Dioramas!

Inspired by sources as varied as Joseph Cornell's boxes, museum taxidermy displays, and toy playsets, students will create 3D scenes in boxes. First, students will each decide on a theme. Then, they will collect materials around that theme, like found objects, colored papers, etc. Next, they’ll use art supplies I’ll provide to alter those materials by cutting, painting, bending, sculpting, and assembling them to turn ordinary boxes into dramatic scenes, beautiful collections, or handmade playsets. As we create one-of-a-kind art pieces, we'll explore art-making principles such as foreground, middle ground, background, color and mood, and storytelling. Students can bring a box (no smaller than a mint tin and no larger than a shoebox, please) or take one of mine - I have plenty to share.