Fourth Project - Mosaic Mirrors

This project was loaded with new adventures for the students and staff!  Mosaic mirrors are usually built on top of a marine plywood or other strong wood that will stand up to the glue and grout process.  The mirrors are usually inset into the back of the project and the rest of the glass is completed as a mosaic on top of the front side.  Students were given free rein on creativity for this project as it was designed to see how independent they could be with glass construction.  Some direct instruction and guided instruction was needed when it came to the construction tools:  a circular saw, jigsaw, drill and router.  Students need to design their project and indicate where the mirror was going to be imbedded.  Then they had to cut out the basic wood shape, cut out the mirror space, drill holes for hanging and rout out the lip for the mirror inset.  Once the board was finished, they could then start cutting the glass for the pattern they had picked.  As you can see, we are still in the process of construction with some students almost ready to grout and some still working with the wood.  Chemical bonding is the necessary science in this construction but the color spectrum for creating the project and background plays an equal part in constructing a project that looks good.  I will publish the finished projects when they are completed.  It has been interesting to see the growth process in some students who know exactly what they want and are working toward that goal.  Some are finding out how very difficult glass art can be when skills are not applied properly.  At our 7th week end, skills are being defined and talents are being uncovered.

Third Project - Mosaic Picture Frames

We obtained some wood frames from a clearance bin at a local craft store.  Each student needed to complete a frame using either a pattern they already had or they could have created a pattern.  All decided to use the rose bud from the stained glass project.  Color combo were the choice of the student.  This project was designed to show students how to take and make a project from found objects or other substrates that could be used as a base for the art project.  Once again, the chemical bonds were needed in order for the glue to adhere the glass to the wood and the grout to fix the glass to the wood.  This was the first project where they did not use stained glass tools to construct the project.   Four students sold their frames and several still have not finished the project.

Second Projects - 3-D Stained Glass Flowers or Bugs

This project was designed to stretch the students' creative side and learn how to turn a flat project into a 3-D project quickly.  Students could choose from a rose bud stick, a ladybug stick or insect with legs, or a heart memo holder.  All of the items used recycled copper wire from an air-conditioning installation.  We took the left over wire and stripped the coating off and used the copper wire as the legs or sticks.  In working with the tools for stained glass, students learned that a liquid flux was needed in order for the tin/lead solder to stick to the copper foil and wire.  Chemical bonds were responsible for this "sticking" process.  Not all students completed the project on time.  Most of these were sold around Valentine's Day.  A few were added to a recycled bottle that was turned into a vase.  We added some pathos plants and a glass stick and made several teachers' birthdays special!