THE POWER OF MAKE-BE-LEAF, 2003

Cast fiberglass, papier-mâché, fiberglass strips, rosin, copper paint, sheet copper, copper wire, copper tubing, and pop rivets; 6'5" X 3'5" X 2'5"

Displayed courtesy of Churchill Weavers of Berea

Kentucky Artisan Center

In The Power of Make-Be-Leaf, Cheryl Powell chose to play on the physical attributes and characteristics of copper. Powell has always loved the color of polished copper and the many colors it turns when heated—especially the pinks and blues. She is also drawn to the patina that results when copper weathers. She combined the technique of papier-mâché and fiberglass construction with actual copper sheets to create this sculpture.

First, she stripped down the shiny fiberglass surface of the cast hand. She then built up layers onto the surface to create vine forms with papier-mâché and glue. The protruding curly vines were created from 3/8" copper tubing attached with pop rivets to the fiberglass hand. From these copper vines spring fabricated leaves made from sheets of copper. The copper leaves, which were cut out from paper stencils of different leaf shapes, were bent and manipulated to make them more three-dimensional. They were then attached with wire in fiberglass rosin. The entire surface was then sealed with a coat of clear sealant.

Video Clip
Information about the "Show Of Hands" exhibit in Berea from the KET series, Mixed Media.

Powell created this sculpture as part of a public art project sponsored by the Berea Arts Council in 2003. Since the council’s logo is the image of a hand, the project used the hand as its theme. Professor Carroll Hale of Eastern Kentucky University was commissioned to create from clay, a hand form more than six feet tall. The Poke Boat Company of Berea then cast 13 copies of the hand in fiberglass. A review selected designs by 13 different regional artists who then embellished the fiberglass hand forms into unique sculptures.

About the Artist | Classroom Ideas | Links

About the Artist

Cheryl Powell was born in Rockcastle County, Kentucky, near Mount Vernon, in 1965. She took her first art class in high school and was encouraged by her mother, who liked to draw. Powell attended Eastern Kentucky University for a while, took time off to raise two kids, and then returned to EKU to complete a B.A. in art education. She went on to get a master’s degree in the subject, then took a teaching position that had her traveling among several counties teaching art. Since 2001, Powell has taught at Madison Southern High School in Berea.

Her favorite medium for her own work is two-dimensional mixed media. Powell says she has always been fascinated with nature and natural forms, especially leaves. She has created large-format sculptures in plaster, wood, and metal as well as works that combine those materials. She uses numerous techniques, including welding, fiberglass bonding, and bronze casting.

Classroom Ideas

Discussion: What season does this hand make you think of? Why? What do you think the title means?

The Berea Arts Council logo is a hand—probably because so many people associate Berea with handmade crafts. Have you heard of any other public art projects? What are some ideas for forms that would be appropriate for your town, city, or school to use for a similar public art project?

Activities: Research different types of public art projects, such as community-themed, city-to-city, and art charity projects (see links below). Come up with a concept for a school, community, or charity art project. What would the theme and basic form be? Ask other classes and students to create works for display around the school.

Create your own papier-mâché sculpture.