First Project Ideas (Expanded)

 I've been thinking primarily about the sword in the stone, and how the tale of Arthur solidifies the god-chosen quality of the early nobility. I wanted to remake the sword in the stone to better represent the rise of a new noble family. I want the sword to be represent not only power, but wealth. I went to the Met recently and saw so many cool swords, armor, and armored horses, and I want to replicate that sort of style with plaster over pencil rod. 

Another idea I had would be related to 'the pen is mightier than the sword,' where it's a giant pen head connected to a cross-guard. It would represent the idea that the pen might be 'mightier' but using both force and propaganda, as dictators do, is far more effective than using one or the other. Both of these ideas are geared towards 'power' and what it represents materialistically.

                                                                     (Drawn in Tuxpaint)

I'm leaning more towards the first idea, and I think instead of in stone, the sword will be held in water. I liked the way the bottles looked for the box project and I want to continue the water theme. I'm Atl, meaning water, on the Aztec calendar, and as I am obsessed with Nahuatl artwork and mythos it's something I, not necessarily believe in, but do not take lightly. The water would be held in a metal cauldron (sheet-metal with a black patina) which fits the medieval theme and also has the motif of potion-making, concoction, scheming, or conspiring (against witches). It also plays into the motif that anyone can take power as cauldrons were common for peasants to cook, mix herbs, and make black salt. I'd also use sheet-metal over the frame of the sword. The message would be that power falls into the hands of, not those chosen by God, but the first to take up arms (and has the financial means to do so) either in political warfare or actual. However, the idea is that anyone can take power, as the sword is held in water.

Scale and Plaster Design Concept:

Jessica Brennan "Just the Two of Us"

 

For my piece, I chose the prompt “Choose a Sensation.” After contemplating several sensations, I chose to go for “weightlessness.” To me, pure weightlessness lifts me off of the ground and I feel as if I could take flight and leave the earth behind. I think this sensation can be described as the essence of liberation or freedom from emotional weight when a soul can soar. For this piece, I wanted to create an abstracted form of a dancer doing a backbend because the pose itself is so dynamic without the dancer having to leave the ground. Their head is cast back in abandonment, with arms reaching out, flipped upside down they could be falling blissfully and I think there is a nice duality to the form. I would want to create a human-like form about three feet tall out of steel and high polish the end result to a mirror finish. I would then attach a gold ring or opalescent ring to the two “arms” and possibly the side of the knees to symbolize the entering of a new realm above the earth. I would then want to include “floating” pieces of rock with moss attached to the tops to signify the breaking free from the crust of the earth. They would have to be practically attached to the piece with monofilament but I was hoping to create a field of shards around the figure.

This sketch is lovely Jess. This being said, it will not stand as is. is We need to think of the weight of the steel and the fact that this piece is standing on one small point that gravity will not allow it to stand on.  If you had a base that this piece will physically attach to, as if a public art piece that is bolted to a concrete pad, then it will stand on this one point.  Otherwise, you need to remember that three points is the strongest structural form.  You could hang this piece. Look at Jesse Meyer's work.

Also: Steel figure sculpture

 Some artists I have looked to for inspiration include: David Smith, Bruce Beasley, and Kim Simonsen. I also drew on my love for the falling scene of Into the Spiderverse where the camera flips and instead of falling, Miles looks like he’s rising ( I included an image). I drew inspiration from David Smith’s work because of his abstraction of steel form and how he made a relatively heavy material feel “light-weight.” Bruce Beasley’s work also has a figural quality. His large metal piece looks like someone stretching their calves and his carved piece looks graceful and flowing. I want to try to abstract my figure so that it's recognizable but only with a few clues. I chose Kim Simonsen again because I absolutely love the way he uses living moss on sculpture that creates a mysterious or fanciful mood. I would love to try to get moss to grow on the floating rock shards that were suspended or I would like to successfully* use flocking on them for that soft texture.

Into the Spiderverse

David Smith                                                    Bruce Beasley

Bruce Beasley                                             David Smith

Ashley Kelley Project 1 Ideas and Black Squares

 For the first project I really kept getting pulled back to a hanging piece. I had a few ideas for this piece. My inspiration came from pinterest. 

This is my inspiration for the first idea: Laurent-Io You should be looking at Alexander Calder's works pinterest. It is time to start to know and remember those whom have worked before us in the larger realm of sculpture. Also James Surls.

I really kind of want to look into the idea of abstract art. It's more outside my comfort zone but I also really like it. I think this piece would really let me express myself in a new way. I think this piece is very fun and I definitely would like to create more versions of this to see if I like those better and think of more materials to play around with.

The idea of this piece and this class is to push what you know how to do already so you continue to progress. This piece is pretty basic and will not challenge you based on what you have already made.

How can you push it further?

Here is my first idea sketch: 

My second idea is one that I had from my freshman year and recently found the idea jotted down in an old sketchbook. I think this one would definitely let me play more with different materials as well as still have an enjoyable project. I think that this one would be more interesting to play with in terms of installation. I also love this idea. 

