Over the past month, the art studio has seen Year 6 sketch and make shoes. A collection of my footwear was made available for reference-baseball boots, trainers, pair of Dr Martens, wedges and high heels- and with just corrugated cardboard, newspaper, card, masking tape and a glue gun the cobbling commenced.
The first week, encouraged Year 6 to look at the shoe in front of them from a variety of viewpoints and yes, it was hard to capture what was in front of our eyes. Where to place the shoe, whether to have the paper landscape or vertical and daring to commit felt tip to paper were just some of the decisions made. The focus was line and there were definite ‘in the pit’ moments. However, by the end of the session impressive, large ‘gestural’ sketches had captured the shoes.
The following couple of weeks presented Year 6 with the challenge of making a shoe with the materials outlined above. Careful observation, using the shoe as a template, problem solving how to create and join the different parts of the shoe and understanding the importance of measuring were done in collaboration with their partner. The teamwork throughout was impressive. In some respects, I felt redundant!
Attention to detail, the determination to create a likeness and the concentration throughout was great to see. The glue gun provided pupils with a quick and effective way to construct and I was proud to see the independence and respect in using it.
Deciding whether to paint, collage or leave the shoe in its cardboard state was again left to the cobblers. Hopefully, you are in agreement that their decisions were spot on.
An unexpected joy, was when a reception child inspired by the artwork she saw in her Read Write Inc sessions in the art studio proceeded to create her own shoe in receptions’ workshop. As a result, she was invited to join in the cobbling with Year 6 and with the support of their expertise created her own wedge shoe.
