On Longing by: Susan Stewart-- Personal Response

Personal Response

I chose to visually respond to the five impactful quotes by: Susan Stewart

(1) "The body is the primary mode of perceiving scale."

(2) "The capacity of objects is to serve as traces of authentic experience."

3. "The souvenir reduces the public, the monumental, and the 
3-Dementional into the miniature that which 
can be developed by the body."

4. "Nostalgia cannot be sustained without loss."

5. "To have a souvenir of the exotic is to possess 
both a specimen and a trophy."

Soap Squirrels I & II

Soap Squirrels I & II

Carving miniatures from large soap blocks required me to think 3-Dementionally and work much slower than my normal pace. Smaller areas, such as the ears and feet, were the most fragile to carve. I used two different brands of soap; one that proved to be a more creamy texture and one that was more flaky. Treating the soap with caution as it continued to get smaller was a challenge in itself. After the project was done I recycled my shavings into a ball of soap so large that I have been using it for weeks. 

Final (1) Soap squirrel I

Wooden base

9 Changes to a squirrel

The first "trial" squirrel was later used to make drastic changes that could reflect a transformation. The requirements focused on at least 4 changes that were additive and 4 changes that were subtractive. 

1. (+) Gold leaf

2. (+) Red Paint

3. (+) Wire wrap

4. (+) Tail feathers

5. (+) Septum piercing

6. (-) Holes in tail

7. (-) Shaved tail and back legs

8. (-) Blown dry

9. (-) Microwaved

Final (1) Soap squirrel II

Glass vase

Final (2) Soap squirrel II

Changes (1) Gold Leaf (+)

Changes (2) Red Paint (+)

Changes (3)  Holes in tail (-)

(4) Shaved back legs (-)

Changes (5) Wire Wrap (+)

(6) Septum Piercing (+)

(7) Tail Feathers (+)

Changes (8) Blown dry (-)

(9) Mircrowaved (-)

Comparison: Model & Soap

In process (1) Multitasking

(Surprisingly, nothing started to melt)

In process (2) Creamy soap

Architecture Relief: Angular Mandala

Architecture and Installation

Angular Mandala

I expected that blending together Modernist and mosque inspired architecture would create an abstract installation, but what I did not foresee was working a 3-Dementional mandala-- or rather having it work me. Mandalas carry powerful symmetry that has been known to heal through the reflection of radial balance. 

Final (1) Installed Diamond 

Final (2) Mandala installation 

with string and pin boarder

In process (1) Xacto and foam core

(I may have bled)

Architecture Relief: Merging Two Time Periods. Parts I & II

Part I: Inspiration

Merging two time periods for an architecture relief project first starts with a careful decision of what two styles to choose. After dedicated hours of scrollllllling through pictures, I felt that Modernist architecture and middle eastern classic mosques would create interesting juxtoposition. Modernist work is bold and abstract while mosques are more controlled by the use of symmetry. 

Inspiration (1) Modernist architecture

Inspiration (2) Mosque architecture

Part II: 10 Elements of Design 

Visual responses to form new ideas for working with 3-Dementional materials

(1) Organic Line

(2) Rectangular Line

(3) Organic Shape

(4) Geometric Shape

(5) Scale

(6) Symmetry

(7) Asymmetry

(8) Repetition

(9) Texture

(10) Simulated Texture               

Paper City Architecture

Paper City Beach Homes & Casino

Inspiration for the Paper City Architecture came from my delightful weekend getaway at Orlando's, Cabana Beach Resort. This 1950's replica incorporates the vintage style into their architecture, interior design, and decor. The final projects used minimal amounts of adhesive to [unseen] areas. 

Final (1) Paper City Casino

Final (2) Paper City Casino

Final (3) Paper City Beach Homes

Final (4) Paper City Beach Homes

Inspiration: Cabana Beach Resort

Orlando, Florida

In process (1) Xacto cuts

In process (2) Shaping the base for "Casino" structure 

(with the help of Russel Maycumber! Thank you)

Tape Wallabees

Tape Wallabees

The final tape Wallabees came together after much trial and error. Unlike the paper mock-up, the tape shoes were comprised of many layers. First, I created large sheets of tape that could be easily cut and warped (making the job less sticky). Second, I tightly rolled small cylinders for the base of the shoe, which gave it weight and stability.  Lastly, I rounded the edges and covered each shoe with a solid layer. Through all of this, I created a pair of masking tape Wallabees that felt sturdy and looked a bit worn- in the same way that the original shoe represents.

Final (1) Tape Wallabees

Final (2) Tape Wallabees

In process (1) Sole detachment 

Paper shoe process

Paper Wallabees

To recreate the classic (Clarks) Wallabee shoe, I began by formulating a paper mock-up. This included measuring the sole, side panels, tongue, and laces of the physical shoe. The paper draft was held together with minimal amounts of tape and glue, so that no adhesive could be seen as distracting.

In process (1) Measurements 

In process (2) Problem solving

In process (3) Comparison