Totem tribute to high school life.

Totem tribute to high school life

ONE USUALLY EXPECTS TO COME upon a totem pole somewhere in the northwest quadrant of the North American continent, but not in Long Island, New York.

Unlikely as it may seem, a grassy courtyard at Lawrence High School, Cedarcrest, New YOrk, is the site of a permanently installed totem pole that stands well over eight feet tall. As Artist-in-Residence, I supervised the project while twenty-five art students built it. The idea for the sculpture--a complexly woven visual record of high school life--emerged from my work as a maskmaker; however, the imagery of the totem pole belongs solely and uniquely to the students who created it.

The sculpture, which measures 99" x 40" x 20" (251 cm x 102 cm x 51 cm) and weighs approximately 500 pounds, was begun in November, and completed over the next four months. It was designed for installation in the school's inner courtyard and built of weather-resistant papier-mache mounted on a wood and masonite armature. The totem pole was sculpted in papier-mache because it is a readily available, inexpensive material which students can manufacture themselves; it is non-hazardous and ecologically sound; and it is a flexible medium that can be modelled directly.

The surface of the armature was a 2" x 2" (5 cm x 5 cm) wood frame, strengthened by a angle irons and covered with chicken wire. It was coated liberally with p.v.a. glue to prepare it for the application of wet papier-mache mash. Then the forms were modelled directly on the armature. when the papier-mache had thoroughly dried--about ten days--it was glossed and painted with acrylics. Two coats of marine spar varnish were applied to seal the painted surface of the totem pole.

The completed sculpture was signed by its twenty-five artists and dedicated to the students of the future. Maintenance for the totem pole will consist of annual cleanings with a mild solution of detergent and water and one coat of varnish. It is anticipated that the outdoor life of the totem pole will be about ten years.

Sylvia Schwartz, the art chairperson of the Lawrence Public Schools noted that "our goal was to teach the students that art is very exciting and very participatory." The students were involved in all aspects of the project--selection of the site, construction of the armature, and the manufacture of the papier-mache mash--but, by far, their most major contribution is the totem pole's whimsical, almost naive, bas-relief figures which are painted in a joyously radiant pallette.

In his remarks about the totem pole, Dr. Alvin Baron, superintendent of schools, said "I can't ell you how happy I am with the totem pole. What previously was a barren industrial-looking courtyard has suddenly become a focal point of interest. It seems that wherever I am on the inner perimeter of the building my eyes are drawn to the very colorful work." In describing her experience as one of the students who helped create the totem pole, Susan Geller wrote, "As an art student, being able to work with an established artist was a motivating and educational encounter. The exchange of artistic thoughts and ideas was a richer teaching experience then anything found in a textbook."

Recipe for mash In order to insure a relatively permanent work the following recipe was devised for producing one quart of mash: Materials: Blender, measuring

           spoons, Strainer, Plastic
           bags, Rubber gloves.

Ingredients: 4 full sheets of newspaper

             4 tbsp. of p.v.a. glue
             4 tbsp. acrylic medium
             2 tbsp. commercial whiting
             (calcium carbonate)
             1 tbsp. linseed oil

Procedure: 1. Tear the newspaper into squares

about 1" x 1" (2.5 cm x 2.5 cm). 2. Soak these paper squares in warm

water for a few minutes. 3. Put a small handful of wet paper

squares into the blender and fill

blender to capacity with water. 4. Blend paper for about thirty seconds

or until it is mixed in a thin gray soup

that easily circulates through the

blender. 5. Pour this mixture into a strainer and

squeeze out the excess water. 6. Put the mashed paper into a plastic

bucket and crumble it into small pellets. 7. Add p.v.a. glue and acrylic medium

and mix. 8. Add commercial whiting and mix. 9. Add linseed oil and mix. 10. Add water until the wet mash has

achieved the consistency of

mashed potatoes. 11. The wet papier-mache should be

stored in tightly closed plastic bags