MIAD: "Room" With a View
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Title: Out
Medium: Wood & Cardboard Size: 40cm x 28cm x 10cm Date: 4/26/17 Inspired by the architect/engineer Santiago Calatrava, this piece brings repeated use of long, thin & straight pieces of wood to create a structure that changes the space/path of the area, gesturing outwards towards the lake, setting the viewer up for observation. It experiments with the idea of light, path, form and space.
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Process
Planning
planning was very focused after a time sketching the different shapes available on paper. At first, creating a structure that was focused around the landscape was somewhat difficult, given my inexperience. I applied the notion that the structure would be leading the person somewhere. I then thought of structures I've enjoyed in the past, remembering a circular park structure made mostly from arches. This gave me the idea to have circular viewing places in the water instead of the beach, connected by bridges. It's from this that the cultural inspirations came, envisioning how they'd appear in real life and making connections.
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Construction
to cut the wood to use int he piece, an exacto knife needed to be used. After measurements were made and lines to follow, the exacto made the best cut. Along the way, it took time to figure out that certain directions of the wood bent better than others. Many pieces broke. using strips of a flash card to build the structure and make the plan, I used the measurements to cut into the wood. Using tacky glue, the thin strips were glues from the bottom up to the larger anchoring piece, forming the shape of a right triangle. This process was done twice, then positioning and gluing down the two pieces to that they pointed outwards and towards the water.
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On the surrounding landscape, the best way to create the space is to find small rocks/pebbles, which can be found just about anywhere. using the glue used for the wood, glue each rock down one by one on the outside of the structure (or wherever, filling up space adequately). Make sure to distribute evenly.
Experimentation
The original likely design involved arches, which was very achievable with the paper designs. When the construction was switched to wood, which I had never worked with before, this was much more difficult. I had to first experiment with what wide of the wood would bend (the direction of the grain was very important). Many pieces were broken. I found which was the most pliable, but that direction left me with pieces much less in length. the final design, however, required all straight pieces of wood.
Around the same time, I experimented with adhesives. The only useful ones available to me were spray adhesives and tacky glue. using the arches from the original design to add more tension, testing the greater strength of the hold. From this I found the tacky glue to be the only effective product. I also experimented with the application of the tacky glue, finding that spare long pieces of wood worked best. |
Artist Inspiration
Santiago Calatrava, Peace Bridge, 2012.
Santiago Calatrava, Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM), 2001.
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Santiago Calatrava is an Italian architect, engineer, sculptor and painter. The majority of his works are white, asymmetrical forms anchored by high masts. There are exceptions, such as peace bridge in Canada. The bridge was built to meet foot traffic, using a repeated pattern and red colors, changing the environment drastically for the bridge that sees an estimated 6,000 people crossing it a day. Calatrava uses his background in engineering to create innovative designs/structures, typically in steel or concrete. Another project that shows his typical style would be our very own Milwaukee Art Museum, the famous design reminiscent of a boat, bird and whale all at once from different perspectives. Built in 2001, the structure renovated the space, with a very special feature that allows the wings to open and close, typically utilized to signify the opening of a new exhibit.
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It's quite obvious how the art museum and specifically the wings are seen as a part of my design, using repetition of straight lines to create curves and open up (to) the landscape around it. It draws attention to the surrounding lake, an elegant and iconic design.
Reflection
As far as I can tell, the piece was successful. I applied the materials accurately in a design that I feel fit the perimeters of the project. The landscape could have been applied better, but the landscape serves a more aesthetic purpose. It does contribute to the manipulation of path and space but these qualities would remain similar without the placement of the rocks. Otherwise I believe clear connections can be drawn between the piece and my artist inspiration, and all technical aspects were met to a sufficient degree.
ACT Response Questions
1. Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork.
The use of line and spice in Calatrava's work was key in the design of this piece. Before it was clear what the design even was, having the baseline of long and line lines creating a large flat surface was critical/
2. What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
to analyze Calatrava's formal qualities in terms of specific pieces of his, and or to present all his works and go into detail about each project itself.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
The space in which we occupy is essential, and can be changed by the simplest color or line shifts.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
discovering what use of line makes up interesting/innovative structures. What placements of lines could have the greatest effect. etc.
5) What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
The use of line and spice in Calatrava's work was key in the design of this piece. Before it was clear what the design even was, having the baseline of long and line lines creating a large flat surface was critical/
2. What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
to analyze Calatrava's formal qualities in terms of specific pieces of his, and or to present all his works and go into detail about each project itself.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
The space in which we occupy is essential, and can be changed by the simplest color or line shifts.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
discovering what use of line makes up interesting/innovative structures. What placements of lines could have the greatest effect. etc.
5) What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
Bibliography
SANTIAGO CALATRAVA – PART ONE. (2015, October 09). Retrieved April 21, 2017, from https://whiningsofanoldguy.wordpress.com/2015/10/08/santiago-calatrava-part-one/