SchoolArts - February 2011

Ode to Moore

manipulated the material within the bag as desired. They could manipulate the bags for only about five to seven minutes before the mixture set. Students were surprised by how warm the mixture got!

This year we introduced a beginning sculpture class into the art curriculum. It was a challenge to create a course that would be interesting to students, low-cost, stimulating, and fun. One of the artists I felt needed to be studied was sculptor Henry Moore.

Best known for his monumental abstract sculptures of reclining figures, Moore’s forms are generally pierced or have a hollow space within them. Some say that these “organic undulating forms” are reminiscent of the landscape of his home in Yorkshire, England.

Henry Moore devoted his life to his work and the proceeds of his work to support education and the promotion of the arts. He truly was a shining example of an artist, scholar, educator, and gentleman. We had to have him in our curriculum!

Moore was a giant in the world of sculpture and his large cast bronzes and marble carvings offer a great source for inspiration as well. Our attempts would not be on the same scale, but we would mimic his gentle forms. I decided the best way to attempt this would be to create a mixture of casting plaster and vermiculite.

The addition of vermiculite to plaster would allow it to be more easily carved.

Nancy Corrigan Wilbert

Preparing the Sculpture Medium To mix the plaster and vermiculite, we used a medium-sized plastic bucket. A two-to-one ratio (plaster to vermiculite) was measured. We slowly added lukewarm water and carefully mixed it with a rubber spatula (wear a mask when doing this) to the consistency of thick cream.

The mixture was quickly scraped out to fill plastic sandwich bags (not Ziplock) three quarters full. Air in the bags was gently squeezed out, and the bags were secured with twist ties.

Working quickly, before the mixture hardened, students

Sculpting Forms

The next day, students gently opened and pulled away the bags and used files and carving tools to refine the shapes. They were amazed at how stone-like the forms appeared with the added vermiculite. Some students combined two or more plaster shapes together, creating larger sculptures.

When finished, students sealed the forms with a gloss medium. A local business donated scrap granite that we used for bases. The plaster forms were positioned and then set with white glue. The results were truly amazing!