Art & Math in Three-Dimensions (2024)

Introduction: Art & Math in Three-Dimensions

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This project and lesson takes it's inspiration from the three-dimensional Afrofuturistic quilted sculptures by African American artist Sanford Biggers. As Biggers has described, his quilt works, which he began making in 2012, allude to the highly debated practice of using quilts to mark safe spaces along the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses established in the U.S. during the early to mid-19th century. Biggers glues pieces of old patchwork quilts onto plywood, producing geometric compositions that recall Japanese origami, Rubik’s Cubes, and fractal geometry. In this lesson, students will classify and explore basic properties of 2D shapes, learn 3D design fundamentals, construct geometric shapes (grades 3+), and calculate area of shapes (grades 6+).

Supplies

Base material such as stiff cardboard or corrugated geometric shapes (pre-cut is optional)

Scissors or a hobby knife and/or x-acto cutter

Pencils

Rulers for measuring

Markers for coloring

Craft glue sticks (ex. Elmer's)

Hot glue (optional)

Handouts (attached)

Step 1: Learn About Afrofuturism & Art

Afrofuturism is a cultural aesthetic that combines science-fiction, history and fantasy to explore the Black American experience and aims to connect those from the Black diaspora with their African ancestry. Jazz maverick Sun Ra is known as a pioneer of Afrofuturism. His 1974 film, Space is the Place is a great starting point for teachers and students to learn more about Afrofuturism. Contemporary artists such as Sanford Biggers, Xenobia Bailey, and Saya Woolfalk incorporate "afrofuturistic" elements in their artworks. Seattle-based hip hop group Shabazz Palaces uses Afrofuturism as a theme for their album art and music. Afrofuturism can also be used as a style prompt in generative artificial intelligence (GenAI).

In Chapter 2 of the book Afrofuturism 2.0: The Rise of Astro-Blackness, the author (Nettrice Gaskins) explores the relationship between Afrofuturism, Black American quilts, and themes such as escape with the Underground Railroad.

Step 2: Reinforce Math Concepts

Afrofuturistic and quilt-based artworks are made up of lines and shapes. A shape is a graphical representation of an object's form or its external boundary, outline, or external surface. Shapes have sides and angles that are equal or unequal (irregular). Use the handout to count the sides, corners or vertices for each shape type.

Students in grades 3 through 6+ can use this project to learn the principles of 2D shapes. Students in grades 6+ can practice constructing triangles and quadrilaterals (i.e., hexagons) and calculate the area of different geometric shapes.

Attachments

  • 2D_Shape_Principles.pdf

    Download

  • Construction_of_Right_Triangle.pdf

    Download

  • Construction_of_Hexagon.pdf

    Download

  • Grades6+_Calculate_Area.pdf

    Download

Step 3: Print & Color Geometric Quilt Patterns

Artist Sanford Biggers glues pieces of antique patchwork quilts onto wood shapes to make geometric sculptures. The quilt designs are made of up 2D geometric shapes such as squares, triangles, and hexagons. These designs have names such as "honeycomb" or mosaic, "half-square," and "chevron."

For this project, students can use printed Geometric Pattern Templates (see attached files) and color in the designs using markers. They can also make geometric, shape-based patterns of their own on paper or generate geometric patterns using Culturally Situated Design Tools or CSDTs, esp. using Afrofuturism CSDTs that feature Sanford Biggers, Xenobia Bailey and Saya Woolfalk.

For the next step, students will use cardboard shape templates to trace and cut out shapes (from the paper) to glue on the cardboard shapes.

Attachments

  • halfsquare_pattern_handout.pdf

    Download

  • honeycomb_pattern_handout.pdf

    Download

  • chevron_pattern_handout.pdf

    Download

Step 4: Glue Colored Quilt Patterns to Cardboard Shapes

Use pre-cut cardboard shapes or use scrap cardboard to draw and cut out shapes (see attached file) for this project. Next, use the cardboard shapes as a template to trace outlines on the back of the colored geometric quilt patterns. Cut out the shapes (from the patterns) and use glue sticks to attach the patterns to the cardboard shapes.

Attachments

  • cardboard_shape_template_handout.pdf

    Download

Step 5: Cut Notches on Cardboard Shapes

Use scissors or a hobby knife to cut notches on the edges of the cardboard shapes. Some students may find it helpful to use a black marker to mark where to cut the notches. Make the width of the cut a bit smaller than the width of the cardboard so the shapes slide in and stay put.

