African Ceremonial Mask (art + social studies)

Studying the rich history of maskmaking in Africa is aperfect way for students to experience therelationship between the process of creating a pieceof art, and appreciating the significance it carries. AnAfrican artist would design and prepare a mask withgreat consideration to it's purpose and it's placein history.

This project mimics a face mask that mayhave been used to represent the spirit of atribal ancestor in a village ceremony. Thefeatures are exaggerated by the use ofcolor. The use of raffia create movementand sound intended add to heightenthe ghostly appearance. Addingfeathers or shells may have beenways of imparting poweror wealth.The finished mask would be held in frontof the face during the ceremony.

The use of Plaster Cloth allows students tocreate textures and abstract features in asculptural way. The finished masks are rigidand very durable, suitable for hanging orwearing.

Grade Levels 5-8Note: instructions and materials based on aclass of 25 students. Adjust as needed.

Objectives

• Students will develop an awareness ofthe social significance of cultural artifactssuch as masks

• Students will explore using a mask forthe purpose of communicating history andculture, evoking emotion or storytelling

• Students will study African traditionsand beliefs and translate their knowledgeinto an art form

Process

1. Coat the mask form with petroleum jelly.Cut 20 strips from the Plaster Cloth roll,approximately 1-1/2" wide. Dip strips inwarm water and apply to face form,overlapping and blending edges withfingers. Apply second layer. Leave holesfor eyes and mouth. Allow to dry severalhours and remove from face form.

1.

MaterialsBlick Plaster Cloth (33506-1004), share 4" x 180" roll between 5 students

Plastic Face Mask Form, (61152-1003), needone per student (reusable)

Blick Matte Acrylic,Brown (00727-8003), Beige (00727-8143),Red Deep (00727-3723) and Yellow-OrangeDeep (00727-4853)

Raffia (60908-1372), natural, share 12-oz bagbetween ten students

Bucket O’ Shells (61451-1016), share onebucket across classroom

Blick All-Use Masking Tape, (23006-1002)2" wide, share three rolls across classroom

Natural Feather Assortment (61432-1005),share two .5-oz bag across classroom

Swingline® 747 Stapler (57231-2050), sharetwo across classroom

Petroleum jelly

Acme® Titanium Scissors (57059-1007)

Bowl of warm water

Process, continued

2. Take a small handfull of Raffiaand cut into 6"-8" pieces. Layout in a flat row on tabletop,place a strip of masking tape atthe top near the cut edge. Turnover and place a matchingpiece of masking tape on thatside, fold edges, trim excessRaffia over the tape and wrap a final piece of tape ontop (A). Repeat until you have several sets of Raffia tomake a full beard.

3. Coat the entire mask with Brown Craft Paint. Usingsponges, lightly stipple Red, Yellow-Orange andBeige. You may use other colors, if you'd like, butthese colors were selected to match traditionalAfrican earth-pigments.

4. Staple Raffia sets to side of face so that taped edgefollows the back edge of the mask and Raffia extendsforward in front of the face. Bend Raffia back away toform a full beard. Finish by gluing on feathers andshells.

2.

National StandardsContent Standard #1 — Understandingand applying media, techniques andprocesses

• K-4 Students use different media,techniques and processes tocommunicate ideas, experiences andstories

• 5-8 Students select media, techniquesand processes; analyze what makesthem effective or not effective incommunicating ideas; and reflect uponthe effectiveness of their choices

Content Standard #6 — Makingconnections between visual arts andother disciplines

• K-4 Students understand and usesimilarities and differences betweencharacteristics of the visual arts andother arts disciplines

• 5-8 Students describe ways in whichthe principles and subject matter ofother disciplines taught in the school areinterrelated with the visual arts

(A)

Copyright © 2005 Dick Blick Art Materials. All rights reserved. JD