Golf Hole: Final (Art 343/381: Critical Play)

Artist's Statement:
Here is my final miniature golf hole. I built it quarter-size using Pepakura. I hoped to create a surreal replica of a Salvador Dali clock, in order to make a unique art concept on a golf course.

Makerbot: Final "Piano on Mute" (Art 350: Advanced Digital Media)

Artist Statement:
The piano is known for the beautiful melodies that its 88 keys can produce. But beyond its sound, its structure is just as stunning.

I started playing piano at age 5 when my mom made me start taking lessons after she impulsively bought this Kohler & Campbell baby grand. Reluctant at first, I fell in love with the instrument and have been playing ever since. I have also become attached to my piano, where others just don’t feel right to play.

For this project, I hoped to create a model that focused on both that structural beauty and my personal attachment to my baby grand.

I built several variations of my piano, both as a whole and in pieces, in Google Sketch Up. I then printed all the parts using the Makerbot. The material is a rough-like plastic, of which I trimmed and sanded using a Dremel tool. Some model paint and hot glue added the finishing touches.

With this model being silent, or on mute, I hope the viewer can appreciate the structure of the instrument I worked to replicate and build.



Here's a little more about the process:

I spent hours and hours printing this piano on the Makerbot. Since it's such a new technology, I encountered and worked through several malfunctions, such as the platform slipping which shifted the whole print job or the entire top of the machine falling off. A big thanks to Clint Sleeper for all his patience and help in helping solve these malfunctions.

Aside from the printing, I also had some trouble with the assembly and painting since the material is so rough. The sanding didn't seem to help enough with this.

Despite the problems that arose, I feel that I gave myself enough time to work through them and am happy with the end result.

Golf Hole: 6 (Art 343/381: Critical Play)

I'm almost done with my rim. I need to clean up some places on the outer rim, then need to complete the inner edge.

Here's a photo:



Timeline to finish the project:

Wednesday - finish rim

Friday - print and cut hands out

Saturday - finish hands, make bottom and hole

Sunday - add numbers

Wednesday - finishing touches

Makerbot: 6 (Art 350: Advanced Digital Media)

I printed this piano body last week, but it didn't turn out so hot. It didn't print the legs to full length and it somehow reversed the top (the curve should be on the right). This is pretty unfortunate since it took more than three hours.

Here's the photo:



I will be fixing this problem by re-printing the legs separately and hoping that a re-position on the Makerbot stage will fix the mirroring. Crossing my fingers that this works.

I'm not sure if I will be showing an all black model as well yet. We'll see how today's printing goes.

Timeline to finish the project:

Today - print legs, stand, bench, lid and body in white

Wednesday - fix problems from today's print, including possible reprints; print pedals; clean up edges; painting lesson

Friday - print in black; fix edges

Saturday - assemble and paint

Sunday - finishing touches

Golf Hole: 5 (Art 343/381: Critical Play)

I've been working on building my Pepakura model. It's pretty straightforward, minus the fact that I've tried a few adhesives with little luck in finding one that I'm happy with.

Here's pictures of my progress:

Makerbot: 5 (Art 350: Advanced Digital Media)

I printed a few more pieces today. It took quite a while because the Makerbot platform kept slipping, so I had to continuously start over, unfortunately. I am going to finish making the pieces and print more on Friday.

I also decided to print all the pieces, both in white and black material. I plan to then paint the white set.

Here's one of the lids that didn't work out so well:

Here's a good version of the lid:

Here's a photo of the bench. I have to cut the material out from between the legs because of the way it printed. I think the scale might be a bit off, and I'll probably need to shorten the legs a bit as well. Once I'm done with the trimming, I will need to sand it down a little better.

Lecture Critique: 2 (Art 350: Advanced Digital Media)

Maria Elena Buszek gave a thrilling lecture last week on feminism in modern art. The topic especially interested me, as I've taken many women's studies courses.

As a lecturer, Buszek excelled — using plenty of photographs of work she talked about and multimedia examples of music videos pertaining to digital art. She incorporated these examples to show how feminism is displayed in both pop culture and in the art world. Although there are few artists that use feminist messages in their work, as Buszek pointed out, she capitalized on the artists that do.

For example, Buszek touched on artists or pop culture icons such as Sarah Haskins from Current TV, Peaches and Le Tigre to show how feminism is being incorporated into modern art.



I particularly enjoyed Buszek's mention of Tracy and the Plastics and the group's relevance to the digital media scene. Buszek's question was this: "How does digital media affect feminist art?"



In this example, Buszek explains that the digital medium allows lines to be blurred between the audience, projection and performer.

While I enjoyed the variety of examples Buszek, I would have liked to hear more about her own work. It is not very often that students have the opportunity to listen to a visiting artist's lecture — and I think getting to know the artist that is speaking adds to that experience.

Buszek only briefly touched on her work. Since she is most certainly an expert on her own work, I think adding this into her lecture could have added a relevant and personal piece to her topic.

Questions for the artist:
1. How does your own work factor into feminism in art? Do you ever explore digital media to portray your message? How and why or why not?
2. Why do you think feminism is still widely missing in pop culture and modern art?