Prop and Generosity

 

    For this project, we had to do a performance piece surrounding the theme of generosity. By creating a prop, we were to engage our classmates in a performance that gives back to them in some way. I was inspired by the idea that simple acts can make big differences. In a stressful day, something as small as a compliment and a high-five means a lot! Therefore, I decided to construct a big hand for high-fives.

    The base was a firm piece of particle board with multiple thin strips being glued together to form the handle. Paper towels were then bunched up and taped on to create the volume of the hand. A few layers of paper-mache secured the 3D shape, and the final layers of acrylic paint for the base and shadows sealed in the paper and created a smooth surface.

    While the layers of paper-mache and paint dried, I worked on the second component of my piece. After thinking back on the projects made by my peers and looking at their blogs, I came up with a unique compliment for each of them. I then drew and painted unique designs on rectangles of particle board before writing the compliments and sealing them with gloss varnish. Each rectangle had holes cut into them and yarn was tied through them to create necklaces.

Each student received a compliment necklace and then had a turn with the big hand. Each person was cheered for as they received high fives from everyone else in class! It was a very fun piece to make and the performance was very heartwarming. I'm very pleased with the result.