Cutting, sculpting and dangling

This half term our KS1 group at Pelham school have been inspired by Anthony Calder and his kinetic sculptures. Tate Modern had an exhibition of his work just last year – Performing Sculpture. Take a look here.

Louise has been starting each session with a short drawing exercise to warm up those little fingers.

Here the children were looking at simple shapes and forms.

So cute! I love children’s drawings.

They went on to look at simple shapes and forms to create a standing sculpture.

They looked at Calder’s wire work and manipulated pipe-cleaners into circus scenes

Children are now working on a final hanging sculpture using a combination of skills learnt over the term.

Our little fingers have done a lot of cutting this term – very good for our motor skills!

These simple shapes will hang together in a mobile to tell a simple story or create a scene.

This week the children finished their mobiles, they used many skills in this project including wirework, threading, knotting and narrative to build storytelling mobiles.  Each mobile consisted of 4-6 pieces that were all linked to a theme, some children did sea themes, others space or just abstract shapes, inspired by Calders’ simple forms. 

They had fun adding a little bit of sparkle and jingle in preparation for Christmas. They should look lovely hanging in your homes this Christmas!