paper in half. Draw head, body, and legs on the fold of paper.

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