Ample Sample Pt II: The Bird Feeder

Using recycled carpet samples I designed this bird feeder to be hung outside of CCA's entry. I hope to further develop the model and fix a few design issues and then submit it to the ample sample contest. Any feedback would be appreciated!

I started with an 18" square (here at 1"=2" scale) and cut out curved sections from each of the four sides.
I then fastened the corners together using a screw and washer. The hanging line is piano wire.


As pictured above, bird seed would be in the center pocket and birds could perch on the corner openings and eat the seeds. These can be attatched to eachother to create a tiered effect as well.


Part of this assignment was learning how to draw scaled technical drawings. Here are two of mine.

Scaled Drawing: Section View

Scaled Drawing: Plan View

Problems:

-Heavy birds or loads of bird seed causes the floor of the feeder to sink and this closes the holes. Need to either make alternative holes, wider original ones, or create a support column.

-Large birds may tip seeds out of feeder. For small birds only.

-Need to test with actual carpet to determine optimal seed holding ability.

-No drainage. Must be installed under an over hang to prevent too much water. Otherwise it becomes a bird bath/planter.

Christo Installation

The Running Fence
by Christo (1960s)

We just complete our midterm project for my Space Studio class. The assignment was to research a contemporary artist and create an installation in our school's entry way based on their work. My artist was Christo, who did The Gates in NYC Central park along with many other fabric covering works. (Note, it's a husband and wife team. Sadly the wife, Jean-Caulde died last Nov.)

The Gates (NYC Central Park)
by Christo (2005)

After looking at a lot of his works, I decided upon a design that used organza fabric (like his current work Over the River) as large panels (as The Running Fence) to create a new space within the entry way. One of the main problems with this entry way is the high foot traffic deters people from eating or even linging there and enjoying its architecture, including an open skylight.

Over the River
by Christo (under construction)

Below are a few of my sketch models using two colors of fabric.



Concept boards showing the feeling I'd hope visitors come away with. The changing color overlays and new space created.



Final Model + Drawings

My final design incorporated the three primary colors of an artist's pallet and used 4 pannels to create a space within a space. The haven in the middle of the courtyard provides a semi-private area for those using the tables to eat or chat while leaving the main walkways unobstructed.

Scaled Drawings

Eye-Level View from Street

View from A2 Cafe

Bird's eye view

Purple Bike

Today's Painting 1 class had a colorful set-up. Frank had set up what looked like a white and orange hang glider's parachute up on the wall and borrowed a classmate's bike, which he placed on a red pillow on top of a stool. The model, not pictured, stuck her limbs outside the wholes in the parachute. Bizarre, but amazing!

Below are photographs of the set up, which I had an awkward view of and thus decided to merge my two views to make one colorful dynamic composition.

Set Up 1

Set Up 2

This class was also the first class I was able to get my hands on pre-gessoed unstretched canvas on a roll. My professor had been urging me to "draw big" and so I did. This piece is as wide as my wingspan (and equally as tall). I feel so much freer working large. I have put aside my worries about not finishing every bit (this one is still unfinished btw) and have embraced the motion of painting on a large scale. Instead of the motion coming form my wrist as I hunch over a canvas, my entire arm moves from my shoulder, my legs move and as Frank would describe it "I dance".

Below I took a series of pictures of the painting in progress. I wish I had taken a picture of the under painting only (here in purple acrylic).

Bike, step 1
Laying down color blocks

Bike, step 2
Adding details and blue to background

Bike, Step 3
Brighten pillow and forground
oil painting (4'x4')

I'd like to brighten up the blue in the background while keeping the transparency it currently has. I also will add spokes and make the orange fabric in the foreground feel like fabric. I'm playing with the idea of converting the squares of blue and orange into horizontal stripes (or changing the orange stripe on the bottom left into rectangular segments). I hope to get back to this on Tuesday once it has time to dry.

Ample Sample

Our newest Space Studio class project is to use old carpet samples to design a functional piece for the CCA entryway, cafe, or gallery space. Check out some past entries on ample sample. It'll be hard to upstage some of these creative entries.

PS paintings and midterm assignments to be posted next week.

Typewriter

I've always been attracted to objects with a history or that have a reference to the past. One example is my mother's typewriter circa late 1970s. It's a heavy piece of equitment that purrs as you type (yes it still works).

While I had originally set out to paint it in a realistic way, after starting with the keys I realized I would drive myself insane. I gave myself permission to make it painterly and quickly smeared over the keys I had been meticulously working on. I like how the typewriter has a personality, almost zany, as the lines don't perfectly match up in perspective. It reminds me of things feel while pulling all-nigher writing an essay. Every thing is just a little off.

Mom's Typewriter
Oil Paint on MDF board (25"x25")
(really poor quality shot, my apologies)

Still life set-up