Intro to Sculpture: September 2009

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Kinetics Exercise: Duration

"Strandbeest" by Theo Jansen

Mon/Tues class: Due Monday, October 5th
Thurs/Fri class: Due Thursday, October 8th

duration (noun)
-the time during which something continues : the subway stop has been closed for the duration of the convention | a flight of over eight hours' duration.
-for the duration until the end of something, esp. a war : he was in the navy for the duration plus six.

Your assignment is to make a wall-mounted sculpture that explores the idea of duration, either formally or conceptually. Your sculpture must be affixed to and primarily supported by a wall (moveable walls will be used for the critiques), but may also extend to touch the floor or ceiling plane. The only size restriction for this project is that it must fit through a 36” doorway (in order to enter the building). Critiques will be held in the lobby of Harder Hall outside the Fosdick-Nelson Gallery, where your projects will be on display for a period of 2-3 days.

The intent of this assignment is to teach you some very basic information about electronics, kinetics, and the various movements that can be achieved with a low RPM motor. Your goal should be to learn how to properly solder a wire connection, and to familiarize yourself with the different mechanisms that can be used in conjunction with a motor in order to convert one type of motion to another.

The focus of this project is not necessarily on the craft of your object, but more so on its content, and the way in which it addresses the aspects of time and change inherent in moving objects.

You will be supplied with one 12V DC 10RPM motor, one 12V DC power supply, and one shaft coupling. You will be required to supply any other materials you think are necessary for your individual project. I suggest you take advantage of places such as REPO, The Opp Shop (open 2-6pm every Tuesday), and the Salvation Army in Hornell. Interesting mechanical objects such as old and rusty gears, pulleys, chains, and bearings can also be found at the Worth Smith Hardware Store (large blue building on Rt. 417 on the way to Wellsville).

Suggestions and things to consider:

Duration: Kinetic objects tend to deteriorate over time. How can your project take its own duration into consideration? How long will a viewer need to be with it in order to perceive what is happening, has already happened, or is going to happen in the future?

Interaction: Will your sculpture be in constant motion, or will it involve a switch that can be triggered by a viewer? How can interaction be implied?

Form: Will your sculpture be a moving painting or drawing, or will it be more 3-dimensional?

Remember… this project is due in two weeks! Try to keep it simple!