Aims | Outline | Curriculum Relevance | Background | Activities | Links |
Making It: Programmes
27–39
Programme 31: Bush Bikes
After watching the
programme, pupils should be able to:
- communicate design ideas in different ways, bearing
in mind aesthetic qualities, and the use and purpose for which the
product is intended;
- generate ideas for products using information from
ICT-based sources;
- explore the sensory qualities of materials and how
to use materials and processes;
- follow safe procedures;
- measure, mark out, cut and shape materials;
- assemble, join and combine components and materials
accurately;
- design and make assignments using stiff and flexible
sheet materials and textiles;
- apply appropriate finishing techniques.
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A bunch of Aboriginal kids in a Town Camp in
Australia have to share a bike to get about. They ride into town,
with one kid pedalling, one on the handlebars and one hanging on
the back. In the shop windows, they see flash new bikes, shining
and sparkling, but just can't afford them. They decide to build
bush bikes instead.
They salvage old wheels, bent bike frames and handlebars at the
dump. They mix and match bits from broken-down bikes, screwing and
bolting them together to make new ones. Everywhere they look they
find something to help them. Fat from the frying pan is great for
lubricating an old bike chain. A fallen branch from a gum tree is
lashed to a bike frame with fence wire to make a crossbar. Soon,
the bush bikes are finished. They may not be as flash as shop
bikes, but they make up for that in pure personality. In the
dazzling sunshine, the kids set out for a swim at the
waterhole.
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- Art: investigating and making art, craft and
design.
- Science: materials and their properties.
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Many of Australia's native, or Aboriginal, people
live on the edges of big cities in areas known as Town Camps. Kids
from the Town Camps rely on their intelligence, imagination and
skill to make many of the things they want. They learn to be
resourceful, taking full advantage of the materials they find
around them.
Artists and designers use reclaimed materials or 'found objects' in
their work, too. They recycle stuff that would otherwise be thrown
out, making us look at familiar things in a totally new way. Check
out the links from this site to see more 'mixed-media' artwork and
to get inspiration for your own sculptures.
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Make a Found Object
Collection
You will need: 2 large strong
cardboard boxes, ruler, scissors or craft knife.
Before you start: think
about how to use the equipment safely and whether you need an adult
to supervise. Check with your teacher if you are not
sure.
- One box will hold your collection. The second box
will be used to make compartments to keep everything separate.
- Cut the second box into long flat strips of
cardboard.
- Cut slots in the cardboard strips.
- Join strips by matching up the slots and pushing the
lengths of cardboard together.
- Use the cardboard strips to make dividers inside the
first box.
- Start collecting interesting 'found objects' that
catch your eye. You could add nuts, bolts, screws, hooks, lengths
of wire or old tins. Unusually-shaped stones or bits of wood are
also useful, as are old tools or pieces of machinery, such as the
cogwheels from broken clocks. Once you start collecting, you'll
spot all kinds of things. Beachcombing, or visits to car boot sales
are a great way of building up your collection.
You could have separate compartments for different
materials, such as wood, metal, plastic and textiles.
Make a Found Object
Sculpture
You will need: a collection of
'found objects' and a reel of garden wire; tools such as pliers,
screwdriver, bradawl, hacksaw and small hammer; sandpaper, paints,
paintbrush and pva glue.
Before you start: think
about how to use the equipment safely and whether you need an adult
to supervise. Check with your teacher if you are not
sure.
- Fix stuff from your collection together to make a
sculpture. What you make depends upon the things you have found.
Look closely at the larger bits and pieces. What do they remind you
of?
- Sculptures using reclaimed materials are often of
birds, people or animals.
- You could begin by twisting together lengths of wire
to make a simple figure.
- Try threading metal nuts onto the wires to make arms
or legs, or twisting wires around a piece of driftwood to make an
animal's body.
- The contrast between the different colours and
textures of materials is important. Shiny tin or glass beads look
great against the rough bark of a twig, for instance.
- Make holes in wood with a bradawl. This allows you
to put in screws much more easily.
- Give your sculpture the right finish. Make sure any
sharp ends of wire are turned in on themselves. Use sandpaper to
smooth away jagged edges and to get rid of splinters.
- Most 'found object' sculptures do not try to
disguise their original materials with too much paint. Try to make
the most of the patterns or paintwork that are already on your
materials. Use new paint to highlight details. Add a little pva
glue to your paint to help it stick to things like metal and
stone.
If you want a shiny finish all over your sculpture,
paint it with 2 or 3 coats of pva glue. As the glue dries it
becomes transparent and will make a tough shiny surface.
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Find out more about the lives of Aboriginal kids in
Australia's Northern Territory:
www.ozoutback.com.au/postcards/postcards_forms/abor_children_1/
Australian artist Ildiko Faska asks, 'What do you with a lifetime's
collection of treasures that most people regard as rubbish?' Click
this link to find out:
www.users.bigpond.com/ildiko.m.faska
Find out about the work of artist Steve Done who uses reclaimed
materials to make furniture and sculptures:
www.art-eco.co.uk/home/home.html
Laura Schoonover is an artist from the USA who works in mixed
media:
www.schoons.com
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