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TOTEM TREE: Object Portrait Art Practices ILea Anderson

Overview

You will create a hanging, vertical symbolic Family Totem Tree sculpture. The firststep will be to identify individuals who have most impacted your life, then identify

wrapping materials and found objects, as well as textures/colors/shapes/sizes/quantities ofthose materials/objects that symbolize those individuals. The materials will them be

wrapped and attached to the core rope armature. A root structure will be created at thebase of the tree which represents YOU. The pieces will be hung collectively in a

forest of Totem Trees.

In this project we will explore:

The theme of FRAME; defining how we frame or construct our identity basedon our relationships with othersThe theme of LIGHT; using color (among other signifiers) as a symbolThe theme of MARK; as trace- tracing our own symbolic lineage and representingit in tangible form

The idea of a Totem and the history of Totem PolesArtists who employ three dimensional and specific materials to symbolizepersonal or philosophical ideas: Joseph Beuys, Wolfgang Laib, Nick Cave, ElliotHundley, Ann Hamilton, Janine Antoni

Three-Dimensional space and installationVocabulary

Materials

Rope (supplied for you)

Various materials for wrappingVarious materials for hanging

Needle/thread (optional)Thin wire (optional)

ScissorsRuler/tape measure

STEP 1: IDENTIFY YOUR FAMILY AND MATERIALS TO REPRESENT THEM

A.SUBJECTS: Choose 5-7 individuals that you feel have been the MOSTINFLUENTIAL to you in your life. These can be family members, but you should

also include at least one non-family member and one public figure. Theseindividuals can be positive influences, negative influences, political or ideological

influences, creative influences, etc. Put the names or initials of these individualsin the SUBJECT column (see next page), in either chronological order, order of

importance, or in some other relevant order. Put your name in the bottom box ofthe same column.

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B.WRAPPING MATERIALS: Choose 2-4 possible wrapping materials to representeach individual. You will be wrapping the rope armature with these materials.

Consider: string, thread, yarn, wire, fabric, tape, foil, ribbon, tubing, chain, cord,raffia, etc. Texture and color are also important considerations for these materials.

You will need to explain, in detail, each of your choices. You will ultimately

decide on ONE wrapping material for each subject, including yourself as theROOT STRUCTURE.C.OBJECTS: Choose 2-4 possible found-object materials to additionally representeach individual. You will be tying, stitching, or otherwise attaching these multiplesmallish objects to the wrapped areas that correspond to the subject they

represent. Again texture, color, shape, and size, are important considerations. Youwill be choosing ONE object for each subject, including yourself as the root

structure. You must be able to attach several of these small objects to eachsection, so consider value and availability in your choices. You will need to

explain these choices in detail as well.D.In the final section of the proposal, briefly explain why you have selected each ofthe subjects (other than yourself). You will be writing an artists statement at theend of this project, so you can refer to this proposal sheet for that purpose.

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PROPOSAL SHEET FOR TOTEM TREE

SUBJECT WRAPPING MATERIAL OBJECT1

2

3

4

5

6

7

YOU

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WHO ARE YOUR 5-7 TOTEM TREE FAMILY MEMBERS?

List their names or initials and explain briefly why you chose them:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.