(11/2) Final Project Idea

My idea for my final project is to make a map of the "colors of my mind". Building off my scanography experiments, I want to use different colored/patterned papers and perhaps also colorful yarn and move it around on the scanner bed to create paintery strokes. I plan on printing them out, and use gel medium to transfer it onto a canvas to assume to the traditional painting format of a stretched canvas. I'm interested in imperfection and how a computer generated image can be distorted. I want to experiment with layering more than one image on top of each other and play around with the process.

(11/1) 3D Printing Project

For my 3D printing project, I worked with Nebular. We had decided to make an animal, namely a bunny. Initially, we tried to make a model with the pre-made shapes on Tinkercad but found this limiting. We looked at Thingspace of preexisting bunnies which were really detailed, but wanted to come up with our own unique design. We decided to try out importing an image from Google images of a bunny silhouette and used an online convertor to make it an svg. 

We then imported this file onto Tinkercad, and used the heart shape to cut out a heart shaped hole for it’s eye. The printing process was pretty straight forward, we downloaded it onto the Makerbot software and set it to the printer with Jessie’s help. This was a really fun collaboration and I’m happy with the result as its pretty cute!

(10/3) Final Project

Stay tuned :)

(10/2) Takeaways from my classmates

Avery:
Wow! This is an awesome idea...it reminds me of the one picture a day but video really takes it to the next level, the incorporation of sound with image. I wonder if this would be a good lesson plan for the classroom, perhaps a summer assignment?

Ned:
This is really animated and lively! Was it inspired by Francis Bacon's piece that you posted about below? I think it's fantastic to be inspired by others work, and it would be similarly useful to show students examples of other artists' work as inspiration and perhaps a guiding point for students that may not have ideas right from the start.

Katherine:

So fun! I love how this incorporates the themes of home/place and building a game. I think it would be a useful and meaningful lesson plan, as it invites students to contemplate what are their visual symbols of their town city or town, and also teaches them a new tool / problem solving via Scratch.

Trisha:

I love your usage of simple materials that are commonly found in an art classroom. There's traditionally a hierarchy with art over craft and this is a playful challenge to that! It's very detailed and incorporates an engaging storytelling element too. I wonder about how it would work with the addition of sound.

Wei:

This is a BEAUTIFULLY made video! The choice of black and white is very powerful, and your use of light and shadow and layering has successfully created a sinister ambiance. Coupled with the music, I feel like I'm brought to a completely different time and space. I wonder about how you can explore the notion of time and make films that seem like they are from the past, but with modern technology (iMovie, FinalCut).

Seung:
The themes addressed by this piece: birth, growth, decay--it's all stages of the life cycle, and literally it is represented here in a cyclical loop! It's simple and playful at the same time. Would you consider applying this idea of birth and rebirth to other objects from nature?

Dayhe:
Powerful usage of music. It's tied in together seamlessly, and also I appreciate how you two have used commonplace materials, namely pipe cleaners. I echo the statement that it has a drawing quality to the marks made, it also reminds me of Cy Twombly's work!

(10/1) Laser Cut Project: Collaboration with Trisha

For this week's project, I collaborated with Trisha. Our original idea was to create a lamp or light, and eventually settled on a "modern chandelier". We were also inspired by our visit to James Cohan Gallery last Thursday, where we saw a beautiful installation by Spencer Finch. 

For our process: we made two different sizes of pyramids, and tied them onto three different lengths of elastic string to create a geometric mobile. We created triangles with little holes and squares on Illustrator, and used the laser cutter to cut them out on clear acrylic. Our idea evolved throughout the process, for instance to use two triangles instead of four to make the pyramids open as it was aesthetically neater with the glue. 

Also, when we were attaching the hook-screws, the small screws had to be inserted by hand as opposed to using the hand drill for the bigger hook-screw on top. 

The process of making the piece was as meaningful as the final product, which we are very happy with! I think it captured an ephemeral quality and it constantly changes depending on how it interacts with the light.  

(9/1) Scratch Project: Bake an Apple Pie

(9/2) Scratch in the Classroom

When starting to think about my Scratch project, I first checked few examples on the website and saw one called “make your own ice cream sundae”. Inspired by this, I decided to combine the storytelling component from previous lessons to make an animation that is interactive about making an apple pie for Thanksgiving. It was super helpful to look into the code of the ice cream game to figure out how to move from each backdrop and also keep each Sprite organized. This is one of my favorite tools of this course thus far, the possibilities and creative potentials are endless. Next, I would love to make a game. I did have trouble with figuring out how to use the broadcast messages properly, something I’d like to understand further in order to build more complex games and animations, 
(figured it out...) and more importantly, use it in my future teaching. I’m wondering if there are additional courses I would be able to take to master this program. Also, the fact that it’s free to download and can be done completely on the website makes it reasonably accessible as long the student has a computer and internet access!

Two potential ways of using it in the classroom are:
1) Think about the Cartesian coordinate system. Make a Sprite “paints/draws” geometric shapes. Make your Sprite teach the viewer a geometric concept, and share your work about how you combined math with art to accomplish your visual. The process is as important as the outcome.
2) What are some games you like to play? Try to recreate one of your favorite games on Scratch. Discuss ideas of appropriation and modification. After students are done with their game, invite them to play one another’s game. A potential option is to work collaboratively on this, as the open code of Scratch allows and encourages group work. 

(9/1) iStopMotion Project