Mini metal masks - art projects

Arts & Activities, Jan, 2003 by Cynthia Henn

Throughout history, masks have always been fascinating to children. A mask transforms a child into another persona and creates a world of fantasy. Through a mask, a child enters into a unique world. Therefore, our project was very rewarding to the children who participated.

This project was part of a special school-wide program involving the art and culture of West Africa. We were fortunate to have a guest artist from Senegal, who supplied historical and technical advice. He shared much of his culture through photos, illustrations and stories of his native land.

Our kindergarten and first-grade students examined photos of traditional African masks as an inspiration for the lesson. Our guest artist, sculptor Ousmane Guye, explained the historic uses of masks in his native land. Masks traditionally are created for music, movement and dance. Masks may be male or female, but the dancers who wear them are most often men.

There are masks of ancestors and of the spirits of rivers, forests and fields; masks of initiations and secret societies; and masks that bring fertility or keep order. Each mask is to be worn by a particular individual, dependent upon gender, age or position in the tribe. The masks would be used for a purpose in a ceremony and only the person who it is made for could wear that specific mask. Today's masks are created by artists to be sold as collectibles and souvenirs to a highly popular, growing mask market.

Metal masks in particular were most well known from the kingdom of Benin and the Baule people of West Africa. The miniature mask, less than 5 inches high, was a favorite form of gold or bronze jewelry. The mask might be worn around a man's neck, or the Oba (a Benin king) would wear the small masks in sets of two or three, fastened around his waist.

Because we do not have a kiln, and our budget was limited, we used Crayola[R] Model Magic[R] clay to create masks in the scale of a child's hand. This particular clay was chosen because of the easy malleability and air-drying properties. A 1-gallon bucket of clay was enough for about 20 students.

The children each received a ball of clay slightly smaller than a tennis ball. Then we showed them how to roll it into an oblong shape and flatten it if they wanted their artwork to resemble the oval of a human face. We examined the structure of each other's faces in order to have a better understanding of a face.

Children were shown how to use their thumbs to create eyeholes and an open mouth (optional). Children were given plastic utensils to create textures or details. At this point, some children chose to do animal-like faces, rather than human faces.

As their designs emerged, the children were given additional clay the size of a pingpong ball, if requested. When the mask was completed, the teacher wrote the child's name and class on the reverse side with a finepoint permanent marker.

After the clay dried, which took a few days, I sprayed them with gold paint so that they would resemble the metal masks that we discussed in class. The children were excited to see how their unique designs were enhanced by the paint. We all were very pleased with the results. It was amazing to think that tiny 5- and 6-year-old children created these wonderful sculptures.

We hung up the masks with masking tape (the air-dry clay is very light) so that the children could view and discuss their work. They were excited to see each other's artwork hung in a group upon completion. The display enabled us to describe the differences and uniqueness of each mask in a convenient setting and, one by one, the children pointed to their masks and expressed what the mask meant to them.

At the end of the year, we had an art show in the town park to celebrate the African program in which the entire school participated. The first-graders' metal masks were displayed as a group on tree trunks that had been wrapped in blue satin. The masks and explanatory signs were attached using T-pins.

The public was fascinated with the array of unique masks. The children stood proudly by their work on the day of the event. What was most interesting was each of these kindergarten and first-grade artworks expressed each child's innate creativity and individualism.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Students will ...

* gain an appreciation for West African metal work.

* learn about form and texture.

* build fine-motor skills through sculpting a mask.

* self-critique through discussing one's artwork.

* develop sculptural-design skills.

MATERIALS

* One bucket of Crayola[R] Model Magic[R] clay

* Plastic utensils or clay tools (optional)

* One 11-oz. can of gold spray paint

* Pictures of West African metal masks

Cynthia Henn teaches art at Berkeley Elementary School in Westwood, N.J. Photographs by Susan Samuels.