Wood Project

In order to understand wood, which is one of the materials that we will be using to create our luminaire, our assignment was to cut a 2" by 4" by 18" section of wood at least five times, and then re-assemble the cut pieces into a connected system of parts using every cut piece.  The project was assigned in order for us to see the characteristics of wood as a material as well as to feel more comfortable using the tools in the wood shop. 
Initially when we were given this assignment, all of my ideas were incredibly complex and I wanted to create a system that was very intricate using many shapes and sizes of wood cuts.  After various drawings and different ideas, I took my first piece of wood down to the shop to try and figure out if I could create what I had envisioned.  I then realized I had no idea what I was doing in the wood shop or how to use any of the tools, so I opted for a much simpler design.  I decided to slice my piece of wood into six thin slices using the ban saw.  I then cut out notches in order to put them back together in a criss-cross design.  In hindsight I would of changed the notches' in that I would have done them at more of an angle in order to create a more secure place for the wood to come together, but this was a learning experience project, and I definitely feel much more comfortable in the shop and around the tools, and I have a much better idea as to what each of the tools do as well as the capabilities of wood as a material.  Hopefully, I will be able to incorporate what I have learned during this project in to my luminaire as well as any future projects involving wood. 

Leo Villareal

  Leo Villareal is a contemporary digital light artist whose work can be seen in numerous cities all over the world.  He has been commissioned to do both temporary and permanent exhibits in various museums such as the MoMa in New York and the National Gallery of Art in D.C.  He typically works in a large-scale format using LED lights which are controlled by both software and hardware systems.  Villareal’s use of light in his projects is uniquely based on patterns and movement, which he uses to create a spectacular event.  His work has been described as hypnotic by observers as the digital light forms abstract moving configurations.  Light to Villareal is more than just something that illuminates.  His projects are about experiencing the event of light in motion through time, and he uses light to frame and create spaces. According to Villareal as told to CNET news in an interview, “My work explores not only on the physical but adds the dimension of time combining both spatial and temporal resolution.  My forms move, change, interact and ultimately glow into complex organisms.”   Although Villareal’s work is formally unique in the shimmering effect it has on its environment, he could be compared to light artist James Turrell, as his work is also concerned with both light and space, despite the difference in the visual effects.  Overall, Villareal’s  art is incredibly special from an observational standpoint as the observer becomes completely engaged  in the movement and effect of the illumination, and his work is meant to be witnessed over a period of time in order to fully see his use of pattern in the LED lights.  

Concourse Walkway in the National Gallery of Art on D.C.

Devils Playground

 

 

 

 

 

  www.villareal.net
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-20017310-52.html?tag=mncol;1n  
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leo-villareal/the-essence-of-light-thir_b_720351.html#s141416

Drafting

 

One of the more difficult aspects of this project was constructing the circles using tools in order for them to not appear "sketchy," and considering my candle holder consisted of doing numerous circles, it was something I had to work on.  The other aspect of drafting that I would consider to be more tedious is focusing on the different line weights and making the lines in the foreground darker than the lines in the background.  It is something that just becomes more second nature the more drafting I do. 

Twig Project

For this project we had to design a "container" to hold twelve twigs of our finding using only paper and a binding agent.  This project focused on thinking outside the box in order to create an innovative holder that was specific to the twigs that we choose.  My design went through many transformations as I tried to create my ideal container.  Initially I designed a more cylindrical shape using textured gold paper and copper wire to create coils that attached the two sheets of paper as well as secured a place for the twigs.  Although the wire and paper choice were what I imagined, the design had some issues in that it did not seem to relate specifically to the twigs I chose.  I also tried changing the shape and laying it horizontally, but it still seemed to be lacking a definite relationship to my twigs.  My final design concept emphasized the slight curve of each individual twig using the copper wire to bind each twig to each other and to the gold paper.  It is meant to be more sculptural and to hang on the wall as a piece of art. 

My Final:

First Attempts: