Getting there.... slowly....

I am becoming increasingly frustrated with the threads, wires and chains all becoming tangled. There's not too much I can do about this as I would waste more time assembling a piece then cutting a thread, assembling a piece, then cutting a thread etc than cutting everything first and assembling altogether. Having said that, I think today's total time spent unravelling tangled threads was around the 4 hour mark.... oh the irritation!! Model 1, Lisa 0

However, the frame is coming in handy in more ways than one. Resting the threads on the top supports means I am limiting my chances of falling off the stool (which are high given my lack of balance!) inbetween getting up and down to select which thread is next... Model 1, Lisa 1

Not all the threads are pulled taught in this image but you get the general idea (I hope!)

4 components in place.... 20 to go.... but now I have a system so it should be done relatively quickly.... famous last words!!

We're off and running...

The frame is in place, the components are ready and the construction has begun!

So far, the top plate, boxes, bricks and chains have been assembled and tomorrow will see the addition of the central elements and the vertical supports.

More photos to follow...

How will I assemble this thing?!

A quick image of how the artifact will sit in relation to the structural frame I need to make in order to assemble the artifact.... The frame won't necessarily be used to exhibit the piece but it will be highly useful in order to assemble the artifact in my studio. I will also need to transport the artifact using the frame so that the tension in the threads and wires is kept in place.

The Bechers

My latest source of inspiration/precedent studies is that of the industrial photographic images taken by the German couple Bernd and Hilla Becher. They spent 40 years of their lives documenting derelict industrial sites (water towers, warehouses, blast furnaces etc), mainly in Germany, the UK, Belgium, Holland and the US. The images are stunning and the passion they had for these structures is evident in their work. Their intention was to preserve and highlight the priceless treasure of the cultural and technological history that is, and has been, wiped from our urban industrial landscapes, and the way in which they capture the monumentality and timelessness of these subjects is remarkable. Check out some of their work...

Box no.1 complete

A successful day was had yesterday back at TWT and my box (and top supporting plate) are now complete. I'm pleased with the outcome, hope I can keep up this momentum for all the other parts! One slight thing I am concerned about now is where to actually suspend this for the assembly of the artifact and then where/how to exhibit it... some sort of structural frame may also have to be made....

Sheet metal work

I had a tutorial this week with Katharina and a few remaining issues have been ironed out leaving way for the construction of my final artifact to start!

Step one: making the large boxes. I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to do some sheet metal work at Victoria Fans and Engineering Supplies along with TWT Metal Products in Mossley near Manchester which has been a great hands-on learning experience and the work is coming along nicely. I will be going back into the works on Monday to finish off the metal pieces of my model. But for now, here are a few pictures in progress...

Next suggestion....

Having had a week of experimenting and researching, I have proposed another artifact sketch. I will be getting feedback for idea this tomorrow and will duly report back. There's a lot more thought and reasoning behind the piece now but I'll explain all that once details have been finalised during my tutorial.

I am hoping that after tomorrow I will have a clear plan as to where this semesters design project and the two documents will end up going.