The Chair is SAFE!

I have fixed the problem and the chair is no longer a death trap. Now that it's fixed, I plan to have at least 10-20 people sit in the chair and fit the chair to their specifications. With each individual, I will take a profile picture (side shot), look at them on my computer in order to figure out the average degrees that is the most comfortable.

back to the isle...

over the break i had the opportunity to return to mackinac island with my family to celebrate thanksgiving. besides eating copious amounts of turkey and riding my snowmobile around on the fresh inch or two of snow we received, i was able to meet with photographer kate levy (one of whose artist statements i have previously posted) to discuss her project "the locals" as well as some ideas and struggles with regards to my project.

both of our projects share a lot of similarities, as far as subject matter we are basically looking at the same thing, but while she is more focused on presenting the underbelly of mackinac's year-round residents, i am interested in creating a more all-encompassing glimpse into a side of the island that few see. her asthetic is a little more edgy then mine, she mostly does her photographic work in detroit and it's surrounding areas, and because of this, i feel that some of her images present mackinac and it's residents in a somewhat unflattering light, which is not my intention.

i think that what i took away most from our discussion was the realization that, perhaps, what sean has been saying this whole time may have been true. i need to be more prolific, and i need to narrow the focus of my project. i have so many ideas and so much that i want to portray with this project that it has grown to a proportion far beyond my capacity for realistic completion. i don't have to say it all with this one project, and i think that by focusing on mackinac and it's people in the off-season as i see them, i will be able to begin to present some of my ideas in a more cohesive and complete way than i could by trying to say a little bit about everything.

i need to get back to doing what i actually enjoy, which is painting and metal working, and that is what i intend to do. and i need to do it NOW instead of waiting for something perfect to fall into my lap.

here are a few images i took while up there that i plan to incorporate into my paintings...

Science and Art Melding Together Through The Media

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/11/29/science/20101130-brain-1.html

The Dollhouse

After finnally getting a loaner laptop loaded with all my documents, I generated some models for DesignLab 1. Due to limited funding, the DesignLab would like to retain these objects for another 3 years, so I am forced to utilize the existing material and forms. These are the current storage options with a few additions:

Sliding Doors offer privacy for students to store in-process work that isnt necessarily ready for critique by other users of the space

Dividers to encourage organization and limit the size of projects stored. These will also help support the MDF and discorage warping(as visible in some of my photos) over time.

Back to the drawing board.

I havn't posted for a couple weeks, but that's because I felt I havn't made any significant progress. I met with our professors and GSIs before break, and Shaun said something to me that I totally forgot. In his usual tone, "Collin, I'm getting frustrated with you. I am a fan of your work, but I feel that you are falling into this trap that many great artists do: it's the trap of getting stuck on idea for way too long."

I decided break was a great time to step back, and see what my project really was about. I got the idea of looking at a table from multiple directions from a fairly ugly piece I stumbled upon. I realized that it looked like a table from multiple directions and was interested at the time in designing the underside, as well as the table top for various functions. In doing so, I became trapped in this idea that everything had to work. I believe it can work, but would have to sacrifice functionality and appeal.

Over break, I went up north to go deer hunting for the final weekend of deer season. I felt that this a lone time would be a great time to, not only re-cooperate some sanity from school, but a good time to also sketch new ideas. For the first day up north, I took a small notebook into the deer blind and sketched, for hours upon hours. I threw every idea I had coming into IP out, and just sketched. I then took my sketches and condensed them into what I noticed I believed what consistent with all sketches, things I pretty much already saw in previous projects: multi-functionality and hiding.

For a redesign of my design for IP, I wanted to accomplish two goals with it that stem off my previous goals: the ability to store _____ in a table (rather than looking at a table from one plane), expandability (to allow more than just the intended number to sit at this table) small sized living (the ability to go from a compact table with seating for four, to a larger table with seating for up to twelve, all the while storing all necessary seating underneath)

I also focused my attention on designing not only the table, but the seating that goes a long with it. I want seating that is self contained, sort of a stackable and collapsable (not sure if these are the right words) bench type seating. Not only for the consumer to use the table for however many guests, but to also be able to take the seating into another space, and use it in other places. This, I feel, has been a more successful design for looking around the table.

I have since been researching leaf tables, expandable tables, and modular furniture to find the best fit for this project. I feel that I am now onto something. I still need to research various ways tables can store leafs, as I am not quite sure how to store it. I do have an idea that is a possibility, but I do not want to make it final.

Finally, I have done two iterations of the table I am thinking about making as of now. I am now focused on multi-functionality, which I have focused on in the past (I guess I tried to venture from it, but am going back to my safe haven.) I can see that this table will be in many homes: small apartments, modern condos, the average home, and is a table that families eat at constantly, but still available to put whatever in. Maybe in the small apartment the consumer actually stores their dinnerware in it. Maybe in the modern condo the consumer stores their China in it. Maybe in the average home the consumer stores their kids art supplies in it. I do hope that this opening, however, will store a leaf that completes the large table. I am concerned, however, how much extra room will be available.

The first iteration comes from the idea of there being two parts of the table that slide open up for multiple storage options.

The second iteration comes from the idea that there is one, and now the table top slid open is the extended part, and a leaf could complete the other side making a grand table.

