ChickenWired Sculpture Workshops Offers Hand-On Learning
Join over 15,000 pupils that have enjoyed the challenging and absorbing craft of wire sculpture workshops. Learning and developing 3D sculpture skills using a versatile medium whilst following National Curriculum guidelines.Using just a pair of wire clippers, a pair of bent-nosed pliers and finger-friendly PVC coated chickenwire, the ChickenWired workshops offer pupils a practical, challenging and thoroughly enjoyable art day, creating their own 3D sculpture.
From Key Stage 2 to Any Age
We can arrange the workshops for pupils from Key Stage 2 through to Key Stage 3 and 4.The workshops are practical and encourage each pupil to create their own sculpture, following the process from start to finish. This ensures that all pupils will be continually busy and participate throughout the workshop.ChickenWired offers half day, full day and multi-day sculpture workshops to maximise the number of pupils that can be included. Workshops work well in conjunction with a school timetable should it be required.Workshops are generally class size.
How Sculpture Workshops Works
Cut, connect, create…….& cover!
The idea of the workshops is for each pupil to create and decorate their own sculpture following templates that have been created by the artist.To begin, pupils are invited to look at a number of sculptures that are brought to the workshop. This helps build excitement and interest and shows what can be achieved from the skills learnt.The workshop activity divides into three different parts; cutting, connecting and creating.With younger pupils, covering (or decorating) the sculptures is an excellent addition to the workshop to explore creativity with colour.
So Here We Go - Just Follow The Precision Steps
Cut. To start, pupils, using a pair of mini cutters, cut shapes from a wire sheet as prompted by sculpture templates provided. This tests numeracy and visualisation because the shapes require precise cutting. The templates show the different patterns of wire and number of pieces needed to create each sculpture.Connect. Once all pieces are cut, the next part is the connecting. Following the templates, the shapes cut to provide the threads needed to connect the different pieces of the sculpture together. Following instructions, the different pieces are connected together using the threads and the mini bent nosed pliers.Create. Once all pieces are connected the final stage is to create the sculpture. We connect the pieces because it is easy to contort and ‘bent’ the wire out of shape. Once all pieces connected, thwire-shapeded and manipulated to form the final sculpture.And cover. The sculptures are effective as just wire frames. However, if time allows, we use tissue paper to decorate the sculptures. Because of the pattern in the wire, makers can put ‘scrunched up’ pieces of tissue paper into the holes of the wire, allowing for all manner of patterns to emerge. Pupils can also weave the tissue paper into the wire, producing the wings of a bird or the fins and tail of a fish for example.
Choosing Your Masterpiece To Create
The choice of a sculpture depends on the age of pupils, time available and the topic. Notably, in general, all pupils whether in a half day or full day workshop should have a piece finished. We can tailor sculpture workshops and teach to make the work possible for pupils from Year 3 and above. Below Year 3 the work can be too difficult, however, we offer prepared pieces that pupils can decorate.For older, we encourage more advanced students to develop the idea of designing their own sculpture. The notion of my sculptures is very simple. To explain, I use the metaphor of an ‘exploded diagram’. Students, follow whatever theme required in their coursework. They can choose a design, break it down to its component parts. This allows determining the shapes. Finally, we prepare the wire pieces and create the sculpture.Collaborative pieces. It is possible to arrange workshops for larger pieces that pupils can work together on.
We provide bespoke sculpture workshops on a case by case scenario.
The Costs of Sculpture Workshops
Workshops are £300.00 per day.
Material costs are £1.00 per pupil.
Travel and accommodation costs maybe incurred.Fully D&BS accredited.
Testimonials From Our Customers
Kerry Fulford, Bridgewater Primary School
Recently we were looking for a sculpture workshop with a difference and Chicken Wired offered the perfect opportunity to challenge our children. Will worked with a group of children from a variety of classes and he provided all of the resources and tools. The children were absolutely amazed by Will’s variety of sculptures and they couldn’t wait to make their own! Some even asked if they could make another in their own time. The children were very well challenged and their skills were developed not only in art but mathematics too. Thank you to Will we now see chicken wire as a valuable resource in school for creating sculpture and we would definitely recommend him to other schools looking for a workshop with a difference.Sarah Proctor, Loatlands Primary School
I just wanted to say thank you so much for your time and experience you gave our children. It was lovely for them to see a new medium and realise that art comes in more forms than paint and paper!! It was great for them to push their fine motor skills and finger dexterity using the tools and wire. We have some lovely work to showcase at our school 'art gallery' now.Aoife O'Connor, Great Ormond Street Childrens Hospital School
We really enjoyed having you here and I know that our young people found it very interesting. I will definitely be in touch in the future regarding more workshops in the next academic year.
