Wig Maker - Fun Activities - Manufacturing and Production

News Article: What does it say?
Alopecia & Wigs in Art History: What can you find?
Tutorial: How to make a simple (or complex) paper wig

News Article: What does it say?

Middle

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Critical and creative thinking

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Literacy

Cooperative Learning Activity

Teacher

Local copy of ABC News: 2 February 2020 (Word doc)

Students

1. Form groups of 3 - 4 students and read the following article from ABC News 2 February 2020 Read

Originally at:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-02/why-this-barrister-is-collecting-judges-wigs/11921692

Local copy: Word doc

ABC News

2. Your group is to summarise the key points (broader than the article ones) and write down the historic figures mentioned in the article.

3. Select ONE historic figure EACH and research these historic figures a lot more providing:

a. Why are they "historic"? Who are they?
b. Date of Birth
c. Date of Death - if possible
d. Story of the Wig

4. Tell each other about your historic figure and their wig.

5. Why was human hair ditched in favour of horse's hair?

Alopecia & Wigs in Art History: What can you find?

Secondary

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Critical and creative thinking

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Literacy

Cooperative Learning Activity

1. In groups of 3 - 5 students, you are to read the following article from

The Conversation 2 March 2024. Read

The Conversation

2. Select ONE Art History piece each to research further from the article.

3. After you have selected your Art History piece, you are to research it further by researching the internet, YouTube Videos, Museums, for the art piece and its painter.

4. You are to research and find another art piece not shown in the Conversation and do similar research as above.

5. Wigs and Art....

Did you know that artists Yayoi Kusama and Andy Warhol painted themselves with wigs?

Yayoi Kusama

Red Wig

Andy Warhol - Self Portrait with Platinum Bouffant Wig

Andy Warhol

6. Can you find other artists that portray themselves in wigs? Again, research the Internet, YouTube videos, Museums, Art Galleries for the art piece and its painter.

7. Present all your findings to your group. Then share with another class group.

Tutorial: How to make a simple (or complex) paper wig

Primary Middle Secondary

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Critical and creative thinking
Australian Curriculum General Capability: Personal and social capability

Teacher

Your Primary students will need for this art & craft project:

double-sided tape,
scissors, and
a ‘wig’ material: either paper, ribbon, material, or synthetic fabrics.

Your Middle and Secondary students will need for this fashion or art project:

Caps made with Fosshape - a synthetic felt that can be cut, sewn, and shaped into a fairly rigid form with heat
The paper
hot glue

Introduction

Sometime ago, the Powerhouse Museum provided a tutorial on how to make a simple paper wig for their exhibits. Museums across the world use paper wigs to display on their models.

Some fashion houses also employ the use of complex wigs on their models.

You are going to craft a paper wig. Follow the instructions and then decide on the complexity of your wig!

1. All students are to read the following local copy of the Powerhouse Museum's tutorial.

Local copy Read

Powerhouse Museum finished wig
Powerhouse Museum's finished paper wig

2. For Primary students you are to follow the Powerhouse's tutorial and create a beautiful paper wig.

3. For Middle Secondary students

Look at the following and decide which wig you would like to copy:

First five from Kent University Museum "Behind the scenes" and then the Paper Cut Project for fashion.



1940s Wig
Paper Cut Project for Fashion Or any other example from the Projects

Process

The paper was cut into strips and curled around pencils, wooden dowels, knitting needles, anything that provided the correct width. It was then fixed to a wig cap with hot glue.

The caps were made with Fosshape, a synthetic felt that can be cut, sewn, and shaped into a fairly rigid form with heat. Building wigs on caps requires a bit more work than simply taping the paper curls directly to the mannequin, but it allows the wigs to easily be removed and reused without damaging the mannequin or the wig. Before making the wigs we gathered research. This included images from period fashion plates, portraits, and advertisements.

Each style presented it’s own set of challenges. Some were built up by gluing curl upon curl, others were layered then styled and trimmed the same way an actual haircut would be.

Fosshape