OH SMITH! A Hands-on Sculpture Making Workshop for NYC Teens
Feb 10, 2012

teens constructing with boxes

Youth Insights participants and other New York City teens use everyday materials to create sculpture in the exhibition, David Smith: Cubes and Anarchy, December 2011. Photograph by Berry Stein

teens constructing with boxes

On Saturday December 10, 2011, the Youth Insights (YI) Leaders hosted Oh Smith!, an art-making event for teens inspired by the exhibition, David Smith: Cubes and Anarchy. To prepare for the event, the YI Leaders spent many Mondays walking through the galleries, exchanging knowledge about the artist, and learning about his unique background as a welder and member of the steel worker's union.

The night of the event I, along with five other Leaders gave a short, interactive tour of the exhibition. We chose work that we felt could give context to David Smith’s life as well as open up some further discussions for the rest of the evening.

  • students sitting around in large installation room

    YI Leaders, Sarah and Elleni give the group background information on David Smith's sculpture Circle IV (1962), December 2011. Photograph by Berry Stein

  • students observing a sculpture

    YI Leader Margot discusses Smith's Blue Construction (1938), December 2011. Photograph by Berry Stein

  • creating a sculpture out of boxes and tape

    Teens at work on their sculptures, December 2011. Photograph by Berry Stein

  • constructing a sculpture

    Teens at work on their sculptures, December 2011. Photograph by Berry Stein

  • students discussing their sculptures in front of their art

    A group of teens share the motivations behind their artwork, December 2011. Photograph by Berry Stein

  • long table of seated students with pizza

    After the workshop all of the participants celebrated with a much-deserved pizza party, December 2011. Photograph by Berry Stein

After the teens felt more comfortable speaking up and asking questions, we divided the group into two ‘teams’ that would work on opposite sides of the gallery. Their task was to use many everyday materials, (brown boxes, plastic wrap, tapes, assorted garbage, trash bags, and random finds from Home Depot), to create a David Smith-inspired work of art. One team immediately bonded over their excitement about Smith’s Tank Totems and his use of industrial materials to resemble human figures. They created an almost life-sized toilet from a combination of the materials provided, as well as an abstract human figure to go with it. The second group had other ambitions in mind. Their process consisted of deconstructing many of the materials into smaller, weirder works. They cut brightly colored tape into very skinny pieces, twisted cardboard and swimming noodles into strange shapes, and then composed and attached them together into a formally chaotic, yet extremely cohesive sculpture.

The event was a rare and great opportunity for teens around the city to be able to create art physically in the presence of one of the most influential American sculptures of our time. We were joined by a really interesting and enthusiastic group of teens from all over the five boroughs, and we hope that they will return and bring more friends to our future events!

by Hannah, Youth Insights Leader