Step 6: Assemble & Remix 3D Sculpture

Use the colored quilt/cardboard shapes to assemble a three-dimensional sculpture inspired by Sanford Biggers' works. Attach the shapes using the notches or slits on the edges of the shapes. Students can also explore remixing and improvisation with this step.

Remixing is a creative practice whereby existing works are rearranged, combined, or assembled into a new work: a song, section of artwork, block of code, book, video, or lesson plan can all be remixed. In addition to Sanford Biggers remixing quilt designs, Chilean-born Guillermo Bert creates objects embedded with bar codes that remix and extend the iconography of heritage artifacts such as Chilean textiles that are encoded with culturally specific designs. The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) artist and technologist Amelia Winger-Bearskin remixes stories with heritage artifacts such as the wampum shell bead of the Eastern Woodlands tribes.

This project is also an example of improvisation, a practice that makes due with whatever is at hand, in this case colorful, geometric cardboard shapes. Modes and methods such as remixing and improvisation form the framework for Techno-Vernacular Creativity & Innovation, which highlights the myriad ways in which certain groups engage STEAM concepts.

Art & Math in Three-Dimensions (2024)

FAQs

What is the 3 dimensional art? ›

Three-dimensional (3D) art includes traditional sculpture and immersive installations. Objects with three dimensions—with height, width, and depth—occupy physical space and can be perceived from all directions and angles.

What are the 3 dimensions of form in art? ›

Forms exist in three dimensions, with height, width, and depth. Shape has only height and width. Shape is usually, though not always, defined by line, which can provide its contour.

What 3 dimensions can you see in art? ›

Shape and form

Shapes have two dimensions–height and width–and are usually defined by lines. Forms exist in three dimensions, with height, width, and depth.

What are examples of 3 dimensional drawing? ›

Examples of 3D drawing include computer-generated imagery (CGI), architectural renderings, product designs, and character animations.

What is an artistic technique that creates a three-dimensional appearance? ›

This is perspective. It is perspective that helps make things look three dimensional – and creates a sense of space receding into the distance. There are two types of persepective: linear perspective, and aerial perspective (sometimes also called atmospheric perspective).

Do we exist in three dimensions? ›

We live in a world of three dimensions.

We move through space , either left or right, forward or backward, up or down. Everything around us, from the houses we live in to the objects we use in everyday life, has three dimensions: height, length, and width.

Are humans 3rd-dimensional beings? ›

We are 3D creatures,living in a 3D world but our eyes can show us only 2Dimension.

Can humans see in three dimensions? ›

We are 3D creatures, living in a 3D world but our eyes can show us only two dimensions. The depth that we all think we can see is merely a trick that our brains have learned; a byproduct of evolution putting our eyes on the front of our faces. To prove this, close one eye and try to play tennis.

What is the oldest known example of a three-dimensional artwork? ›

Sculpture is any artwork made by the manipulation of materials resulting in a three-dimensional object. The sculpted figure of the Venus of Berekhat Ram, discovered in the Middle East in 1981, dates to 230,000 years BCE. It is the oldest example of artwork known.

What is an example of a work of art that exists in three dimensions? ›

3D Art Examples

The statue, David, created by Michelangelo, is an example created using the carving method. It was carved from a block of marble to become a full-round sculpture. Another famous example of three dimensional art is the Great Sphinx located next to the Pyramid of Giza.

Which is an example of a three-dimensional artwork remember? ›

Examples of 3D art are buildings, animations, wood carvings, sculptures, video games and virtual reality.

Is Mona Lisa a three-dimensional art? ›

Leonardo Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" painting may be part of the oldest 3D artwork, say two visual scientists.

What is the difference between 2D and 3D art? ›

The main difference is that works of 2D art exist on a flat plane, while works of 3D art are objects. Examples of 2D art are paintings, posters, sketches, comics, illustrations, prints, and photographs. Examples of 3D art are buildings, animations, wood carvings, sculptures, video games and virtual reality.

What is 3D art in high school? ›

As a 3D Design class students will be learning about, and creating sculptural art works. Students will utilize drawing, individual and group inquiry and discussion, media experimentation and application in the planning, construction and self-evaluation stages of their sculptures.

What is the full meaning of 3D? ›

3D is short for "three-dimensional," or "three dimensions," and you can use this shorthand as an adjective or a noun: "Put these funky glasses on and you can watch the movie in 3D!" Definitions of 3D.

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