Lila Katzen was an American sculptor known for her large-scale, fluid, abstract metal sculptures. She hoped these public works of art would invite people to connect with their environment. Katzen also used materials like light, plastics and liquid in her art. She liked to think about how light interacts with the environment and with the viewer.
In “Light Sculpture,” Katzen uses an ultraviolet fluorescent light and acrylic sheets to create a work of art that emits color and light into the space around it. She said, “It seems apparent that light is not changed by human presence. To the contrary, it appears to change the participant upon contact.” When you look at “Light Sculpture,” what do you notice about the light in the work of art?
By thinking about her sculpture as more than just an object, Katzen hoped her art would come to life. Does this sculpture come alive for you?
Lila Katzen (American, 1932 – 1998), “Light Sculpture.” Ultraviolet light tube, acrylic sheeting and electrical cord, 25 × 13 1/4 × 4 inches. Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia; Gift of Roy Moyer. GMOA 1971.2708.
For this activity you will need:
- Construction paper
- Scissors
- -Glue or tape
- Parchment paper
- Colored pencils or crayons
- A battery-operated candle
To make your light sculpture:
- Fold the construction paper into thirds, leaving about one inch of paper sticking out at one end. Fold the extra bit over at the edge so you have three equal sections and one smaller tab.
- Cut out shapes that overlap the folds. These will be windows for the light to shine through. Try experimenting with different shapes! Your shapes will appear on both sides of the fold. Tip: make sure you are only cutting into two sides of the paper at a time.
- Trim pieces of parchment paper that are large enough to cover each of the light windows. Use colored pencils to color each piece of parchment paper. What colors inspire you? Will you use the same color on all your light windows or vary them?
- Glue or tape the colored parchment paper to the back of the paper, covering the holes you cut out.
- Glue the small tab inside the opposite edge of the construction paper to make a 3-sided prism.
- Turn on the battery-powered candle and place the light sculpture around it like a lantern. Enjoy the colorful glow!
