Lecture Notes: Creating Yayoi Kusama Inspired Pumpkins

Overview

• Inspiration: Yayoi Kusama, a Japanese contemporary artist known for her installations and sculptures.
  • Notable for installations featuring pumpkins.

Project Objective

• Assignment: Create plaster pumpkins inspired by Yayoi Kusama.

Materials Required

1. Plastic bags
2. Masking tape
3. Aluminum foil (for stem)
4. Plaster strips
5. Bucket of water
6. Sharpie (for labeling)

Step-by-Step Process

1. Prepare the Base

• Fill a Plastic Bag:
  • Use multiple plastic bags to fill one bag.
  • Ensure the bag is full but still squishable.

2. Shape the Pumpkin

• Tie the Bag:
  • Secure the bag tightly at the top.
• Create Indentations:
  • Use masking tape to make 3 lines on the bag.
  • Pull the tape tightly to form indentations.

3. Add the Stem

• Foil Stem:
  • Mold a piece of foil into a stem shape.
  • Attach it to the top of the pumpkin using a messy tape ball.

4. Label the Pumpkin

• Use Sharpie:
  • Write your name and class code on the tape lines.

5. Apply Plaster Strips

• Prepare Plaster:
  • Wet the plaster strips in a bucket.
• Cover the Pumpkin:
  • Lay plaster strips across the pumpkin and stem.
  • Avoid overlapping too much; ensure all bag surfaces are covered.
  • Smooth out the netting texture with damp fingers.

6. Final Check

• Ensure no part of the plastic bag is visible when resting flat.
• Adjust any sticking plaster strips.

Post-Activity

• Allow the plaster to dry until the next class.
• Future Step: Painting the pumpkins in the next art class.