Paper Mache Heads

A trip around the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Cambridge always goes down well. Early on in my museums career I had the privileged to actually work there on project to catalogue a load of glass plate negatives collected by Victorian anthropologists in exotic destinations like the Torres Strait and Papua New Guinea.

I spent my days looking at fabulous images of natives re-enacting head-hunting scenes and so forth. It was fabulous, I met lots of well known archaeologists and anthropologists and got to go out for lunch with them. I worked in an inspiring place, where I felt as sense of wonder every time I walked through the door and I could afford to buy a few new dresses. Anyhow, every so often we go back to have a look at the latest temporary exhibition or just to look at the stuff. Toddler boy is amazed by the totem pole and I still love looking at the Inuit artifacts.

Last time we visited, they had a new exhibition which included this series of sculptures of heads. I won't go into their significance and history here. Suffice to say that I found them inspirational in an artistic way. So, I present my idea for a kids project: Papier Mache Heads. Yes, I know this has been done a million times before, but you have to admit, if they are presented like those at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, they look rather cool!

Step 1; Blow up a balloon

Step 2; Cut up lots of paper into strips

Step 3; Mix up the Papier Mache paste stuff. I think you can do this two ways; 1 part flour, one part water mixed together or 3/4 glue to 1/4 water all mixed together.

Step 4; Stick the paper onto the balloon using the mixture, mould the features and so forth

Step 5; Wait till dry

Step 6; Paint however you like!

Step 7; Display in your own mini art gallery

Paper Mache Heads