Lesson Overview
This lesson brings Nebraska Writing Standards and National Art Standards together. Students deteremine what objects are meaningful in their lives and look at artist Sheila Hicks' soft sculpture titled Six Soft Stones. Students explore the symbolic meanings attached to "wrapping" and they will be asked to express personal meaning through narrative writing.

Art Exemplar
Title: Six Soft Stones
Artist: Sheila Hicks (b. 1934)
Medium: silk, wool, linen, monofilament, mohair, nylon, cotton, garments-wrapped
Date: 1997

Objectives
• The students will recognize what personal items are important and meaningful in their lives by choosing objects to use when making art.
• The students will apply fiber artist Sheila Hicks’ techniques by constructing soft sculptures that include significant items from their life.
• The students will reflect upon their meaningful objects by summarizing key points of the symbolism of wrapping and how art is often about an idea.
• The students will reflect upon the importance of their personal objects by writing a narrative about the object to be folded and included in the finished soft sculpture.
Procedure
1. Tell students to bring a small object that has special meaning. Show students examples of items that could be brought to school. Explain that the item must be important to them and it will be used for a special art and writing project. For example, they could bring a seashell from a vacation or a special rock they found on a walk.
2. Ask: "How can a work of art be about an idea?" Show a box wrapped as a gift and/or a doll wrapped in a blanket.
3. Discuss the symbolism of wrapping securely with something special inside, giving secrecy and protection.
4. Show a Sheila Hicks video and/or the MONA website and/or prints of Six Soft Stones.
Activities
1. Write a narrative telling about a special object and where it came from. (Teacher may wish to make copies of the papers for use to read:…for later use.)
2. After discussion about the symbolism involved in wrapping, lay out a variety of fabrics and strings, yarns, etc. Demonstrate various wrapping patterns to form surface design.
3. Encourage students to select materials they like or fit the significance of the item to be wrapped. They should fold up their narrative paper and wrap it along with their special object. They should work carefully and in an intricate manner. Use pictures of Sheila Hicks’ Stones to observe intricate wrap patterns.
Conclusion
1. Discuss and ask: How does the idea of wrapping create art? Describe how you felt when wrapping your special memento. "How could you change the results of your wrapped item?"
2. After wrapping is complete, display the artwork with the narrative written in final draft. Take a photo of the student with his or her wrapped piece so the artwork can be sent home for safety and to be unwrapped.
Related Activities
1. Art
1. A textile project such as "Weaving with Straws," Art and Activities Magazine, Dec. 2004, pg. 20