Mask Making from Every Day Objects

Designing dresses, hats, and masks was a fun way to get students to see how every day objects can be made into costumes for theater. It's an exercise in creativity to look at one thing and see something else. It's that kind of ability that made a butter container and roll on deodorant into the first computer mouse. Some of my students saw faces in paper bags, cardboard boxes, or pie pans. Mask making wrapped our our costume design month and I think most of the students were pleased with their work. It's hard to tell how they really were feeling though, because of the masks. 

Costume Design Project: The Hundred Dresses

Food inspired one student's dress designs: mochi, banana splits, onigiri, candy apples etc.

 To incorporate literature and career education into our art project, I read my students a book from 1944 called "The Hundred Dresses" by Eleanor Estes. It's a Newberry honor book and top 100 teachers pick to read aloud. This sweet story tells of an impoverished girl who was bullied for saying she had 100 dresses, and after she moved they saw that she had 100 amazing drawings of dresses. My students and I made a goal to create 100 dress designs for our next exhibit.

One students obsession with architecture was his fashion line inspiration

Each student was to pick a theme for their designs. Some students were inspired by food, animals, seasons, or architecture. They could base their designs on a color pallet, a culture, or a decade. It's a great chance for each kid to explore their interests and express themselves. 

From celestial orbs to seasons of the year, there was lots of ideas for fashion themes.

Netflix has an amazing series called "Abstract," so we watched the episode about costume designer Ruth Carter (minus a few minutes with bad language). It gives a great look into the process and the career of costume design. Most art students have no idea how much research professional artists and designers put into their job.

animals can have always inspired fashion: zebra, peacock, clown fish and mantis shrimp

David Byrne's cult classic "True Stories" has a scene of a fantastic fashion show. I show that 4 minute clip to my students for inspiration, and then a behind the scenes documentary which is only 5 minutes. A quick discussion helps students generate ideas and push boundaries. When it comes to costume ideas, creativity counts.

P.S. This project was modified to accommodate students with no vision. Some made their drawings with Wiki Stix, while others mixed and matched heads, torsos and legs to create images using Fashion Plates. I want to give a shout out to my sister, Carolyn, for sending me this favorite childhood toy (she bought a new one for me). It's a perfect tactile solution for blind students to participate in the project independently.

Costume Design Unit: Hats!

It's one thing to draw your ideas for a fashion or costume design, it's another thing to actually make that idea into something wearable. The beautiful part of our recent art project was that it teaches problem solving skills. The challenge I presented to my Art students to was to create something they could wear on their head. A hat or a wig for example. They were welcome to rummage through any supplies and and figure out how to make their vision a reality. Sometimes visions changed based on certain items not sticking together, or the colors of spray paints available. 

Hot glue may melt thin plastic, staples may break brittle materials. Balloons shrivel overnight. It's important to play around with the process of assembling things. What will look like sprinkles on frosting or whipped cream? Beads, bits of foam, or cut up pipe cleaners? How can I get this thing to stay on my head?

This project is the perfect example of differentiation, when it comes to ability level and interest. There was no one example, no cookie cutter process. Some students wanted to make top hats while others made sun hats. Some made helmets and others made crowns. No two were alike. It was exhausting as a teacher to have to help each student think through their set backs and find what they were looking for, but the pay off was worth it when it came time for our photo shoot.

The cherry on top 

Was it worth saving that box of toilet paper rolls for 10 years? You be the judge.

A sunflower sun hat

Several students made crowns

My Dr. Who fan had a tartus on his mind