2nd year critique:

9 a.m SECOND YEAR CRITIQUE! a.k.a- ME next year!!! This was the critique I was hoping to be assigned to!  Their assignment was to fold paper in order to create a curve and imitate the human being. (crazy, right? What does that even mean?)  It was interesting to see the completely different ideas they ended up with!  Only nine people were actually presenting their critique. (Scary- does this mean the best 9 people are chosen?)  It was a much more laid back environment because they were not actually presenting their projects to the whole class.  They basically had to present it to their teacher, and then anyone else who walked by and wanted to hear about it.  The students were also all dressed nice in order to show off their work.  The models were all completely different.  One of my favorites was Weston Willard's, who stuck to paper the entire time. I also spoke to him after wards to ask some questions (he acted like it was no big deal, of course)  He figured out how to make the paper fold in a certain way and then used this same fold in all the others, and ultimately interlocked them all together.  It could then be utilized in several different ways.

W.W's Presentation Board (left half)

W.W's Paper Model

Another project I really liked was one that focused on holism.  It was suppose to be a piece of art that had individual pieces that were tied together to make a whole piece.  I thought the model was really successful and it looked so neat and perfect!

Model

All of the second years presentation boards were incredible.  I'm wondering how we're going to go from what we're doing in studio now to creating models and boards that are so professional in the matter of only one semester!  =/ !!

"JILL OF ALL TRADES"

Assignment:  to create a luminaire using wood, or previous project materials.  Only one light bulb may be used and we are suppose to create a light EFFECT, using our original 'phenomenal light project'.

My original phenomenon was the 'smoke' or mushroom spores coming off the large mushroom that could only be seen if the sun was shining on it.  Therefore, I used the behavior of smoke as my inspiration and theme.  I knew immediately I wanted to use some kind of wood as my material, and I also knew I wanted to BEND the wood for a smokey effect.  Finally, I knew I wanted a relatively large (around 4 feet) floor luminaire.

My first step, besides sketches, was to create some simple models.

Original idea 

This idea was going to involve laminating bass wood and forcing it to bend in opposite directions.  However, once I realized the details of the work (the joints) I no longer felt it could be beautiful.

I then had advice for a new, but similar direction.  I made a model of one similar but that resonated with me more.

Developed idea

Once I had my finalized idea, my next step was to make a full scale model of it.  I used cardboard as my material and cut out 18, 3"x 28" strips that tapered off at the top so that more light would come out from the top, and less from the bottom.  The cardboard was difficult to work with and by the end of it, it created more of a twisting effect rather than bent.

Full Scale Cardboard Model

I also put the light source in the middle rather than the planned bottom because the cardboard closed in the middle and the light effect accidentally turned out cool!  It created a star pattern on both the floor and ceiling.

It was time to get to work for REAL in the wood shop!  After much research, discussions, and trial and errors, I settled on POPLAR wood.

This wood piece=entire project!

I began by getting two smaller pieces of it together to create a large enough piece for my 10" diameter circular base.  I then started PLANING the wood so that it could taper off at the top of the light like I had planned.  Matt, the wood shop worker, had to invent (also out of wood) something that would allow us to do this on the planer.

1/16" strip tapered at top

Once the base dried, I drew the circle, and used the band saw to cut out a rough circle and then used the wood turner to sand it, flatten the circle, and then create an angle on it so that the future wood strips would angle out and then in, creating a bent effect.

The base!

I then used a huge drill bit to create a patterned hold in the middle, where the light would come through.

Hole for the Light

I began creating strips.  I used the table saw to cute 1/16th inch strips.  I had to experiment with the thickness (I also considered 1/8" strips) but ultimately 1/16" was how thin (although I still feel its too thin) it needed to be in order to work.  I used the table saw to cut out a ton of these strips and was then ready to piece it together!

I started by stapling the strips to the angled base on the untampered side of the strips.  I paneled them (overlapped them) so the bottom would not allow any light through and so you could not see the staples. At first the wood cracked, so Matt had to bring in a certain stapler for it.  Then I had the issue of knots in the wood, where they were cracking, and I had to painfully replace those.

