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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| The base! |
I then used a huge drill bit to create a patterned hold in the middle, where the light would come through.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Eye Bolts |
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| INSIDE |
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| FIRST ADJUSTMENT |
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| 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!
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| Bottom Light Effect |
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| LIGHT THROUGH SPACES |
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| Without the Dark |
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| LIGHT EFFECT |
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