**Commissioner-Artist-Model-Sculpture**

**Art Activity**

**Explain:** To become a well known sculptor like Saint-Gaudens, first
you have to win a major commission.

1.  What is a commission?

2.  How would you win a commission?

3.  What does it meant to be a commissioner?

**Explain:** A commissioner decides **who or what** he or she wants a
sculpture of, **how large it** will be, what it will be **made of,** and
when it **needs to be done** by, and where it will be **placed.**

1)  **Sculptures come in different sizes.**

    a.  If a figure is created life sized, it is called a life sized
        sculpture.

    b.  If it larger than life, it is called heroic.

    c.  If it is really large, it is called Colossal.

    d.  And if it is smaller than life size, it is called a reduction.

2)  **Sculptures can be made out of different materials.**

    a.  What materials might be considered for a large out door
        sculpture? Why?

    b.  What materials would break down over time outside? What
        materials would last for centuries? (David by Michelangelo in
        Rome; The Thinker by Rodin, in Rome)

    c.  Can you think of any sculptures that have been around for
        thousands of years? (Buddhas carved in the cliffs of
        Afghanistan; buried soldiers guarding and ancient emperor's tome
        in China)

    d.  Some environmental sculptures are meant to change with the
        weather and seasons. (Andy Goldsworthy)

    e.  Would you rather outlive your sculptures, or have your
        sculptures remain 100's of years after you've died? Why?

-   Divide students into groups (minimum in a group-4)

**Explain:** There are commissioners on the grounds right now and
sculptors who will try their best to win a commission. There are models
whose fine features will be immortalized for all time, and there are
materials that will come to life under the sculptor's hands.

**Divide up roles in the group**.

1)  **1 commissioner-**

    a.  Announces that he or she wants a sculpture to commemorate
        \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (a historical event, an
        important person, or an allegorical figure.- i.e. a figure to
        represent truth, courage, friendship, victory or some other
        virtue or ideal.)

    b.  The commissioner decides how big the sculpture will be and what
        it will be made of.

2)  **1-2 sculptors-**

    a.  The sculptor(s) draw sketches and make models to submit to the
        Commissioner.

3)  **1 or more models-**

    a.  The models take the poses that the sculptor requires.

4)  **1 or more to be the sculpture-**

    a.  The sculpture (person) allows themselves to be moved and posed
        to mirror the pose of the model.

*If there are enough staff, have the rangers do an example.*

**Instructions:**

1)  The Commissioner will decide what is to be commemorated and makes an
    announcement about a competition. "I am looking for a sculptor to
    make a memorial to
    \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ " (Event,
    Person, or Ideal)

2)  The whole group can talk about where their sculpture will be placed.
    (i.e. In a city park, inside your state house, on the top of Mt. St.
    Helen, in the children's ward at Dartmouth Hitchcock)

3)  Artists get busy thinking about how they would complete their
    project and submit their ideas to the Commissioner.

4)  The commissioner accepts or rejects ideas, and finally chooses the
    entry he or she likes best.

5)  Once the Commissioner has chosen the sculptor and approved their
    ideas for the project, they will give the sculptor an allowance in
    order for them to get the sculpture started.

    a.  What would the sculptor need money for? (Food, rent, models,
        materials)

6)  The Sculptor then hires a model, and tells them how to pose. FREEZE

7)  Next the Sculptor gets his or her materials out and creates the
    sculpture. FREEZE

**Each group will announce to the larger group** who or what their
sculpture is about, what size it is, what it is made out of, and where
it will be placed.

**Visit the Farragut**

Explain that the memorial to Admiral David Glasgow Farragut was
Saint-Gaudens' first major commission. It brought him notoriety, allowed
him to get many more commissions and to get married. An image of the
Farragut monument can be seen at the webpage below.
[http://www.forgottendelights.com/images/Photos%20for%20NYsc%20index/Farragut.jpg](http://www.forgottendelights.com/images/Photos for NYsc index/Farragut.jpg)

**Glossary**

**Commissioner:** an official chosen by an association to exercise broad
administrative or judicial authority. An art commissioner would choose
the artist to execute the piece of art work they wanted done.

**Commission:** a task or matter committed to one's charge; official
assignment. *The architect received a commission to design the new
school.*

**Sculptor:** an artist who creates 3 dimensional art work, or bas
relief.