Paneled bottom held with nails and screws

The staples ended up not holding up perfectly, so I decided to add screws at the bottom to unsure its stability.  I used a blue string to hold the pieces together so I could experiment with how large or small the top circle should be.
The hardest part of the whole project was the top!  I made a 6" diameter circle that was thinner and not angled, using the band saw and turner again.  Then I had to staple on the top (tapered) pieces.  To do this I used the method of trial and error.  I used the staple gun to barely hold them and then sanded the staples off when I had to try again.  When I finally figured out how far each strip had to be spaces, or overlap, I used screws (like the bottom) to hold them to the smaller top circle.  This is where it all began to fall apart.

Top circle and Metal Dowel

Because the wood was so thin- it started to break.  So I took the screws out and stapled them instead.  Then I realized the staples would not hold the pressure when I pushed the top down to make the luminaire bend, so we soaked a thing strip of poplar wood over night and then wrapped it around the top to take some of the pressure off.

TOP- wooden strip to help with pressure

THE DIRTY DETAILS:
There is a rod in the middle of the luminaire.  This is to hold the top down so it can bend.  A metal dowel holds it in place.
To hold the rod in the middle, there are four eyebolts.  Three are in the base, forming a triangle, and one is at the bottom of the rod.  They are all connected with nylon twine.  This allows the light to be adjustable, and BEND.

Eye Bolts

INSIDE

FIRST ADJUSTMENT

SECOND ADJUSTMENT (more bent)

I am the most excited about this project out of the whole semester.  I enjoy working in the wood shop because it is more active and hands on.  I also worked the hardest on this project.  Of course, there were things I'd like to have done better, but I was reminded a couple of times, "Calm down Shirley, YOU ARE NOT A MACHINE," as well as a classmate telling me "It can't be perfect." me- "..but I want it to be perfect!!" classmate: "I KNOW you do!" HAHA! Oh yes, and this too: "BREATHE."  I told my teacher at the beginning, "I want my light to look like someone made it who actually KNOWS how to make lights!" and he laughed :)  I don't know if I accomplished quite that- but I am definitely proud of how it turned out!

Bottom Light Effect

LIGHT THROUGH SPACES

Without the Dark

LIGHT EFFECT

2x4 Project!

We got to do a project in the scary wood shop!  We had a 2x4 x 18" of wood and were asked to cut this piece of wood at LEAST five times, and using ALL the pieces, to somehow create a system.  This meant that we basically had to figure out how to piece the wood back together, without using any material (adhesives) other than one we created out of our 2x4! Hmmm....
Yeah, I didn't realize what I was getting myself into!

I originally thought it would be a simple, ten cutes at the most, type of project.  I drew some sketches went to the wood shop, and put myself to work at the band saw.  All of my sketches quickly diminished with the first cut.  However, I did stay partly true to the plan I had in mind for the joints.  I wanted to drill a hole in the pieces that would be connected and then cut a small wooden peg that would fit snug into the hole and keep them together.

Originally these joints were short, but I made them the full 18" later because I realized it was way more efficient.  I used the giant drill and used a 1/4" drill.  Then I had to use a table saw to cut a square peg that would fit into the hole.  It took a few tries but I eventually got the right size once it had been sanded down.  I cut some pieces with the rest of the wood that were also 18" by 1 1/2", and connected them all using three of the pegs.

So, there.  I had mastered a lot of the scary tools in the wood shop, and had at least made SOMETHING.  But of course I was going to have to try again for a good project.  So I went to Lowes and bought a new 2x4.  (although really it was much more than 18" long- so I had to cut it)

I went to the wood shop a couple more times in order to create the new project I had in mind.  I made the same 18" pegs and 1/4" hole pegs to hold this one together.  I then cut the wood into much thinner and much shorter pieces.  I also used more pegs.  I then started to make a fence- like creation that I wasn't too happy.  I had a lucky accident where one of the pegs snaped and so I cut the wood and pulled it forward.  This created a more interesting look but it still wasn't completely right.  So I drilled more holes and made tiny pegs to throw in random spots.  This made an abstract look- so I went with it.

