"Self-Portrait Sculpture" - art project - Brief Article

Arts & Activities, May, 2003 by Purnima Sampat

by Geri Greenman, May 2002

I tried out this sculpture assignment with my fourth-graders. Besides the figures themselves, what really intrigued me was the environment the students had created for them. Instead of making a self-portrait, however, I asked my students to think about what they would like to be when they entered the career world. I got diverse answers ranging from all architect to a pop star (left). The children sketched their ideas and modeled them according to the instructions in the article. Then it was time for them to think of props to use with their figures. The children raided their junk boxes at home and came up with surprising results. All the sculptures were assembled on a wood or cardboard base, and the children proudly displayed their work in the art room.

Purnima Sampat, Mumbai, India.