Honor Your Special Qualities
Artist: Ronald Baron
Art Work: My Time is Now, 1993, bronze, aluminum, stainless steel, 12’ tall
Location: Lehman College, outside Apex Building next to Bedford Park Blvd. West
Grades: 4-6
About the Art: The work symbolizes the relationship between mind and body, and the placement of the objects in stacks represents the interaction of academic and physical education. Construction techniques include the traditional "lost wax" method as well as direct burnout. The bowl of the trophy is a lacy structure created by hundreds of tiny figures presenting awards for a range of athletic activities. The entire piece is cast in bronze, aluminum and steel, but the mitt, balls, and books still have the same textures of the original objects. Color ("patinas") adds to the realistic effect.
Questions for Discussion: What kinds of sports are represented in this sculpture? What kinds of academic disciplines are represented here? Why do you think the artist titled this piece My Time is Now? How does this sculpture relate to its site? What is a trophy, and why are they awarded? Where are they often displayed?
Sample Art Activity: Students create a "thank you" trophy for something special that they do, not necessarily school-related. (Does anyone cook well? care for a younger sibling? tap out strong rhythms?).
Purpose: To develop an appreciation of one’s own identity and special contributions.
Materials: plasticine, recycled materials such as mixing bowls and sporting goods; white glue and hot glue gun; craft (popsicle) sticks; cardboard boxes cut to about 9" x 12" for bases, chenille stems (pipe cleaners); tempera or acrylic craft paint, brushes, water containers
Teaching Strategies:
- To help students decide which activities to represent, brainstorm as an entire class or individually.
- Help students focus on which objects to recycle because of what they symbolize and what students want to show is valuable.
- Attention to constructing the trophies for strength and balance of objects will make them more durable.
- Students write a paragraph about their work to explain it to someone who doesn't know them.
Closure: Display the trophies throughout the classroom. During an open house or other event when parents and caregivers can attend, hold an awards ceremony during which each student is presented with his/her own trophy in front of others. Students each read a paragraph about his/her work.
Extensions:
For visual learning: Imagine yourself five years from now. Draw how your trophy would be different from the way it is now.
For verbal learning: Pretend that you found a pile of real objects like the ones in My Time is Now in front of your school gym. Write a story about how this pile of balls, hand-weights, mitts, shoes and books got there. Who left them there and why?
For logical learning: Research the process of "lost wax" casting and demonstrate to the class, using plasticine, how artists retain the texture of the original objects in their sculptures.
National Art Education Learning Standards:
- Understanding and applying media, techniques and processes
- Using knowledge of structures and functions
- Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols and ideas
