Spring 2022

During this semester, I'll be doing my best to detail the processes I apply to the works I am making currently.  I will be aiming to complete some of these works before the spring critique, and some are ongoing.  I will be making updates within this blogpost for each of the projects that I am actively working on. 

Multiple projects, each with sequential updates within its own project titled subsections below.

---

Whispers 2.0
books, wood, steel, bronze, urethane

Whispers was created FA2020. It is a sculptural self-portrait.  The piece was papier-mache' clay, tape, expanding foam, wood, digital screens with video, and projection video.  I did not feel that the piece was successful itself, however, the experience of making it gave me a more refined sense of what it was I was wanting to make.  Here we are at version 2.0 of the concept.

12/30/21 - This is my primary focus this semester timeframe.   I began over the winter break welding the inner support for the pyramid, and trying different molding methods & materials for the arms.
Initially, I wanted to make a very refined steel inverted pyramid, building on my experience.  This being grad school...that was not to be.

01/15/22 - After a conversation with a few of the faculty, I have been urged to push myself, and apply deeper consideration with regard to the material aspect of my works. Hence, I've become inspired to use books as a material for the pyramid, as this is a self-portrait. So, I intend to construct it using books and hope to construct it balanced without a plinth or formal base other than the bottom book.

02/02/22 - Began exploring the method for stacking the books in a fashion that will hold them together, and remain balanced if not touched.

02/07/22 - No successful methodology discovered yet.  Tried books connected by wire, but could only get to 3 layers before collapse could not be avoided.

02/14/22 - Tried various stacking arrangements, with a goal of using the weight of the center books to hold the edge books in place.

02/21/22 - I have acquired some of the materials that I need in order to work exploring a wider variety of methods for creating a stable inverted pyramidical stack of the books.
My desire is to have an inverted form that appears or is actually free standing.  The appearance of instability  is an important part of what I am trying to communicate, however, I do not wish for the piece to be unstable.

02/22/22 - Decided an armature is needed, much to my chagrin.  While there is a possibility that I could successfully create a free-standing stacking, if it were to fall over, or get knocked over, well...There is no benefit in that. First I am going to try an armature of 1/2" plywood with a metal base.
Using an armature still doesn't solve how the books would be secured.   Trying a method using roofing flashing.  So far this appears to be working, and it still leaves room for an organic placement of the remaining books.  I am using a variety of book sizes for a more loose feeling arrangement, as opposed to trying to create a very tight formal look.

02/28/22 - This week I will be fabricating the armature.   2" steel tubing skeleton, inside 1/2" plywood.

03/08/22 - A little behind schedule due to the need to acquire materials I could not transport. I've finally begun work on the armature for the books pyramid.  Might have to remake this...there goes a perfectly good sheet of plywood.


03/10/22 - Completed the cast of the face mold for this piece. Completed preparation for making the silicone mold. 

03/16-18/22 - Supply run, purchased armature wire for the arms, alumalloy rods for New Glory, and some other miscellaneous, including Rebound 25 for creating the mold of the face, Smooth-Cast 326, for the face itself.

04/06/22 - I've decided to hold off on this piece because I have to rework the design and armature?  This armature has too wide a vertical angle (15 degrees), it will be better at about 7 or 8 degrees.  This makes a big difference because of the number of books that it would take, and how wide the top of the pyramid will be if I leave it at the current angle.  I'm going to focus on New Glory.

---

the American Spirit Awards
These pieces shown below are collectively a series...​

New Glory
steel, polyester-cotton, raw cotton, raw sugar, tobacco leaves

New Glory is one of three flag based physical (non-video) pieces that I plan to make.

01/17/22 - Finally got and learned enough about using the software needed to produce embroidered designs using the Singer SP400.  And now it begins. 

01/20/22 - Finished a design for the inverted black pyramids that will replace the stars on the USA flag.  Its an interesting challenge, as the new shape needs to completely cover a star, but not touch the pyramids surrounding it.

​











​

03/01/22 - The design of the patch is more difficult than seems at first.  Stitch direction affects this entry level machine and causes it to jam.  Exploring with different stitching angles and densities.



​
​
03/08/22 - Investigating embroidery design and production, I have produced a variety of test 'patches' and made some design decisions that now have to be explored using a fabric I have chosen to host the patches, and then next will be digging into attaching them to my US flag.




03/15/22 - Working on the table frame, 2" square steel, welding with low temp Alumalloy rods.

​04/15/22 - Allumalloy doesnt work.  Not bonding with this steel.

04/18/22 - Decided to weld normally,

04/22/22 - Table frame, legs, and glass supports completed.







04/23/22 - Add chains....






​


04/23/22 - Grind all rust and other stains off, and smooth all welds.







04/23/22 -  Rust the steel.

---

the Ingrata Persona Award
wood, imitation gold leaf, oil-based paint

03/08/22 - Completed loose sketches for two casted pieces. One glass, inverted pyramid standing on white soapstone.  Roughly 6x8x10" overall. The other is a bronze casting of an inverted pyramid standing on a cylindrical form   Expecting to cast these one day during the last two weeks of March. These are also explorations into casting bronze and glass, later adding components that will enable embedding video display units.

03/18/22 - Tighter, not better, sketch of one of the pieces.  The piece is a somewhat abstracted and gestural formation recalling the form of a trophy or award.

03/25/22 - Began making molds for one of the three pieces.  The "Playing Field Award" is an inverted black pyramid, cast in glass, placed on a white field made of wood.   Using a lost wax process, I have cast some wax into a silica flour and plaster mold.




​04/13-15/22 - Began shaping the 3-piece laminated block.





04/27/22 - Work stopped due to accident.

the Playing Field's Fool Award
kiln melted glass, wood

03/28/22 - Inverted black pyramid standing on a white field. 

04/01/22 - Created a form using melted wax in a 3D printed mold. Removed the wax and did not like the mold. Created a 2nd form using clay with more gestural texture.



04/15/22 - Used new form to create this mold, however, this mold failed due to too many holes to hold molten glass.






04/15/22 - Poured a new mold using roof tar paper, gaff tape, and plaster.










04/19/22 - Preparing the glass for the kiln.​








​04/24/22 - Pyramid has completed annealing.







04/27/22 - Work stopped due to accident.

the Bullet Dodger Award
pigment colored urethane

Three inverted pyramids balanced on a vertically flat, horizontally narrow width sinusoidal form.








04/17/22 - Create molds for pigmented urethane pyramids.








04/18/22 - Began creating form for the base mold.







04/20/22 - Covered with joint compound.










04/23/22 - Creating the piece in wood as well as urethane.

---

Ideas and designs...