I love the way this one turned out.  I thought my other projects were really structured so I was happy to create one that was crazier.  But of course, I did run into issues.  For one, it took a really long time to use up all of my wood since I cut them into such tiny pieces.  Also, I had drilled each of the BILLION holes individually and then was told by one of the wood shop workers that I could have done them all at once, in two clean holes, and then cut them with the band saw afterwards.  That would have saved me a lot of time, plus the holes would have all been even and saved me the problem of snapping pegs!

This was definitely my favorite assignment yet.  I love using the wood shop.  It's much more active and hands on and there were SO MANY possibilities with this assignment.  Also, we were given the responsibility to get ourselves in the wood shop and get done.  I liked that I could go there because I wanted to, and because the project was fun, not because I had a deadline or an interim critique.  I thought wood was just a super fun material to work with as well!

Paul Friedlander!

For Environmental Design we are beginning to work on our luminaries! We have to make these projects out of wood, but thought it would be helpful to research some relevant light artists.  I was assigned Paul Friedlander, who is a Kinetic light sculptor!

Paul Friedlander!

Paul Friedlander is an artist from Cambridge who was originally interested in Cosmology.  He then became a stage lighting designer, an artist who dealt with science, and finally a light sculptor. 

His stage lighting included electro acoustic music and he paired his light show with rock music.  It primarily focused on the energy of the music!

Friedlander- Stage Lighting

He later discovered Chromastrobic Light, which is light that moves extremely fast and gives the illusion that there is an object moving and constantly changing colors while moving.

Friedlander- Chromastrobic Light

In 1990 Mr. Friedlander attender MIT and pushed his work with chromastrobic light forward.  He discovered kinetic sculptures.  Kinetic sculptures are chromastrobic lights on spinning strands of stream.  This creates floating patterns of changing color.

Friedlander- Kinetic Sculptures

The most intriguing part of Mr. Friedlander's work is that he creates beautiful light out of nothing.  He creates color through science.  It takes more than an artistic person but also a person who knows physics.  I appreciate that some one has taken their scientific background and decided to create art with it, rather than the typical careers he could have chosen.

I also thought that Paul Friedlander was similar to an artist we previously met, Seth Riskin.  Both artists focus on light in a scientific way, and using technology as a medium.  They also use their previous backgrounds to create their artwork.  Seth Riskin used his gymnastics history in order to show light through his body, while Paul Friedlander uses physics to create his art.

Work of Seth Riskin

Paul Friedlander leaves me with the message that so much is possible with light.  His work is a great inspiration to me to create our next project; A lighting system!

Phase 1- Light!

For phase 1 of our current project we were asked to find a solar light phenomenon.  We then had to record the phenomenon via video/photos, a drawing, and a diagrammatic model and present it on a cold press 16x16.  I was in the woods around 5 p.m at some dirt trails wondering around noticing several different, possibly phenomenal light situations, however none of them truly stuck out to me.  After taking a couple videos that I wasn't truly satisfied with I stumbled across a giant mushroom on a tree.  At first I wasn't focused on the light, just the mushroom!  But then  in the one spot that the sun was highlighting on the mushroom it started to 'smoke'.

5:20 p.m- Light angle

I quickly whipped out my camera and had it recorded!  I tried to go back the next day around the same time to catch the mushroom when it was completely lit by the sun but I wasn't as lucky, and the sun never hit it, possibly because trees may have been blocking it.

When I got home though I researched what the smoke-like effect could have been and was informed that it was the microscopic spores that shoot off the mushroom cap and can only be seen because they travel in a mass of thousands are have to be lit by the sun!

Smoke against the bark

Once I had all of the information necessary I had to draw my picture and make a diagrammatic model.  We also focused on how to arrange our boards in a manner that was easily understood by our audience.  I think I worried more about fitting all of my pictures and information on the board more, and probably could use improvement on the way I organized it.

I also wasn't completely happy with my diagrammatic model.  It is suppose to explain what was happening with the light, and mine was suppose to show a large mushroom, and then baby mushrooms to symbolize the fact that the mushroom spores purpose of spreading are to reproduce, however I don't feel that the message was clear enough.

Final Board!

