Coming around the bend, during the first two weeks this February, I will be sharing my secret wire-forming techniques with some young after-school students over at the Carrboro ArtsCenter.
This came about when I recently ran into my friend Shirlette Amons, who, when she's not busy being a total Rock Star, coordinates the after-school program there; as a different kind of Rock Star. Shirlette invited me to return to the ArtsCenter, to teach these techniques again, as she found them to be a unique and successful offering when I brought them to the ArtsCenter a few years ago (to compliment the garden-related activities she was arranging at the time).
There we had made the dragon flies that I have since developed into pretty attractive beings, and even sold at the Festival for the Eno. As a result of my work with these techniques in my craft and product development, I will be bringing some new materials and techniques to the class.
I like to share wire forming techniques, because it gives young artists the chance to experience the all-important line in a new way. While I LOVE to draw lines on paper, I realize that some students (like myself actually), are more tactile, and might gain from manipulating lines in full on three dimensional space. (incidentally, this is part of the excitement that I derive from working with tires, in my Reptire Designs, as most tires contain two hoops, or 'beads', of wire running along the edge of their rubberized fabric.
I also feel that wire forming really helps engage students in 3 dimensional creating, and accesses a different part of their brain than 2D drawing.
In fact I had a teacher in college that once confided that she always felt down on herself as a kid, because she was ashamed of her drawing skills, which she felt were poor. She said this inhibited her artistically. Sadly I can imagine this happening. But she discovered sculpture, all of a sudden, it didn't matter that she "couldn't draw" (a falacy, but we choose our own battles). So, she found a way around the block!
CHALLENGES
In some ways this is a tricky class to teach.
Wire can be a little bit tricky to manage. When drawing with a pen or pencil, crayon etc., your line is sort of 'stored up' in the stylus. (Its really kind of magical when you think of it). The line is then 'drawn' out that mystical tube. (the poetry of little Henry with his purple crayon, unfurled jungles and cityscapes from it, comes to me mind).
Wire does not afford this luxury. You must first decide how long of a line you want to use, clip it off, and then keep its ends from stabbing you, while you bend it into place.
To gaurd against this last hazard, I have a simple ritual, which I grind into place at the beginning of each and every wire-forming class I teach. "BEND THE ENDS OF WIRES WITH PLIERS" is our mantra, and we do it to every piece of wire we use.
However, this precaution creates its own problems, as these small hooks like to grab onto sweaters, other wires etc. Maybe I will try taping them off with electric tape this time...
It is also can be difficult for kids this age to manipulate wire. They just don't have that much hand coordination. For this reason, I always start very slowly with this camp. The kids generally want very badly to do the project. So I am sure to make sure they have mastered the prerequisite skills, before moving onto the next.
The final challenge to this camp is that it is right after school. My experience with afterschool students (and as one myself), is that after a long day or complying with rules, staying in your seat, etc, basically you just want to go spastic. And going spastic with wires and pliers is not good.
Hmm, I might have to get these kids some goggles..
