It was a tag-team effort as Joe Pona and Chuck Seacrist deftly wound layers of the sticky packaging material around Ryan Walczak's long leg strategically propped sideways on a chair.
The Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin High School students weren't participating in playful behavior, but rather following instructions for a project in their 3-D Design art class.
Last week, clusters of students scattered throughout a classroom within NDCL's Fine Arts facility went about their assignment of creating casts of arms, legs, torsos and heads from the adhesive substance, using classmates as models.
The main complaint of those being taped? Itchiness.
The most difficult challenge faced by those doing the taping? Maneuvering of curves and angles.
A light-hearted tone and lots of laughs rippled through the room as the class experienced a hands-on lesson involving site-specific art.
"It's my job to make the course fun," NDCL art teacher Peter Nezovich said. "Hopefully through projects like this they'll see art isn't just about dead guys' paintings on white walls. It makes them think what a creative mind can come up with."
Once completed, the array of assembled tape-cast bodies will be posed in a scene atop the roof of the building and on the ground below.
The project is composed of four classes to construct the separate casts, another to assemble the figures with yet more tape and finally the installation scheduled to take place early next week.
Prior to taping, Nezovich requested ideas for a specific theme.
A brainstorming session inspired junior Jerry Arko of Eastlake to come up with the winning scenario based on a dramatic action scene in the recent movie "300," which showcased a battle between ancient Sparta and Persia.
In Jerry's version, titled "Kicked Off 'Da Roof," a group of aggressors will be posed kicking a foe off the side of the building, then being caught in a blanket held by rescuers.
"Art isn't always organized," Jerry said.
"When it's more random, it makes you think about things. It relaxes you and you can express yourself."
Junior Joe Saxon of Chardon was less philosophical as he allowed his torso to be taped by Jerry and Ariane Adamic of Wickliffe.
"I don't know how I was conned into doing this," Joe said.
Junior Dani Vitale of Willoughby Hills leaned against a classmate to keep her balance as a single cast, resembling shrink wrap, was formed on her from head to toe.
Good-natured throughout the snug ordeal, Dani noted that she might need a late pass for her next class as Nezovich carefully snipped her limbs free with a pair of green scissors.
Freshman Michelle Ray of Kirtland said that several layers must be applied to ensure the sculpture won't collapse.
Nezovich illustrated the importance of site-specific art by mentioning a monument that was created in memory of Kent State University shootings on May 4, 1970. Found to be too emotionally unsettling as a fixture at the school, the piece now is displayed at Princeton University in New Jersey.
"Because it's not at KSU anymore, the power (of the artwork) is kind of gone. Location is very important," he said.
Several students said they signed up for the introductory art course just to have the opportunity to participate in the 3-D design.
Sophomore Michelle Peasley of Painesville Township confessed that her interest was piqued when her older brother who took the class some years earlier decided to duplicate the project at home, using her as a model.
Unfortunately, he neglected to follow the procedure of winding the first layer sticky-side out, which caused some discomfort for the willing volunteer.
Brian Chanda of Painesville said he felt like he was inside of a bubble with a tape-covered head, but enjoyed taking part in the unusual assignment.
Those with wrapped heads were given the option of leaving an opening in the mouth or nose for breathing purposes. Most chose mouths. |
