Inspired Wire.

Discarded 24-gauge telecommunications wire offers grand sculptural possibilities. It is fine gauge and very pliable. It is easily bent, curled, twisted, and otherwise contorted into fascinating linear designs. Plastic-coated in twenty-five colors, telecommunications wire presents the artist with a wide spectrum for design choices.

I decided to see what my multiage groups of students could come up with. To introduce the project, I showed them a wire structure supported by a Styrofoam base. They were intrigued with its multiple layers of wires laced with a variety of beads and strands of battery operated doll house lights. I lifted the sculpture upright and then upside down. We studied the linear qualities and intricate negative space. Even the youngest children could identify lines and holes made by the interacting wires.

For a base, my students used less-expensive 8" (20 cm) square blocks of Styrofoam insulation sawed from 2' x 12' x 3" (61 x 366 x 8 cm) sheets. Be prepared for a mess! Tiny bits of Styrofoam fly everywhere and stick to everything. Before distributing, wipe off loose particles.

Ways with Wire

To begin the lesson, I demonstrated ways to manipulate wire. Wrapping it around a finger or pencil produces tight coils which also can be stretched. Kinks trap beads on a length of wire, allowing them to float on an arc above the base. The wire is easily inserted into Styrofoam, removed and rearranged. However, much of the excitement of working with wire is figuring out what it can do on one's own.

Students enjoyed picking through a large assortment of beads, choosing colors, sizes, and shapes that appealed to them. They began working cut lengths of wire, approximately 18"-30" (46 x 76 cm), into every imaginable configuration. I suggested they turn their work frequently to develop all sides, and gently jiggle them upsidedown, making sure the wires are securely inserted. Heavily beaded wires often fell out and needed to be reworked with fewer beads. Also mixed into my bead box were odd bits of jewelry and spools of shiny brass and silver-colored wire, surprise discoveries which some students incorporated into their work.

Wonderful Wire Works

It was exciting for me and my class to watch the structures grow and change. We noticed a wide range of similarities and differences in the pieces as each developed its own personality. Many students were reminded of roller coasters and other amusement park rides or playground apparatuses. We arranged a display on a large table in the school's main hallway, which drew much attention--not everyone knew quite what to make of the whimsical collection. My favorite interpretation came from a three-year-old preschooler who thought they were decorated cakes. Viewing the array of sculptures slightly above his eye level, he must have thought he had happened upon a buffet of desserts.

Although I did not provide lights for my students, I showed them and their parents how to do it. Parents could thread wirethrough each strand of lights, cut out a section from the Styrofoam base to house each battery pack, and switch and tape them securely in place. Stores that specialize in doll house items often carry lights.

Alexander Calder has inspired airy metal sculptures for decades with his wonderful mobiles and stabiles. I showed my students examples of his work, bringing new meaning and appreciation to their own.

NEW STANDARD

Students use different media, techniques, and processes to communicate ideas, experiences, and stories.

Safety Note: Please remember to use caution when working with wire, edges can be sharp.

Barbara Silverstein is a K-4 art teacher at Assumption School in Morristown, New Jersey.