WEEK 10: June 1st - 5th
IMAGINARY FRIEND
Artist to investigate: Joo Young Choi
Most of us think that as we age and become adults, we have to let go of our imaginations - face REAL LIFE. But Joo Young Choi is an (adult) artist who is still in touch with her own imaginary world. She creates artwork about a fictional land called the Cosmic Womb - an imagined place she started dreaming up when she was just a child.
Have you ever had an imaginary friend? If you had to create an imaginary person to hang out with, or to help you, what would they be like? How would they look? What would they do? Where would they come from? What would be their purpose in life?
Have you ever had an imaginary friend? If you had to create an imaginary person to hang out with, or to help you, what would they be like? How would they look? What would they do? Where would they come from? What would be their purpose in life?
For this art challenge, you will watch a video about Joo Young Choi and her artwork, and then create your own imaginary friend.
INSTRUCTIONS: Make an imaginary friend using any medium you like. Create a sculpture, collage, painting or drawing. You can do this by sewing fabrics, disassembling old dolls and reassembling them in new ways, sculpting out of cardboard and hot glue - anything! It can be a sock puppet, a wire sculpture, a hybrid creature of some kind... whatever you want. Please include (in a separate photo) details about your imaginary friend: Name, description of what the imaginary friend does, where they came from, what their purpose is... and any other details I should know. :)
EXTRA CHALLENGE FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO NEED IT: Bring your new friend out into the world. Introduce them to your friends and family - or strangers. Photograph them doing things with you. Or create a world FOR your friend and photograph them in it!
TIPS/TRICKS:
INSTRUCTIONS: Make an imaginary friend using any medium you like. Create a sculpture, collage, painting or drawing. You can do this by sewing fabrics, disassembling old dolls and reassembling them in new ways, sculpting out of cardboard and hot glue - anything! It can be a sock puppet, a wire sculpture, a hybrid creature of some kind... whatever you want. Please include (in a separate photo) details about your imaginary friend: Name, description of what the imaginary friend does, where they came from, what their purpose is... and any other details I should know. :)
EXTRA CHALLENGE FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO NEED IT: Bring your new friend out into the world. Introduce them to your friends and family - or strangers. Photograph them doing things with you. Or create a world FOR your friend and photograph them in it!
TIPS/TRICKS:
- What is a problem you're facing or an issue you're currently dealing with? Who could you invent to help you, provide comfort, offer protection, or address your needs? Or maybe think of someone else in your life who really needs an imaginary friend right now - and create one for them.
- Need inspiration? Watch old episodes of The Muppet Show, Pee-wee's Playhouse, The Polka-Dot Door, or H.R. Pufnstuf to see some examples of imaginary friends others have invented.
- Having trouble thinking of ideas? You might need to make your friend first, before coming up with a backstory. Just start playing around with some materials and see what comes to you.
The following assignment is from "You Are An Artist: Assignments to Spark Creation" by Sarah Urist Green.
It is available for purchase here.
It is available for purchase here.