Aztec Meets Modern Masks

As a culminating project to end our (very long) Aztec art unit, my fifth graders created decorative clay masks that integrate Aztec features with the modern masks of mask maker Kimmy Cantrell. 

I showed students images of Aztec masks, and then images of masks by Kimmy Cantrell.

     

 We discussed how by manipulating the features of the face, an artist can elicit certain emotions.  We also discussed the idea of asymmetrical versus symmetrical face forms and how shape, size, and texture can change the overall appearance of the mask. Students were challenged to design an mask digitally, using the Pixie program and then create their mask in clay.  As they worked, they had the option of changing their mask from their sketch or keeping it the same or similar.  Here are a few examples: