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!