Working on my final projects for the undergraduate summer research fellowship. Progress shots to come soon!

The summer is starting to come to a close so I am going to be spending a whole lot of time in the studio. I have set up some weekly goals to meet. If all goes to plan with my projects I will be able to finish them before the Fall semester starts. I am changing one of my projects and instead creating two projects that belong to a series of work instead of two separate pieces. Time to bunker down and get things done!

I am working on my first project and I am pretty happy with the way it is turning out. The large copper spiral that is an anticlastic form is coming along nicely. I have reached a point in forming where I need to make a wooden forming depression that is larger than the current one I am using. The spiral form is too wide on the one end for the smaller stake so I will have to create a curve in a piece of wood that will work for what I need. I would like to finish the spiral form within the next two weeks so I can create the pin that will rest inside of the spiral. After that it is on to the next project! Progress shots to come...

I am currently working on one of my projects that consists of both synclastic and anticlastic forming. It is a spiral form that will hold a pin with an opal stone set in the center. I based my idea on a bird's nest and want to portray the feeling of comfort and containment. Still in the beginning stages but I am happy with the progress thus far.

I now have two concrete ideas for my summer research project and discussed them with my professor. I will be starting them as soon as the metal I ordered comes in the mail. I am really excited about these two projects for many reasons. One of them will be made entirely of silver which I have not done before on such a large scale. There also is a possibility of electroplating if there ends up being enough time during the summer session which would be pretty amazing! Can't wait to get started!

Above is a progress shot of a sample of an anticlastic form with spirals forming at the ends. It was formed with both metal and plastic hammers on wooden and metal forming stakes.

Above is a couple of progress shots of an asymmetric synclast formed with a raising hammer and a depression in wooden block.

Above is a sample of a double helix in the beginning stages. It started as a basic synclastic form that has been manipulated by hand to form the start of a spiral.

Above is a sample of basic foldforming. It is started by hammering the metal closed in the center of the form, like folding a piece of paper in half. Then it is annealed and opened up, creating the central crease in the form.  

 

Here are some photographs I took from my nature trail walk at Tillman Wildlife Preserve in Clarence New York. I found some seed pods both on branches and on the ground, broken egg shells and many other great sources for inspiration. Also ran into two snakes on the walk which keeps things interesting!