Sculpture nonobjective

Any nonobjective mobile by Alexander Calder (kinetic), twentieth century Any sculpture by David Smith (nonobjective), twentieth century Life Death (neon, abstract, kinetic), Bruce Nauman, 1983 Any piece of jewelry by Salvador Dali (abstract), twentieth century... 

Organic molecules are minute, nonobjective sculptures, or are considered abstract when they resemble familiar, identifiable objects. They have shapes that are curvilinear, angular, or geometric (or a combination). Just as in macroscopic sculptures, these shapes can express movement and direction. If one considers organic molecules to be amazing tiny sculptures of the stuff of which matter is made, such a microsculpture can evoke an emotion or set a mood in the same way that a macrosculpture evokes emotions and sets moods. 

Students will view the molecular models as microscopic sculptures and explain why they are either abstract or nonobjective. 

Label each model as either a nonobjective or an abstract sculpture. 

For each of the molecular models studied in Activity 5.2, explain your choice for labeling it as a nonobjective or abstract sculpture. For each of your drawings, explain why it is a nonobjective or abstract work of art. 

Considering the tetrahedral shape of methane, construct a multiple-methane-molecule sculpture, or draw a picture of such an arrangement. Explain why the sculpture or drawing is abstract or nonobjective. How do the shapes in the sculpture or drawing evoke a mood or emotion How do the shapes show direction or movement ... 

Choose a realistic, abstract, or nonobjective subject, or a picture of a sculpture to use as a subject, and begin carving the plaster while it is still damp, using X-ACTO and kitchen knives. Try to incorporate negative space into the piece. 

Form groups of four or five students. Each group can make a cardboard form in a shape to be used for a nylon thread sculpture (the nylon thread will be wrapped around the shape). The shape should be interesting and have a variety of negative space. It may be objective or nonobjective. 

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