Paper Stacking

Process Pictures:

Paper Stacking From Life Final Pictures:

For my paper stacked fruit I began by observing my apple and then tracing the basic shape of it and cutting out the rest of the pieces based on those shapes. After I finished the rough shape of the apple, I sanded it down to finish it.

Inspiration for created piece:

I was inspired by the following ballet and the way that the dancers movement resembled breathing and the heart beat. With my piece I wanted to embody this movement and create a piece that would have a breath of its own. I stacked a series of triangles and glued them in a specific sequence in order to make the form move on its own and create interesting negative space.

Invented Paper Stacking Piece Final Pictures:

Drawings:

Gregor's Room

Vocabulary list from my reading of The Metamorphosis: 

dissipate- to cause to spread thin or scatter and gradually vanish.
arbitrary- not planned or chosen for a particular reason; not based on reason or evidence; done without concern for what is fair or right.
diminutive- very small
admonitions- a criticism or warning about behavior. 
shoddy- Inferior, imitative, or pretentious articles or matter. Pretentious vulgarity. 

My response to The Metamorphosis:
I love this story. The most interesting part of this story to me is the relationship between father and son. To me, I saw the father as having a hold on Gregor, which led me to create the bed as a symbol of the father- the head board representing the fingers of the father coming down and holding onto Gregor, trapping him in his bed. I felt that Gregor's transformation into a dung beetle was brought on by his father's business failure and his constant disappointment in Gregor. I also thought that Gregor's military background was an important element of the story because it made Gregor's life as a traveling salesman all the more discouraging and disappointing. As a lieutenant in the military, I can only imagine how humiliating it must have been for Gregor to come home from the war only to work in such a demanding and belittling job as a salesman. I included his military hat in a box representing Gregor's past, along with sales documents and cigarettes. Also to tie in the relationship between father and son, I added Gregor's dad's shiny, gold buttons to Gregor's wings to leave the mark of the father on Gregor's transformed state. The buttons also make Gregor seem somewhat human like- I purposely formed his wings like coat tails and included the buttons to show that he was still a human in a bug's body. I think Kafka's bizarre story is a tremendous insight on family relationships, personal pride, and the truth that we become what we perceive ourselves to be. 

In Process Photographs:

Final Project:

Drawings:

It's About Time

Response to Lick and Lather by Janine Antoni:

Janine Antoni is an intriguing artist who looks at life in a unique way that I would never have. In the video and article, they explained some of the pieces that she has created, including "Lick and Lather." This is a piece that displays a series of busts that Antoni carved out of soap and chocolate and transformed by licking the chocolate and bathing herself with the soap. I am inspired by the thought and insight that was put into the concept of Antoni's project. Although I did not have a personal connection or any revelation when creating my own soap piece, I hope as the semester progresses I will be able to include more personal insights in each of my future projects. 

In Process Pictures:

Finished Product:

Time Base Process:

1. I began by burning my first sculpture. 

2. Then I inserted popcorn kernels in its side and head, hoping that they would pop in the microwave.

3. But it didn't go exactly as planned...

4. After microwaving him, I melted the pieces together. 

5. I then punctured holes in it with a drill bit and using needle and thread I ran string through the piece.

6. I then melted a candle over it.

7. I melted a base to the bottom using some left over soap.