A Meaningful Dream

Our past assignment in Space Studio was to take 30 photos of architectural structures that were aesthetically pleasing to us. Then we had to choose a couple of those photos to use them as inspiration for our project. We were assigned to create a straw structure keeping in mind that we need to make it site specific to a pedestal. 

I chose this photo of the Maccabee building in Detroit (where I work), because of the arch. There is something about it that I find striking. It's not the gold surrounding the arch, it's the actual arch it-self. I can't quite figure out why I enjoy it so much...I just do.

I found the diamonds to be simply complex, if that makes any sense. Although they are "cute little diamonds" I find them to be complex because of how they intertwine with each other. 

I had a plan, hence HAD, but as we all know plans never really work for me. I planned on having multiple arches in the center of the pedestal with a ring of the "diamond" shapes surrounding it. We were only assigned two days to work on this project and I missed a class because I was sick. If I would have went to class that day I would have gotten feedback in class and would have had a better structure.  

Knowing I was in a time crunch from missing a class, I changed my original plan drastically. I won't say I hate what I created, but I will say that I'm not really proud of it. But yet that's the whole point of this project right? It's research, it's not supposed to be "perfect". Still, I wish I would have done something different...although I do like the diamond shapes I created. 

During critique it was mentioned that the arch (the red straws) were unnecessary. It's was just a plain, basic structure with "cute" diamonds attached to it. I agree. My professor suggested not using the red straws next time and using only the diamond shapes to create a form. Possibly attach the diamonds at the top of the structure. Since we are using this as "research" for our next project I probably will get rid of the "arch" in general and try to recreate it in some other form. 

We also discussed the bottom piece of my structure and how it really wasn't three dimensional. I should have taken that into more consideration. Since we are using this as "research" for our upcoming project I will keep in mind that it needs to be three dimensional throughout the entire structure, or else it becomes this boring thing. With the next project we are using rice paper, rice glue, hot glue, and are limited to 30 feet worth of quarter inch wood. I'm rather excited to be working in the wood shop and using wood as material, I've never really worked with it before and it'll definitely be a challenge. This time I will follow my plan better while keeping in mind that it may or may not work out. With some parts I will probably just "go with the flow" too. Also I'll be there for all my classes that way "time" won't become an issue. 

I was experimenting in my photoshop class today and created this image. It's has an Andy Warhol feel, which was not intentional. I didn't even realize it until after I completed the photo. I thought the repetition of the butterfly would be intriguing. I enjoy that they are perfectly aligned but aren't at the same time. Make sense? What do you think?

My professor recently went to Iceland to study the area for some of his personal work. Before his departure we had a contest. We were given one lawn bag with the instructions to make it the tallest structure using only the bag and masking tape, BUT we had to figure out a way to connect everything without taping pieces together, with only one class period and the first hour of the next to work on it. We all got started right away, planning, sketching and designing potentially the tallest structure we can make. Most of us were halfway done when our professor decided to add one more requirement. It had to be aesthetically pleasing. To add even more excitement two handmade trophies, courtesy of our professor, were going to be given to the student with the tallest structure and another to a student that had the best aesthetic appeal. 

The structure closest to the ladder was mine. When our professor announced to try and make it aesthetically pleasing I wasn't sure what I was going to do. I knew that I couldn't put extra time into this project because I had to put more focus on another class that week. So, I improvised. I added different shaped and sized "flaps" and spread them along the structure. (They actually helped keep my structure balanced) I also built two smaller boxes in hopes to add height and character. 

Unfortunately I didn't win either trophy. It's alright though because I was pleased with my project (for once). It ended up being the third highest! That's something to be proud of, at least I think so. 

Keeping in mind to make it aesthetically pleasing I had just enough time and scraps to make this rose. I wanted to place it on top of the structure but it was too heavy. Therefore I put it in one of the holes I cut on the bottom box.

I definitely had a different outlook on this project. I worried less about it (in a good way) and kept an open mind and didn't freak out when he gave us a last minute requirement. I worked to the very last second too (that seems to be pretty common with any art project though). Next time, I'll keep in mind that regardless of the requirements it should always look aesthetically pleasing. 

Last Thursday, we critiqued our third project in Space Studio. With this assignment, we were told to draw ten different sketches of an object that has both positive and negative space then create a structure based off the drawings with a choice between cardboard, rosin paper and chipboard. Keeping in mind that we aren't supposed to know what the object is supposed to be. The day the drawings of our item was due, we were told to switch our sketches with someone else...totally unexpected. So now instead of sculpting our original item we're creating somebody else's. 

We had a choice between four sketches. I chose this one because I felt it was the most interesting sketch Andy had. Can you guess what it is? Keep reading and you'll find out! 

Since the sketch was very flat I saw more opportunity and more freedom. I noticed that every single person in class were using cardboard, which made me NOT want to use it. Therefore, I chose to work with chipboard. I've never worked with it before and knew it be a challenge. Challenge accepted. My original idea was to have the structure stand at least three feet (the minimal requirement), yet that didn't go as planned. But that's okay because it worked out better than I wanted it to. I made doubles of each piece, taped the two together and puffed them to add volume. This time, we were also allowed to use colored tape and hot glue (I barely used hot glue). I also used the technique of bending to give it a more definition.

I hung it up because I knew it wouldn't be viewed properly if it were on the ground. It even had a little spin to it. Classmates compared it to a wind chime and referred it to being a bit "kitchy", and that's only because it spun. 

Tension was another word that was brought up throughout the entire critique. It was pointed out that my work did have the required tension it needed to be successful, but of course could have a little more tension. Perhaps hanging it in an "ill-logical" way would have made it better. Some were not a fan of the blue tape and believed that it served no real purpose to the piece other than it's being held together, others commented on how they enjoy the contrast between the blue and the brown and said the outline drew their eyes around the structure. 

Another topic that we spent time discussing was flatness. There were many projects that were "flat" with hardly any volume. It was suggested that almost everyone could have had more volume to the project, including myself. Thankfully, my system of "puffing" the two chipboard pieces taped together was noticed and worked well. Although it may look flat from a far, it really wasn't. You had to get close to the structure to see it's true form. 

Overall, this was a fun project. Even though my original plans didn't work out it still turned out better than I thought. I took my own advice from the group project. I had a different mind-set. There was a point where I was bummed because it wasn't doing what I wanted it to do, but I was no where near as bummed as I was with the Bender project. I was pleased with my work before the critique and I think it showed. So what would I do differently? Next time I will probably make it much larger (most of us had the minimal requirement of three feet), more dramatic and give it even more volume, but not too much.  I will also continue to work on having an open mind set throughout the duration of the project. Other than that I believe this was one of the most successful projects I've done. I wish I would have kept it though...sigh. Oh yeah I haven't mentioned what the drawing was supposed to be have I? They're scissors!

Here are a few of my favorite fall photos I've taken over the years. 

I made this today in my photoshop class (: