Jane B. Montero

Reflecting on the scope of my fifth-grade art curriculum, I realized that, aside from clay projects, students were mainly creating watercolor paintings and construction paper collages—primarily 2D assignments. So, I researched artists and came across the amazing “wall sculptures” of American abstract artist Elizabeth Murray (1940–2007). I developed a cardboard construction project that includes layering cardboard and painting with acrylic paint. The results are unique and showcase a wide variety of solutions to layering cardboard.

Abstract Artist Elizabeth Murray
Elizabeth Murray’s abstract paintings are considered three-dimensional (especially her work from the eighties and beyond) because of her overlapping of materials. She used bright colors and painted in a cartoon-like style, adding humorous elements to her art.
Before students begin their projects, I show several images of Murray’s paintings and we engage in a discussion about what they see in her work. Students identify elements such as geometric and organic shapes, cartoon figures, and recognizable forms (train tracks, roads, rivers, and buildings).

Day One: Working with Cardboard
After our discussion, I hand out 8 x 10" (20 x 25 cm) cardboard for the base of the project—this piece doesn’t get cut. I then demonstrate how to cut various shapes out of cardboard, how to peel off one layer of the cardboard to expose the corrugated part, and how to use glue dots so that the cardboard doesn’t get too wet with glue.

Isn’t it rewarding to hear students share their excitement about what they’ve learned after trying something new?

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