Found Object Friday

Today's project is a Found Object Art project. Found Object Art is defined by Wikipedia as:

(Found Object) describes art created from the undisguised, but often modified, use of objects that are not normally considered art, often because they already have a mundane, utilitarian function...

There is mostly also some degree of modification of the object, although not to the extent that it cannot be recognised. The modification may lead to it being designated a "modified", "interpreted" or "adapted" found object.

(Above is Rastamama painted recycled wood, metal, found objects found on Trin Hesson's website, www.trinahesson.com)

I love the many ways found objects are adapted into sculpture or reinvented to become art. A reclamation of the ordinary that becomes something extraordinary.

I did not actually create any project today, though the day is still young and I have a creative 14 year-old step-daughter that will be here for the weekend, so who knows. I did help other children with their projects today. A dear friend came to town on a field trip with her home/cyber-schooled kindergartner (and pre-school sister) to GoggleWorks, our local Arts Center. Currently on exhibition is Mr. Imagination, you can read a piece about him here. Or see some of his work Here. His Imagination has brought him all over the world and his work can be seen at such diverse locations as the Smithsonian Institute and the House of Blues clubs in Las Vegas and Orlando. He uses bottle caps, brooms, paintbrushes, everything and it is really something exciting to see. (photo from GoggleWorks website)

With Mr. I (as he is known) as inspiration, the kids grabbed buttons, empty bottles, paper clips, poker chips, plastic champagne glasses, tin cans, styrofoam balls, recycled Christmas ornaments, pipe cleaners, and bottles of glue to create their own Found Object Art. There were statues and butterflies and ballerinas and robots. All created from someone else's "trash" Several of the items were then spray painted to give a uniform appearance. I love to see kids exploring their imagination and getting rid of any preconceived notions of what is or isn't art and what is or isn't trash.

The closest I have come to Found Object Art is making wreathes, Christmas Trees & out of wine corks, but I consider that more a craft than creating a work of art. (I won't go into the differences, that is just my opinion) but perhaps I will this weekend.

So my advice is, go out & be creative, somehow, someway!

PS I found a lesson plan on Found Object Art Here about mid-way down the page. And some finished work to go along with it.