Public Art
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I am working on a public art project. Thirty or fourty years ago this was a freshman architecture project which I also built in wood. I remember drafting this whole thing in inked perspective.
SketchUp is a zillion times faster and you don't need to start the ink flow on a finger wrapped in a paper towel. Ah the wonder of technology. This is just one alternative for the art project and there are many alternatives for the final material.
Since it will hang in a arched tower over a public walkway, I may try to do it in a foam of some sort. I am also considering kite like structures and inflatables.
I have to watch my time as public art does not pay well especially if the project becomes a quagmire. Still it is a good promotional item for the portfolio.
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Dear Roger,
You could make the 'skeleton' (red components) from something stable like marine plywood and then make the blocks from off-cuts of different hardwoods, choosing the hardwoods for their grain and colour. The name of the sculpture could be related to the source of the wood.
How big is the piece?
Regards,
Bob -
The one I actually build was about 36 inch high. I did build it with plywood webs, but the blocks were the cheapest pine. Done in hardwoods it would be an absolute jewel, but the cost is incredible. As small as this thing looks, there are 256 blocks. You are probably talking $500 for your less expensive hardwoods. Now if you would like ebony you could buy a new car for less.
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Roger,
This idea is a little out there, so please don't take offense. Sustainability is all the rage in schools these days which made me think perhaps you could build the sculpture out of items found in the waste stream of the community where it will hang; things like old 2 x 4s, bike frame sections, PVC pipe, plastic molding, curtain rods, etc... anything that could fit within the general rectilinear scheme of your work. Heck, think of how much mileage Frank Gehry got out of using industrial materials like chain link fencing in his house.
Just a thought.
Fred
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Fred, this work is for Scottsdale, Arizona and the waste stream consists of castoff Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and BMWs. Could be interesting if I take your suggestion and the sculpture would do close to 180mph.
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Dear Roger,
You might try gluing wood laminates on to a rigid foam core. Then you would have the best of both world - economy and lightness.
Regards,
Bob -
Watkins, I was actually thinking of going the other direction with similar materials. I was thinking of a thin plywood core with medium density foam blocks glued to it. In the art project, this might be suspended in an arched tower above pedestrians.
Of course, a City engineer will be involved in safety issues, but the safest thing would be something that would not kill and be less likely to injure in a worst case situation.
I even considered aerogel until I found out it is the most expensive building material possible.
I would like to produce a miniature in brass for my desktop.
Carbon fiber would be interesting but again expensive.
A ferrous metal core and super magnets embedded in the end blocks would be fun a long as you did not get your fingers caught between modules.A lot of possibilities.
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