Wearable Sculpture

This is a sculpture that I created to be worn on the head. The assignment for this project was to create a wearable sculpture and specifically a headpiece. I chose to make a helmet with artificial feather-like attachments to the back, and I used cardboard, newspaper, masking tape, plaster, colored paper, and hot glue for my materials.

To make this piece I first made a the structure of the helmet using cardboard, newspaper, and masking tape. I then covered the structure in strips of plaster to not only make it stronger but to give a consistent texture. At this point I made the "feathers." I did this by cutting out and gluing together pieces of cardboard and covering them with colored paper. Next, I spray painted the helmet black and glued the attachments on. The copper paint was a final touch which I think gives the helmet a more metallic and realistic feeling. I think that the brightly colored paper creates good contrast with the black helmet and strengthens the piece. I think the copper paint on the tips and bases of the attachments helps create unity. This project evolved in that I started out making a sort of bonnet piece to hold a headdress but as I progressed with the structure I found myself wanting to make more of a helmet, which I ended up doing.

In creating this piece I was inspired by the idea of a headdress. However, as stated, I liked the idea of a helmet and didn't want a long tail on the headdress. Therefore I chose to make a helmet with what could be considered plumage but oriented in a way similar to that on a Native American headdress. This project relates to my life in that I have been interested in Native Americans and their headwear since I was younger but had never, until now, experimented with my own take on it. I think this piece could be stronger if the attachments were slightly more neat and symmetrical. The most challenging part of this project was designing and creating a structure that would both fit on a head and have space on the surface for the artificial plumage. In this piece I am most proud of the helmet piece and the shape, which I think came out well overall. This piece illustrates my strength as an artist in my ability to combine different influences to design and create an original piece. It illustrates my weakness in some messiness and lack of symmetry.