Every year, Mrs. Ritchie’s art students are tasked with creating paper mache sculptures that correspond with a given theme. This year, Mrs. Ritchie had a particularly difficult time choosing the theme, as this is her last year as the art teacher here before she retires. She chose the theme of Dr. Suess and P. D. Eastman, who were both authors of beloved children’s books. Mrs. Ritchie chose this theme because she knew that it would be “interesting for the students and possible for them to make”. In addition, she believed that this theme would be relatable to the students who are making the sculptures. Surprisingly, this theme was chosen prior to the announcement of the upcoming Suessical musical that the drama club will be performing in April; the selection was entirely coincidence.
A paper mache sculpture is not easy to make, and it takes a long time to complete. The process of making a paper mache sculpture consists of five main steps: first, once students choose a character, they each create a “skeleton” for their sculptures, which are typically made from materials like paper towel rolls and rolled up newspapers that are taped together; second, the skeleton is covered in a layer of tape in order to smooth it down; third, a first layer of newspaper is placed over the tape using paper mache glue; fourth, a layer of white paper is placed over the newspaper in order to create a surface that can be painted on; lastly, students paint the sculptures in order to add colors and details that will bring the characters to life.
This project is an enormous undertaking for the art students, and it takes them about ten weeks to complete: the longest time it will take for any project they complete within the school year. The sculptures are likely to be completed around the end of March, which is around the time that quarter three ends.
The final products of the paper mache sculptures are very impressive, and they are a very different type of art from what these students are used to. Most of the artwork that the students create throughout the year is two-dimensional. This project is a big change, as it requires students to look at a two-dimensional image, and figure out how to portray it in a three-dimensional form. This is very difficult to do, and it takes a great amount of time, effort, and dedication from students.
The theme of the paper mache project this year fits well with the upcoming performances of Suessical. This was a lucky coincidence, because Mrs. Ritchie now hopes to be able to display the sculptures in and around the auditorium during the performances of Suessical in April. The sculptures will also be on display during the annual art show that takes place in May and June. They are sure to stand out among the rest of the two-dimensional art from the rest of the year. When the time comes, be sure to stop by the art show to admire the hard work that students have put into their sculptures!
