Mobiles: art that moves!

When one is visiting our magnet school for the arts, the first thing one might notice is the "mobile sculptures" airily suspended in each of the four outdoor stairwells.

With our school slated for the construction of a new building, an outgoing group of fifth-graders were inspired to contribute a work of art that would become a permanent part of the new school. The students and I had previously raised $500 with an art economics project. With this as seed money, we approached local metal artist Paul Eppling with the idea of creating the aluminum "mobiles." He agreed with pleasure, suggesting that the mobiles would not be his, but rather the children's design.

To create the designs, Mr. Eppling and I worked with all ages of our elementary students. We asked the children to draw themselves as artists, actors, dancers and musicians. Later, we studied the 600 drawings, selecting the strongest images. Some of the designs selected were combinations of several students' work, but most were individual drawings.

The drawings were then transferred onto acetate. Old art-focus students used an overhead projector to enlarge them to the proper size for patterns that Mr. Eppling used to cut the aluminum. He took these to his studio where he cut and assembled the metal onto different planes: the arms on one plane, the body another, musical instruments another. The pieces were balanced by weight and size and suspended from the roof. Our art-focus students visited his studio on a field trip to observe the process.

The completed pieces are life-sized statues suspended from the roof and they gently move in the stairwells.

Each of the mobiles reflects one of the special art experiences the children have at our school. To emphasize our international studies, each mobile was titled in Spanish: El Arte (visual arts), La Musica (music), El Baile (dance) and El Teatro (theater).

We funded this project by writing grants, holding several student-art auctions and asking for donations of materials. The mobiles were so well received that we chose to work with Mr. Eppling on a fifth "wall" sculpture called A Day at the Perkins. It depicts students in their social day--riding the bus, playing at P.E., studying in their classroom.

Overall, over 120 students had a hand in designing the sculptures. Now that the work is complete, they belong to all the children. The sculptures have become a joyful addition to the students, teachers and visitors day, reflecting the arts and kids, the heart of education.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Students will ...

* use various media that can be used effectively in communicating an idea or message.

* understand that people create art for various reasons and from various objects.

* express themselves in a drawing.

* reflect on international studies by applying a foreign language to their mobiles.

* observe the process and works of a local metal artist.

* understand that there are various careers available to artists.

MATERIALS

* Pencils and papers

* Transparencies to copy images

* Overhead projector and bulletin-board paper to create patterns

Mr. Eppling used:

* Welding materials

* Cutting torch

* Aluminum sheets and rods

* Steel beams

Michelle Crosby teaches art at Perkins Elementary School in St. Petersburg, Fla.

COPYRIGHT 2005 Publishers' Development Corporation
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group