Garden Stacks

Inspired by Native Peoples' Totems

to·tem

/ˈtōtəm/ - Noun

In some societies, a family's totem is the particular animal, plant, or natural object which they regard as a special symbol and which they believe has spiritual significance.
Something that is a totem of another thing is a symbol of it.

Totem History

Originally an important part of the Potlatch ceremony, a feast with deep meaning to coastal First Nations, totem poles were once carved and raised to represent a family-clan, its kinship system, its dignity, its accomplishments, it prestige, its adventures, its stories, its rights and prerogatives.

Arranged in a Hierarchy

Sometimes the symbols on a Totem Pole are arranged so that higher symbols have more importance and lower symbols have less significance.

This arrangement is where we get the saying "low man on the totem pole", which means that the person is at the bottom of the hierarchy and everyone above him is more important.

Inspiration Artwork

Inspiration Artists

Totem Towers Project Steps

Step 1 - Curiosity List

In your sketchbook, write down and explore at least 20 things you are "CURIOUS" about. You can refer to your mindmap (which you made at the beginning of the year) if you need something to get you started. These are things you want to you know more about and are interesting to you.

Step 2 - Theme Choice

Choose the theme you feel most drawn to, from the list below (a few have expanded ideas below):

~ Cultural Traditions and Family Symbols

~ Sense of Place, Location

~ An Altered View

~ Transformation

~ Textural Form Exploration

~ Observation of the Natural World

Transformation:

• Life Cycles • One Mind Set to Another

• Deterioration • Regeneration

• Building Up • One form to Another Form

Altered View:

• Aspirations • Future/Past Visions • Mythology

• Imaginations • Foretelling • Other Worlds • Sci-Fi

• Dreams/Daydream • Fantasy • Surreal

Observation of the Natural World:

• Plants/Flowers • Animals

• Insects • Fruits/Vegetables

• Seasons • Weather • Micro/Macro

• Abstraction in Nature

Sense of Place, Location:

• Urban • Marine • Forests • Deserts

• Outer Space • Planets • Countries

• Ancient Civilizations • Community

• Neighborhood • Home • Special/Safe Place

Step 3 - Sketchbook Plans

Brainstorm at least 20 different symbols/objects/forms that come to mind when thinking about your theme (you may use a mind map or other brainstorming method, Ex Here).
Now refine/reduce to 7 of your 20 ideas (circle/cross-out/number)
Draw out your 7 object/form ideas into simple sketches
3 objects should have a distinct (different from others) sculpted texture, so make sure to plan this requirement into your forms now.
Choose which ones you will include by using the strongest/most interesting ones.

***You will need to create at least 5 symbolic forms/objects in your artwork.

You can of course use more than 5 and/or include other small extra/filler pieces, but you must have at least 5 symbolic forms.

Step 4 - Sculptural Design

Options for basic construction:
1. Your sculpture may be constructed with a hole through each object/form that you will slide onto a wooden dowel rod after being fired individually or
2. You may build them together into one piece by scoring and slipping/building directly onto each other.

**Forms will need to be hollowed out to reduce thickness and ensure even drying. Even those made to slide onto a dowel rod, may need reduction of clay thickness.

Size Requirements:
1. Height should be between 15” to 30" (inches) tall
2. Should be taller than it is wide (a tower)
Options for a base:
1. Ceramic constructed "base" piece (a disc, feet, foot ring, etc...) be creative!
2. Make sure your bottom form is sturdy and wide enough to be a base
3. Use another medium such as wood (I may have it, or you can bring it in from home.)

Step 5 - Blueprints

Make sure your chosen objects work together by drawing out your completed plan of where and how you will stack your objects together. This should be a good sized sketch (at least full page) with details, textures and the actual size of your objects (in inches) planned out.
Don't be scared to change your mind and move things around...a useful way of planning is to draw out each piece separately, cut out and move them around until you are happy with them!
Consider these 2 Principles of Design during planning -
1. Principles of Design, Unity: Unity means that all of the elements within the artwork seem to be small parts of a cohesive whole (play well together).
  - Harmony is almost the same thing as 'unity,' but is where all of the pieces relate and complement each other (rather than all very similar) and leans heavily on the arrangement of the pieces.
  - Variety within the elements adds interest to the artwork.
2. Principle of Design, Balance: Balance is the distribution of visual weight in an artwork. Balance gives a sense of stability to the piece. Does it seem like it will fall over?

Balance

Step 6 - Hand Building

Construct each of your pieces and build your sculptural tower in the style you choose. You will have 18 school days to build, fire, glaze and refire your artwork before VASE/project Deadline. Get to work.

Step 7 - Applying a Finish

Options for ceramic sculpture finishes:
1. Underglazes (applied to leatherhard clay) with regular glaze/clear coat applied after bisque fire then fired again. Underglazes are mixable, and apply similar to watercolor paints
2. Traditionally applied glazes applied after bisque fire then fired again
3. Since our work is not for food consumption, we don't have to use glazes to finish the piece. You can use many other art materials, but common ones are watercolor, acrylic, ink, etc.

Reminder of the Project Requirements:

Theme should be evident
Height should be between 15” to 30" (inches) tall
Should be taller than it is wide (a tower)
Your sculpture should be viewable (and Interesting) from all sides
Incorporate at least 5 hand sculpted forms, you may have as many as you like, and may include add-ins or small filler items too
3 objects should have a distinct (different from others) sculpted texture
Your forms/objects should have a sense of Unity/Harmony - aka “play together,” and "make sense as a whole”
Your sculpture should have visual and actual Balance

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