Final Project: (Re)collection of Objects: A Biographical-Wearable Sculpture

A Biographical-Wearable Sculpture

First for my design, I sketched out a dress that had intricate features and a unique neckline and waist. Next I thought of a material that I had a collection of, that was re-useable, and had a biographical meaning to me. Over the past two semesters, my roommate and myself accumulated plenty of yellow and black shopping bags so I choose to use these. I combined multiple patterns in order to create the dress I designed. I used melted shopping bags to use as the material in substitute for cloth, and sewed together. After the dress was constructed, I cut the bags into slices and rolled to make a design on the skirt bottom of the dress.

Project III: Polyhedrals Phase A: Polyhedral Structures Study Models Phase B: Polyhedral Packaging Design

Phase A:

Polyhedral Structures Study Models

Phase B:

Polyhedral Package Design

The main template I used for my designs can be found by following this LINK.

For my polyhedral structure design, I challenged myself to try to make the structure resemble (either abstractly or representationally) a bird. I did this in order to continue my bird theme that I had previously established through the past projects. The first step I took was to print a peacock feather print on some of the bristol paper I was using. I then experimented with the shape of the structure. For the remaining un-colored paper, I decided to paint it with water color to match the colors and hues in the peacock feathers.

For my package design, I choose sliced apples with 3 different dipping sauces-chocolate, carmel, and peanut butter. The top and largest part was meant to hold the apple slices while the three bottom parts stored the dipping sauces. I used a template for the top piece, but the 3 bottom parts required a hand made template.

Project II: Serial Planes Study Phase A: Altered Books Phase B: Foam Board

Phase A

Altered Books

Phase B

White Serial Planes Sculpture

Research

Reference Images

Maya Lin- works with art and architecture. Most well known piece was the Vietnam Monument. Her pieces are inspired by nature and geology. The skating rink shown in video reflects the solar system/stars and her atlas projects depict craters. Although she doest a lot of architecture pieces, she would rather be known as an artist. I was particularly fond of her installation pieces using cardboard and glass.

Reaction Paper

My experience with both phases of the project was completely different. Although both sculptures were based on serial planes, the materials and methods used were entirely different. With the book, I needed to create volume from something flat; the foam board had more original volume to work with.

I approached the Phase A of the serial planes project with folding to create volume with the thin pages. I used minimal cutting with the pages, only enough to overlap pages in the center of the book and to create the bird shape. The outcome of the book was half representational, the bird, and half abstract, the nest. In order to make interesting side views of the birds, I curled the wings outward, which added thickness and volume to the bird’s structure.

For Phase B, I choose to make another bird. In order to create the bird out of foam bird, I cut an outline and minimized it 6 times per each half. I tilted the pieces to add a dynamic detail to the bird’s body. Although the bird is see-through, it has volume because of the angles of the pieces and solidness of head, tail, and wings. The bird is placed on a solid base that was meant to represent a nest. A smaller bird to make the design look less empty also accompanies it.

Overall, from both projects, I learned to look at the design from all sides in order to appreciate the three-dimensional opportunities.

Project I : Anything But A Box / Meaning of Creativity

Notes on Artist Videos

Richard Serra- American Artist. Makes use of places and space with his sculptures however has no correlation with buildings, landscapes or architecture. He is inspired by ships that he watched being launched when he was younger. Began drawing to catch his parents attention. Serra believes the more you draw the stronger the muscles in your eyes become which, in turn, with strengthen hand-eye coordination. The video shows Serra sketching the installation of is pieces, he says they give him ideas for future projects. His work is made out of metal slabs, very masculine with little or no meaning to audience.

Doris Salcedo- Columbian Artist. Her pieces carry a lot of meaning. She is trying to portray feelings with things that no longer exist "something subtle." She uses domestic objects in ways that are not at all rational but make sense. Salcedo and workers say the pieces work from inside out, very strong cement and iron bar supportive cores used efficiently. An example could be how the cement core balances out the empty bed to create unity. She is very passionate about her work and the pieces are feminine and meaningful. Carries much more significance than the work by Richard Serra.

Anything But A Box

Step by Step Photographs

This is how it all began...

creating structure...

and piece by piece...

there became a masterpiece...

Reaction Paper

“You can’t wait for inspiration, you have to go after it with a club.” — Jack London

I think this quote is an appropriate portrayal of my creativity research because it is sometimes necessary for an artist to find inspiration to solve a problem for a deadline rather than wait around for an idea. Creativity must have guidelines, including setting goals, in order to have a successful outcome. Time management should also be taken into consideration which the quote plays off of when it says to “go after [creativity] with a club,” rather than waiting for it.

Personally, being “creative” means to establish original ideas through unique approaches. Paying attention to small details, discovering inspiration from seemingly unimportant events and applying focus to often overlooked subtleties. When being creative, an artist must realize that the desired concept being depicted is just as important as the visual aspects of the composition.

I decided to pursue a creative career because I am interested in exploring new ideas and using new mediums to create desired outcomes. Creativity is a key aspect of visual problem solving and when used with proven techniques and principals an aesthetically pleasing result will occur.

I would define the assignment’s problem by saying the most difficult part was attempting to vision the finished product without significantly changing the box. It was hard to plan and sketch before un-assembling the box and seeing what you physically had to work with.

I approached the assignment’s problem by observing the characteristics of the box and choosing to use them accordingly. For example, I used the colors and shapes printed on the boxes exterior to create a green hill with an orange and yellow sun. Also, the interior of the box included a small corrugated piece of cardboard which I used as the sturdy base.

As for my project’s concept, I basically looked at the box and saw that the yellow circles could be used as the sun then worked around the extra materials in order to create the landscape. I made use of the color and thickness of the materials.

From this project, I got the basic idea of how to make use of only what is given to me in its most basic form. I used the colors of the box as the key element because the material was thin and unable to create textures that may have been possible with a thicker corrugated cardboard form.