Sculpture

Sculptural works that exist in three-dimensional space are really best thought of as multisensory toys.
They are to be played with, touched, listened to or rubbed against.
Thorough design and engineering makes these activities and experiences possible.

Billy 2: variation

This sculpture is part of the "disjunctive mediation" series of works. These works involve social commentary, humor, viewer/user interaction, sound and aspects of performance. This sculptural element is based on a previous work called "Billy the Test Subject", which was a comment on genetic engineering and animal rights. The work that this sculpture will become, will likely progress along a similar thematic tone.

Billy 2: variation

What you see in this image is an early stage of the rough-in of the sculpture. It's done in roma plastiline #1 (soft). This grade is easily workable. In colder climates, it becomes harder when the temperature drops. I mention this because some sculptors who work in the film industry sometimes work with a harder grade of this clay, which is softer in warmer climates, like those in Los Angeles. Pittsburgh weather is unsympathetic. I also prefer a material that affords a faster block-in, since I have no time. After the block-in is done and smoothed, a jacket mold will be made. This will provide a structure for a silicone negative that will be made when the textures and details have been finished. The plan is to have a flexible mold, from which I can produce multiple wax positives, in advance of an installation.

Billy 2: variation

The appearance of this model is intended to resemble a cross between a human and another primate. This is a reference to the similarity human beings naturally share with primates (genetically), as much as it is a reference to the use of genetic engineering technologies to produce primates with genetic structures that are a very close match to human DNA - as in the case of ANDi, (Oregon Health Sciences University).

Tesseract Tenons: Pattern

This is a design for a tenon, which is modeled after an unfolded tesseract form. Basically, you have a cube, and from each face of the cube a tenon emerging. This form was designed for repeat use in various sculptures.

Tesseract Tenons: Moldmaking

This image shows the pattern, next to the silicone negative. The silicone negative is in a single piece. When I make flexible molds, from which I plan on casting rigid positives, I try to incorporate a method I learned from Dick Smith, when doing life casts. the idea, is to cut the mold, so all the flashing lines match up naturally. I continue to cast multiple pieces from this same mold, for various works.

Laser Pattern: Construction with Mirrors

This is a construction of motors and mirrors. It's designed to cast a pattern onto a wall, using a laser beam. When moving at different rates of speed, the beam will create geometric patterns. This looks like a spirograph, an old children's toy.

Laser Pattern: Testing

The construction here, uses motors from an old fan. The beam is from a laser pointer. The laser pointer is attached to a power transformer and is plugged into the wall. The effect of this is quite fascinating. The work has to be engineered so as not to shine the beam into the viewer's eyes. So, the apparatus has to be mounted above eye level.

Billy the Test Subject: Turning Form on Lathe

Many pieces are turned on a mini-lathe. One work in particular, Billy the Test Subject, incorporated a cylindrical form, which was developed in this manner.