Collage

Typically, a collage piece will be made up of pieces of colored paper, cut photographs, fabrics, etc.  In my classroom, however, we will incorporate more than just two dimensional objects.  The focus of this project will be to make a piece that has one object surrounded by other objects that relate or support the object in some way.  It can support it symbolically or visually.

The students will be expected to choose some sort of small, non-perishable object that they will be willing to attach to a piece of paper.  The object can't be some random thing in their possession, it needs to be meaningful to them in some way.  For example, I played with Hot Wheels for most of my childhood.  They greatly influenced my obsession with the automobile industry, and so I would choose to put a Hot Wheel into my piece.  The object can also be something bought if they don't have the actual object, or if they don't want to put the real one in the piece, they are allowed to substitute a new one.

They will be given an array of materials, including colored papers, scrap wallpaper, thread, fabrics, beads, etc.  The students can also incorporate found objects, especially things from the outdoors (only if these materials are safe and will not deteriorate).  Their collage will be placed onto a large sheet of construction paper, in a color of their choice.  The single meaningful object that they choose should be a piece of emphasis in their collage and the surrounding pieces will support it.

In our class, we were told how our teacher has given a lesson similar to this that focuses on color theory.  She said that she randomly chooses a color, anything from fabric to paper, and gives it to the student and they have to use it in their piece.  The student will then have to figure out how to use the new material without damaging the effect of their work.  Usually, the pieces were enhanced by this color.  This is something that I will likely include in a collage lesson.  It gives the students a chance, using what they've learned about the elements and principles of design, to solve a problem.

Here a few examples from our class: