Materials and Process

• Construction paper
• Exacto knife

1. Cutting and folding.

Artist's Narrative

I cut out a checkered, symmetrical pattern. Then I folded up the pieces to make a semi-3-dimensional patterned paper. Lighting affects the shadows, which articulate additional patterning that a 2-D piece wouldn't have.

Teacher's Comment

Notice the difference between "folding and cutting" and "cutting and folding." The former requires unfolding; both introduce a third dimension to a two-dimensional work; the latter also introduces the play of light upon forms. All of the five-pointed stars in this practicum suggest that they were individually cut. Then the folding was undertaken to introduce a third dimension.

Islamic art offers many examples of works that play with the effects of light on forms. In particular, in ceramics and metalwork, there is a quality of openwork that is called ajouré (using a French term). Jali (carved stone screens in India) also admit light, as do mashrubiyya (lathe-cut wooden panels) from Egypt and North Africa.