Okay so no more Pinterest Ashley.  Look at the metal fab link in the 3rd week module online.  We do not have the ceiling to accommodate a piece like this in steel.  

Here is my inspiration from pinterest:

Here is my sketch:

Edit 2/19/20

Here is my project from my book arts class.

Virgil Morrison - "Just the Two of Us" Rough Ideas

 My work is focused on using lesser known insects as a vehicle to talk about a variety of different topics. These can range from talking about the insect itself to discussing emotion or different food alternatives. With how bountiful and unique these creatures are, I have a whole pleather plethora of bugs to choose from. Over the past year though, I have been throwing myself into baking and cooking and it has become a huge part of my life. So my thought is that I would like to explore some aspects of food. More the form and texture of them and how I could translate piecrust into something fuzzy or the meat of a Tomahawk Steak in steel. I want there to be this feeling in my work where you just want to touch and explore the piece. My viewers should be drawn in and have feelings of joy when viewing the work or have fun when they interacte/ view it. 

Conceptionally  Conceptually I have had 2 ideas.

1. I really like the idea of  a slice of pie that is broken down to its most basic geometric form. I think that some sort of cream pie or lemon meringue pie would be fascinating because it feels the most organic because of the pudding or curd that is used in making said pies.

2.Dragonflies are fascinating to me because they are some of the most efficient hunters in the world. A study done at Harvard concluded that dragonflies  have a 90% to 95% success rate when catching pray and they can eat most anything from mosquitos to tadpoles to small minnows! Along with all this they are some of the most versatile flyers in nature. They can move forward, back, side to side, and even hover. I think that highlighting these beautiful predators would be interesting and almost having them in some sort of dynamic pose, or showing a fly or even a small fish in its claws flying away would make for an intriguing piece.

As far as artist that I have been looking at I really enjoy the way Alberto Giacometti uses texture in his work. All I want to do is feel and touch it because I am a very tactile person. I also really appreciate the recognizable forms that make up his work, but they are still so distorted by the texture. 

Either forms work though how do you speak about metal food beyond a fun thing to make?  What will the viewer see/get from the piece when they look at it? They will see artificial food.  Something immortalized that they cannot ingest. This does not mean you should not make it, but I am merely getting you to think about the why so you can speak about it.

The dragonfly exert has a link I added to a google page that shows you how many dragonflies have been made and put into our world.  Again, this does not mean you should not make this piece, I think you should make the dragonfly knowing you have other  insects in your portfolio, it is simply a way of asking how you can add to the conversation and put a new form out there. What does a dragonfly look like when it eats?

With all of the thinking I have done, I have come up with a third idea that revolves around the diversity of tree hoppers. These little creatures part of the same species but very unique in their appearances. These insects have an abnormally large thorax that comes up over their head and abdomen that is a evolutionary tool that is used for camouflages. Some evolve to look like different insects, while others look more like the nature that surrounds them. I think that this species of insect could potentially become a body of work on its own. With the introduction of common items and materials I think that these tree hoppers might become more personal, therefore easier to connect with then just a bug to look at. These tree hoppers could be used in a number of ways to talk about how we sometimes try to blend in with those around us or how we all have unique qualities that make us who we are, yet we are all still human. Doing further research, there are primarily photographs of these insects and the occasional drawing. 

As a starting point I decided to choose Kaikaia Gaga, which was named after Lady Gaga. Its color and and the thorny tree that protrudes off the thorax are all elements that drew me in. I really enjoyed its since of elegance and its overall form. As far as materials go, I was focusing on steel rod, paper and/or plaster and acrylic paint. I want to be able to take the top of the thorax off and the wings for shipping purposes.  I think that introducing article. I think that by incorporating  news articles revolving around diversity into the piece it would help highlight how we are all unique in our own ways. 

As far a deminsions go for this peice, I'm looking to make it 3 ft×3ft at the bair minimum. And I was thinking that I could potentially us plexi for the body, and introduce those thin steel sheet wings that we talked about on Tuesday. As far as the Maquettes go im very unsure if I did it correctly, but I like more plated geometric look that the card stock gives the peice.

livi shoemaker - Ideas for Steel Project/Expanded Square

Lindsay Stewart Updated Plans

Getting closer to start fabricating this and I have most of my questions answered. This piece will have an armature that slides into two square tubing that is welded to a steel plate. The wagon will be able to rotate on a mechanism similar to a hand crank. Below are two links that I will use as guides to create that...Ashley if you have better suggestions I am open. I am going to ACE today, to see what kind of bearings they have. 

The biggest unanswered question is how to approach my fleece. I added wax, paint and fiber to my maquette and didn't love the result. I am going to play with manipulating my wire in more deliberate ways over the weekend. I feel confident  about every component except for that one. 

Materials:

Sheet metal for shears and wagon 

Rebar for twine

Square tubing and Pencil rod for armature

Found fabric for wagon covering

Repurposed fence for fleece (subject to change)

Three VERY rough ideas…for my ideas I pretended I was given a commission from the American Sheep Industry Association. Weirdly specific, I know…haha. I wanted to create a piece that would elevate and recognize the humble, salt of the earth ranchers in the industry. The styles vary pretty drastically. I would be grateful for feedback on which is strongest. 

