Conjoined Structures
Using the pine wood we will rip in class on the table saw, you will construct two interdependent structures, neither of which can stand without the support of the other. Consider them drawings in space. Together they should occupy approximately the same volume as your body. You will use the miter saw to cut precise angles in the wood in order to create two individual volumes with contrasting formal characteristics (line, shape, texture). Care and precision in creating your angled joints is very important.
By 9/8, the wooden structures should be ready for a mini-critique.
The second part of the project is to consider the finish. You may paint your structure, carve away at the wood, or collage any materials you wish to use to the structures. Think about differentiating the two structures from each other, while at the same time creating a unified sculpture.
Finish Fetish: Peter Schjeldahl on California Minimalism
Structure & Collage: content overload-- Thomas Hirschhorn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z10lijMYVQw
PROJECT SCHEDULE
WEEK 2
Tuesday 8/30 Intro to 1st project: Conjoined Structures (Wood)
Wood shop demo
Thursday 9/1 Work day
Project sketches due
WEEK 3
Tuesday 9/6 Work day
Thursday 9/8 Work day (in-progress critique)
WEEK 4
Tuesday 9/13 Work Day
Student Presentation
Thursday 9/15 Critique Conjoined Structures projects
The sculpture consists of two structures. One structure is the frame of a cube painted black with black string intertwined in it in a random and chaotic fashion, breaking up the space within the cube. The second structure resembles a silver figure supporting a hexagonal form wrapped in green and blue string. The figure is positioned leaning on the cube with its “arms” raised upward.
ReplyDeleteThe chaotic stringwork in the cube contrasts well with the long, clean lines of the silver figure. Yet the use of the string on both structures creates unity within the work. The size of the cube balances nicely with the size of the figure. All angles are very precise and look very clean. The work has strong direction because almost all of the lines are parallel.
The subject of the work is overcoming problems and achievement. The work makes the audience think of both global and personal issues. The artist has an optimistic outlook, as the figure is clearly dominant to the cube. The work is inspirational and encouraging.
Personally, I like the sculpture. A good place for it to be displayed would be a school because the work encourages individuals to think about problems and find achievable solutions.
Untitled
ReplyDeleteMaterials: Wood, Acrylic, Nails.
The work is composed of of thin, elongated wooden sticks. It is made of two clearly distinguishable structures leaning on each other. One of them creates a square spiral that starts at the top of a long pole that is perpendicular to the floor. There is a clear end after 4 spirals. Through them goes another elongated, thin structure that is mostly straight but it curves in the ends, the lower extreme serving as support and the upper one curving downwards.
The artwork is abstract; there aren’t any literal elements, unless the spiral is considered one. The works feels like a line drawing in spaces, since the shape is created rather by outlines and there is no filling or solid structure. There is balance between stiff, straight lines and curvy lines. The work makes use of negative and empty space, as one of the structures goes right through the other one. The great amount of space in between the different lines gives this piece a free, open feeling. The texture of finely cut wood remains constant throughout the pieces. The main distinguisher between the two main pieces is color. The spiral maintains its natural wooden color, whereas the thin, long stick has been painted in a beautiful fading of blues, from dark in the bottom to light blue at the top. There is a pattern visible in the equally sized spirals, which also create harmony and rhythm.
The way the piece is leaning on a certain direction, which is the same direction that the blue stick points down to, creates a visual pull down. The artwork is intriguing in that it feels free yet it gives the impression that the spirals are trapping the blue structure that seems to be trying to scape around the top. The interaction between the two pieces makes one thing on two elements coming together, one containing another.
Work: Infection
ReplyDeleteMaterials: Wood, Purple Paint, Moss
This piece of artwork is an abstract structure made from wood, purple paint, and moss. This piece of work makes significant use of lines. There are three intersecting lines of wood that are all painted with purple paint. Each of these three main lines have distinct textures, that show the difference between the lines as they intersect with one another. Two of the purple lines have a pattern of small cubes down one of the sides. The line that connects these two , and that runs more horizontally that the other two, has a sequence of larger squares that progresses down the line, in the section that it separated by the intersections of this line with the others. These purple lines are being supported by a cluster of smaller cubes. These cubes are unpainted and provide significant contrast to the purple paint. There is moss on this cluster of cubes, and it seems to travel up and onto part of the purple wood as well.
This sculpture uses the repetition of cubic shapes and structures to create a unified form. This creates a sense of unity among the different parts of the sculpture. Yet at the same time, the variety of cubic shapes allows for each part to remain unique. Furthermore, each major aspect of the sculpture is constructed from the repetition of smaller parts. This creates a sense of movement and rhythm as one’s eyes scan the sculpture and follow the progression of each aspect. The contrast between the purple paint and the green moss is important because ones eye is drawn to this difference. At the same time, one follows the shapes of the sculpture and sees it as a progressive and more unified object. This has a nice effect because one is able to understand the sculpture as a whole, yet also highlight its specific parts and aspects in a pleasant way. The balance of the structure is interesting because the larger parts of the structure are dependent and the smaller aspects for balance. This seems like it may have been difficult for the artist to execute.
There is also a contrast created between the cluster of small cubes and the larger lines. These cubes seem chaotic in relation to the continuous order displayed by the purple lines. The repetition of similar shapes creates a feeling of continuity. At the same time, however, the interaction of different main shapes breaks this continuity by adding on to the other aspects and creating something new. This piece is reminiscent of basic math and science in a sense, because it replicates many concepts that define the basic makeup of physical reality in general. This could be a reason that the artist chose to use moss as one of the materials.
I like this artwork very much. It is pleasing to look at and intriguing to think about. I think that this is a good piece because it can be interpreted at both a simple and complex level. This is important to its value because, as a result, this piece of art can be appreciated and seen as meaningful or beautiful to a very diverse audience.