I am working on a third that uses drawers, instead of a sliding table top.

Any comments would be appreciated!

Talking and Watching with a little bit of Reading

I have being doing a lot of work recently. Including a lot of precedent research and exploring other interviews/stories by and about multiracial individuals and families.

One example of a film i found online that really caught my eye and presented some interesting views was Multiracial Identity.
I have only been able to find the trailers online and have inquired about a full length version and if it was possible to receive a copy from the director Brian Chinhema.

Multiracial Identity Trailer

Multiracial Identity Trailer version 2

I have interviewed my family and currently am working on editing the audio that I have collected, as well as searching for a more common thread to tie the story I'd like to tell together and give it more structure.

I have yet to interview any people outside of my family and I have come to realize that I have been fearing not knowing what it is I want to get from them. I have been pushing for my common thread by talking with my family and feel that i might not be able to go back to the 'outsiders' as much as I could go to them. I have set a goal to interview someone else next week.
By then i would like to have my thread straight and my intentions of the conversation clear.


More to come...

Mari.Noelle

This is a cross section, the blue is actual plexi glass sheets and a tube running through the center sheet. The plexi glass sheets will be layered one on top of the other with spaces in between to make the structure lighter and to make it look lighter.



I decided the best way to build my sculptures is to use laser cut plexi-glass of different sizes to create curves and volume. My mission this week is to build a model to scale and see if I like how it looks. One concern is that a chunk of plexi glass in an otherwise "airy" sculpture may ruin it's aesthetic feel.

I think we all know how important it is at contemporary artists to always be searching for new inspiration in other's work. I did just that this past weekend while I was home in New York, excited to have been able to make time to go into the city to see some current museum shows. I went to the Whitney initially to see the Edward Hopper exhibit, but what I became even more struck by was the additional show at the museum of Paul Thek's work. He is an artist who I had never heard of previous to my visit, and I was really taken aback by the garish, gory, yet minimal elegance of his sculpture and installation pieces. Here are some images:

These pieces really got me thinking more about texture and the organic qualities of my own work and about how I could potentially experiment with adding sculptural elements in my own photography. It might be interesting to see how 3-D elements that I create on my own could translate into photographic images.

First and foremost, my next move is to talk to Paragon Printing to see if I can print on transparencies to then display against hand-made light boxes.

Ergonomics Chair

As discussed in class, my first chair is built to figure out the most comfortable seating angle. This will be necessary information for my next chair experiments. I am in the process of making it more stable as well as figuring out a way to make it lock into place.

Garment 1: Rosalie

Currently exploring different design layouts based off amount of fabric given. Considering twisting fabric, braiding, layering, etc. So far, the upper portion of the dress is a sweetheart top, pleaded, in corset style. Options for bottom of the dress may be a poof skirt (also known as a skating skirt), handkerchief hem, or bubble skirt. I read up on the technical terms for garments in this book Flats: Technical Drawing For Fashion. Moreover, continued reading further into P.S. I made this... for inspiration.

Although it may be difficult to see here, I've done some detailing in the top of the dress and plan on following through with intricate detailing for the rest of the dress as well. I think the details in the construction of this particular garment will be its strongest asset.

Sample Garment: Cupid

I think I figured out exactly what I want to do. (I am currently working on some larger sketches). I wasn't too happy about the previous forms I was working on because they did not have enough volume and were not organic enough or different enough. These sketches are really hard for me to explain in writing but I want to try to vacuum form veneer, if any one knows about it that would be great! If vacuum forming the veneer wont work I could CNC rout a shape out of wood or vacuum form plastic although I am really hoping not to that. I also have some ideas about using fabric and stretching it over a skeletal structure... I really don't know how to explain what I'm doing in writing but hopefully the sketches may make a little bit of sense.

This week was spent preparing for the in-class critique. I presented two table designs for my series. The first was an iteration of a previous project, one which inspired this series. I felt including the inspirational piece in the show would make the body of work stronger. I was also hoping that working on it would inspire some future work, which luckily, it has.

My second design is proving to challenging one. My first step to creating this piece is material exploration. I am currently reading a book called Materials for Inspirational Design by Chris Lefteri, which has given me some great ideas.

In-Class Critique (11/16/10)

As I mentioned in my previous post, we are having in-class critiques this week. I presented my progress to the class thus far on Tuesday and got some good feedback and suggestions from my professors and classmates. Below is the material I presented to the class:

Large Print  (13" X 19") - a look at Scale

Sample Sheet - Color Exploration

The Progression of the Posters

My classmates had some very good comments that address some of the concerns I have been having. 

They suggested that the reversible aspect of the poster might be a little bit too literal and not necessary. Michael brought up the point that once a poster is up, most people won't change its orientation. They thought the idea of duality was interesting but not successful in this aspect of the campaign, that using it for a postcard or button might be a better application of the idea (something that is frequently handled). They also suggested that I try a horizontal orientation rather than vertical, due to the nature of the material I am dealing with. 

It was also mentioned that I should start to develop the other materials of the campaign simultaneously. This way I won't be stuck following set guidelines but can change things as I see fit (what works and what doesn't) with each different element of the campaign.

I will keep all of this in mind, as I go back and continue to work on the posters and the entire campaign. 

Henry Ford Museum Images