As I thought about this piece I researched images, interviews and history of Sheep ranchers in the west. Images I found that were striking were those of sheep shearings bent over in back breaking labor as they removed the big fluffy fleeces from the sheep. Now shearing happens with shears much like those in a barber shop. Originally though, Shepherds used shears that looked like huge scissors. These implements require strength, attention, and caution as they sheared each sheep. I want to create an oversized pair of these vintage shears as it's a universal symbol and tool to sheep ranchers.  

A second image and historical element are rock stacks found in the west called Shepherd Monuments. Similar in appearance to cairns, only much larger, these monuments were built/stacked by shepherds to mark where to set up camp, good spots for grazing, and occasionally something that passed time as they watched their sheep graze. I would like to give a nod to these monuments by stacking icons of the sheep industry. In drawing two, I illustrated this concept.  Using a shepherd’s wagon, shears, and a bundled fleece. This concept would include a rod armature, sheet metal for the shears, and found objects to make up for fleece and wagon. 

My intention for this piece is to honor an industry that is often unseen and undervalued. 

I was digging through some discarded photos at a barn the other day and came across this image. It's an image of a Wool Exhibition in Casper, WY in the 1940’s. If you look closely at the picture you can see that someone took the time to decorate the ceiling with metallic stars, and placed each wool item with care, showing value and appreciation to the ranchers, the process, and the product that resulted from tireless labor. I would like the piece I make to have the spirit as this 1940’s Wool Exhibition.

Nicely written Lindsey. The second idea is the strongest visually and conceptually. Looking at the wire you have, we will need to problem solve into the fleece look more so it reads as you want it to outside, unless this piece goes inside, then you can literally use fluff to help us know what the fleece is in the piece.

Very nice post Lindsey.

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Josh-Steel Sculpture Ideas/Concept Sketches

    

My idea for the steel sculpture project is to have the hands and face of a humanoid subject protruding from a wall, holding special objects--a special lantern and a globe--extended to the viewer. 

Because my idea is based around a stylized human form, the two artists I was most drawn to in yesterday's presentation were Jordy Diez Fernandez and Kim Sun Hyuk. These two seem quite adept at modeling human form with expressionist technique. Kim Sun Hyuk, for example, uses branches to construct an evocative work featuring a human-like face.

    Fernandez takes a more realistic approach to the human body in form but with expressionist surface language. The software-like surface patterning in this bust reminds me of some of my own work and  obsessions...so naturally I'm interested in his technique and motive.

He is also successful in using steel pencil rod and what I assume to be cast steel parts to make proportional and accurate hands and arms, with an artistic flair. 

Therefore I'm proposing to make life sized features of a humanoid subject using steel pencil rod, steel plates, and whatever other materials and techniques are available to me, as well as a cast steel or steel pencil rod lantern case housing a glass star, and somehow, a mini Earth-globe. Here are a couple of concept sketches. 

So we cant cast parts in metal this semester- this will be in the fall.- Art 3310 Cast Forms  What other material besides metal can you bring into this piece?  You could use the objects themselves and that would work?

Okay, not a big deal that we're not casting. I've considered a few other possible materials and at the very least, I could wind black or colored wire around the pencil rod. Alternately, I could just use the objects themselves but I think doing both would be fine.

The idea is to have the head, forearms, and hands mounted to and protruding from the wall at about viewer eye level or a little lower. The concept presents a multitude of ways to "play around" artistically. One could install moving parts or to use optical trickery with "floating magnet globes" etc. but executing every idea that comes to mind would be an onerous task (calling all engineers).  Having a rotating globe and a rotating star within the lantern are two doable tasks. Installing colored lights which can be time programmed is another possibility but I intend to prioritize the form and the steelwork.

Your first idea is better. Could this piece stand up versus being on the wall? It may be quite heavy for any wall to handle depending on scale. How large is this piece?

I didn't really consider standing the piece up but it's a possibility. I've envisioned it as being hollow and fairly lightweight for its size bc there will be a lot of gap space between the pencil rod swirls on the "skin". The drawing makes it look totally solid but in my mind there's a lot more gap space so I think it will weigh less than 20 pounds if all goes as planned. It is about "human sized" so the head, arms, and hands will be pretty much the same size as an adult male's. 

And, here is an alternate idea--a pair of "shadow puppets" or marionettes, a man and a monkey. I like the drawing, but as long as I am able to execute the first idea, I will probably stick with it and maybe work with these two in a different project. 

Clara Somerset - Preliminarily Ideas "Just the Two of Us"

Artist References and Inspirations:  

   String Mirrors, Hong Sungchul

Robert Heinecken. Fractured Figure Sections. 1967

Optimism as a Form of Cultural Rebellion, Matthew Stone

Artist Unknown 

Artist Unknown

The Molten Inner Core, Racheal de Joode

Unknown Title, Anouk Kruithof 

Skin Mix II, 

Christian Marclay

Project Proposal: 

will finish soon