I think my final project was decent.  When I initially finished it I was proud of it and thought it was excellent, but after critique I had a few doubts.  Ultimately though I won't be let down because I tried hard and my next project just has to be that much better! :)

ANDY GOLDSWORTHY CONTINUED!

Well Hello Mr. Goldsworthy!  I see where you have become important in my life once again!  Our current project involves capturing a phenomenon created by solar light.  You seem to be rather good at that.

Yes, I would call this a phenomenon :)

Once again he is inspirational in his art using time.  After all, time definitely involves different phases of solar light.  He shows light shining through ice at sunset creating beautiful colors.  He also utilizes water as a medium for light!

Maybe some of Andy Goldsworthy's talent will help me with our project :)

A Place for Twelve Twigs!

Our project in Environmental Design was to create a place for twelve twigs using paper and a binding agent.  I knew right away I wanted to use bamboo because I have an awesome bamboo forest in my yard!  Originally I thought I would create a cylindrical space with twelve sticks all of equal length (1') and equal width.  I would then hold them together using gold wire and would have panes of ridiculously bright orange paper with purple flowers and a star in the middle model supporting the stick's structure.

Parti- Initial Idea

Rubbing bamboo ends flat!

As you could probably guess, that idea didn't work out so well.  Once I made the structure I hated the paper and the gold wire and the boring sticks.  I went to our interim critique completely ready to change my idea!  Instead of changing my idea though I changed the parts I disliked.  I chopped down more bamboo and cut two equally short pieces of bamboo that were also the same width and then did another set of two equals that were an inch taller and a little thicker than the last pair.  I continued this pattern with four more pairs.  By doing this I was already much happier with having more interesting sticks!  But what would I do about my awful, tacky paper?  I decided cardboard would be the complete opposite solution and gave it a try!  I cut out an isosceles triangle to accentuate my (forming) idea of varying sizes.  I had decided the theme of my project: the sticks place and purpose- to show the sticks graduating from small to large.  Instantly I LOVED the bamboo/cardboard mixture!

New/developing Idea

Side View

I went to the next day of Interim Critiques feeling pretty satisfied with what I had created!  However I then got some helpful feedback pointing out that I should try using an equilateral triangle instead, and that my mini triangle in the middle served no purpose!  I was also told that I could go to the wood shop to angle the tips of my sticks to accent my small to large pattern even more!

Tips of the bamboo BEFORE wood shop

So I went to the wood shop and learned how to use a band saw to cut my bamboo!  I loved the way the angle on it accentuated my theme!

Tips of bamboo AFTER the wood shop

I also took the advice of using an equilateral triangle, but I kept a cut out isoceles in the middle so that I could still show the small to large pattern.

Top View

I also decided to texturize my card board paper to give it some contrast and simply because I thought it was an interesting feature of my choice of paper.

Inner layer of cardboard

Finally, I added another layer of cardboard to the project that was that was the exact same template as the top layer, but it allowed me to angle (or slant) the second layer so that it too, showed off the small-large pattern. 

Second Layer from Side View

I had some trouble deciding where the point of the two layers should meet.  Ultimately though it was decided that the point should be placed so that all THREE triangle layers (the two careboard layers and the created invisible layer formed by the tops of the bamboo) should meet at ONE point.  In this way, my invisible layer both remained and became the focal point.

Some people tried laying the project on different sides.  I thought when it lay on different sides it looked really interesting and surprisingly, completely different!  So I wanted to make sure it could be presented from different views.  Therefore on the bottom layer of the cardboard, as previously mentioned, I peeled away the bottom layer of card board and made it so the bumpy texture had the comlumn rises, rather than than the straight across rows of the top layer.

Bottom View Laying on Different Side

Ultimately I am satisfied with my final work.  Someone said that cardboard paper wasn't great paper but the natural look of my 'place' is one of my favorite concepts!  Especially after I tried to get carried away with bright colors and sparkles!  I did realize that cutting circles (slots for bamboo) in cardboard is really challenging!  I also think for my next project I'd like to steer away from such a strict structure.  I didn't enjoy having to make natural objects so perfectly even and identical on both sides.  I'd like to try to be more abstract and go with the flow of my sticks or future object next time!

A PLACE FOR TWELVE TWIGS!