Making Connections with Paper: The Ellis School visits the Frick
Each year, the Frick welcomes thousands of students who participate in school programs designed to make meaningful connections to their school curriculums.
Recently, we had the opportunity to make a unique and timely connection for the students at the Ellis School through The Frick Art Museum’s current special exhibition, Isabelle de Borchgrave: Fashioning Art from Paper. The show features works by Belgian contemporary artist Isabelle de Borchgrave, who creates hand painted paper costumes inspired by historical garments.
Recently, we had the opportunity to make a unique and timely connection for the students at the Ellis School through The Frick Art Museum’s current special exhibition, Isabelle de Borchgrave: Fashioning Art from Paper. The show features works by Belgian contemporary artist Isabelle de Borchgrave, who creates hand painted paper costumes inspired by historical garments.
Ellis students participate in an annual House Games Leadership Program, which includes a paper dressmaking competition. Each house is named after a historic woman from Pittsburgh, and is composed of 5th through 8th graders. During the dressmaking competition, students work together to create one gown on a dress form, and a second dress directly onto student models. Similar to Isabelle de Borchgrave, the students’ dresses are made entirely from paper and are inspired by famous red carpet gowns. The competition culminates in a runway show, during which the student models walk the runway for their faculty and classmates, and the gowns are judged to determine the winning dress for the year. The entire process is a fun and creative one for the students and a favorite activity during the House Games.
Jean Mercier, World Language teacher and Middle School Activities Coordinator at Ellis, explained that when they learned about the Isabelle de Borchgrave show at the Frick, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to learn more about this unique art form and to make connections to the House Games. The education staff at the Frick worked with Jean to design a visit that allowed the students to find inspiration in Isabelle’s work, but also to practice some of the same techniques she uses to create her paper costumes. On the day of the visit, the students received guided tours of the show with the Frick’s museum teachers, followed by a hands-on paper workshop with our art teachers. During the workshop, the students practiced manipulating paper through different folding, curling and cutting techniques.
Jean felt that the visit was a worthwhile one for the students. Not only were they fascinated by Isabelle’s beautiful creations, they were also able to take the techniques they learned at the Frick and apply them to their own paper dresses. The creativity and skill that went into each of the students’ final pieces lends further proof to what Isabelle de Borchgrave’s work also demonstrates—that inspiration and beauty can be found in the most unlikely of places, even a material as common as paper.
Thank you to Jean Mercier and his students for visiting the Frick, and for sharing their fabulous creations with us!
Ellis students get inspired during a tour of Isabelle de Borchgrave: Fashioning Art from Paper at The Frick Art Museum.
While touring the show, students discuss Isabelle’s series based on the costumes of the Ballet Russes.
During the paper workshop, the Frick’s art teachers demonstrate cutting, folding, and curling techniques for the students to practice.
The students practice manipulating paper using different folding techniques.
During the House Games, students use the folding techniques they learned at the Frick to add detailing to their paper gown. Photograph courtesy of Jean Mercier.
A student model shows off her group’s paper creation. Photograph courtesy of Jean Mercier.
One of the final products displayed on a dress form. Photograph courtesy of Jean Mercier.
Another one of the students’ creations. Photograph courtesy of Jean Mercier.
Isabelle de Borchgrave: Fashioning Art from Paper is on view at The Frick Art Museum through Sunday, January 6, 2019.
Purchase Tickets
Jean Mercier, World Language teacher and Middle School Activities Coordinator at Ellis, explained that when they learned about the Isabelle de Borchgrave show at the Frick, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to learn more about this unique art form and to make connections to the House Games. The education staff at the Frick worked with Jean to design a visit that allowed the students to find inspiration in Isabelle’s work, but also to practice some of the same techniques she uses to create her paper costumes. On the day of the visit, the students received guided tours of the show with the Frick’s museum teachers, followed by a hands-on paper workshop with our art teachers. During the workshop, the students practiced manipulating paper through different folding, curling and cutting techniques.
Jean felt that the visit was a worthwhile one for the students. Not only were they fascinated by Isabelle’s beautiful creations, they were also able to take the techniques they learned at the Frick and apply them to their own paper dresses. The creativity and skill that went into each of the students’ final pieces lends further proof to what Isabelle de Borchgrave’s work also demonstrates—that inspiration and beauty can be found in the most unlikely of places, even a material as common as paper.
Thank you to Jean Mercier and his students for visiting the Frick, and for sharing their fabulous creations with us!
Ellis students get inspired during a tour of Isabelle de Borchgrave: Fashioning Art from Paper at The Frick Art Museum.
While touring the show, students discuss Isabelle’s series based on the costumes of the Ballet Russes.
During the paper workshop, the Frick’s art teachers demonstrate cutting, folding, and curling techniques for the students to practice.
The students practice manipulating paper using different folding techniques.
During the House Games, students use the folding techniques they learned at the Frick to add detailing to their paper gown. Photograph courtesy of Jean Mercier.
A student model shows off her group’s paper creation. Photograph courtesy of Jean Mercier.
One of the final products displayed on a dress form. Photograph courtesy of Jean Mercier.
Another one of the students’ creations. Photograph courtesy of Jean Mercier.
Isabelle de Borchgrave: Fashioning Art from Paper is on view at The Frick Art Museum through Sunday, January 6, 2019.
Purchase Tickets