niamhsmateriallab

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Week 9~ Materials Lab

(Monday)

Due to Gay falling ill the previous week, our induction into the casting workshop had been postponed by a week. This was when we started to turn our 3D printed models of ourselves into our own silicone moulds. The process consisted of taking a paper cup and using a hot glue gun to secure the original printed model to the base of the inside of the cup. this is so that it is easier to remove from the silicone once set. We then mixed the two solutions together to activate the silicone. To prevent any bubbles from forming in the mould, we poured the liquid at a very slow, consistent rate to create a steady stream, ensuring no air would become trapped during this part of the process. Once full to the top of the cup, 3D model completely submerged, we tapped the paper cup on the table just as a precautionary measure to cause any trapped air to rise to the surface of the liquid. Next, we left the moulds to set so that we could come back the following week to complete the next part of the process.

(Tuesday)

Tuesday began with mini group presentations of what we had done as a group so far. We displayed some of our favourite memes that we had come up with the previous week and discussed how we were communicating ideas with each other inside and outside of the studio. Another thing we presented to the class was some of our initial ideas for our project and what our plan was to get a finished outcome at the end of the six weeks.

We then continued on for another while with our projects, adding to the progress already made. This was followed by a presentation from our guest speaker: Hanna Saito. Her presentation was based upon her findings and creations that were possible due to working with slime mould. It was very interesting to see a unique medium such as mould being used to create art. From this talk, I learnt that Slime is a form of Bioart that is different to fungus. Saito cultivates different species of slime mould for her work. Slime mould can be found in places such as parks, around wet leaves and they don't like sunlight. An experiment that used slime mould worth noting would be that of where they used oatmeal to plot where railway stations in Tokyo are on a map and then slime mould would be observed in its chosen journey, spreading across the map. What was interesting about this experiment was the slime followed the routes of the railway system meaning Tokyo's transport was the most effective method of travel. After Hanna had finished her talk with us, the class was open to ask any questions. As she had mentioned intelligent slime, I was curious on its abilities so asked if it was something that you are able to control. Hanna's response was that while there are some factors like oatmeal or milk that can be used to influence the slime, you cannot really control it.

(Friday)

Our weekly reading was based on an extract about alchemy. While I had heard of alchemy, I was not sure what it actually was so prior to our discussion in the morning, I conducted my own research on different points of interest within the extract. I watched a video explaining alchemy and its history as well as what it looks like in the modern world. The main thing that I took away from the extracts view into alchemy and chemistry was the main point that separated the two practices. Chemistry was about the properties of materials whereas alchemy was about the qualities of a material. The perspective taken on these materials is the most important part of distinguishing what outcome you'll create in terms of research and experimentation. In order to apply this to our creative work, we have to reassess the way we are viewing different things objects to create different outcomes.

During the afternoon my group and I sat down to start making the honeycomb grid needed for our materials lab outcome of the magnetic drawing board. After this had been set aside, we started coming up with concept ideas for our thought lab outcome. Here are a few of those initial sketches.

Our idea behind these concepts were to have a mixed media outcome (representing the black mountain college) where the inside would hold a room with a desk and computer. This room will consist of only three walls and the desk facing the back wall so that when the audience is viewing this piece, they can see the screen of the computer, therefore compromising the computer user's data. We will paint the building Black and white because Luanne's thought object was an article based on racism within AI. The whole concept of the building also relates to Muki's object which was S,M,L,XL (the book that also uses mixed media of a different sort to talk about architecture.

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Week 4~ Materials Lab

Our introduction to the Materials Lab was presented to us with a lecture in scale and which proportions might be used in different scenarios. Eg theatre prototypes of stages and sets always being in the 1:25 scale, some reasons why this scale is chosen is to be able to demonstrate different lighting effects and different wardrobe/ prop choices on the scale models. I found this concept easy to wrap my head around as it is just working in ratios and fractions of average anthropometric data and averages of real life objects. We were also shown scale rulers that are commonly used within architecture that make the process of creating orthographic drawings a lot easier. In the afternoon, our challenge was to create a three dimensional model of our given object and select a scale to complete it in. I chose a 5:1 scale as my tap was on the smaller side and then used white card to create the model. There were quite a few curves in my object's design that I found difficult to recreate without using mathematical methods or a tailors ruler that could make it easier to measure circumferences around different areas of the object, however I didn't dwell on this factor and decided to create a general model that was as accurate as possible without taking too much time. My model therefore had a resemblance to my object and the key features were to the correct scale I just didn't work out the gradients of different lines.

Friday afternoon brought our second round of presentations. I felt as though my presentation this time saw a lot of improvement in my time management skills as I wasn't so focused on having to summarise what my object was in order for the group to understand my response and instead was able to focus on my answers to the stimulus questions. I also used the questions as starting points and wasn't so obsessed with having an answer to every single question individually but instead joined some questions together and created a presentation that flowed with more emphasis on areas that I found interesting or important. I thought my presentation was well balanced with information but if I was to improve, I would write down some key points that I want to ensure I included and expanded on. I think that becoming more comfortable speaking in front of the group would help greatly with me remembering what I would like to say so that I don't panic and miss information out.

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week 4~ materials lab

Presentation on taps.

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week 3~ materials lab

To launch the materials module, we were given a new object to research. I was given a hot water tap out of the selection and our introductory task was to draw our object on an A5 scale. I found this to be very enjoyable. Initially this observational drawing was meant to be in black and white however when starting the drawing in pencil I found it slightly difficult so opted for a light yellow promarker. After sketching a rough outline, I went in with a fine tip pen and made the shapes and details more obvious using different mark making. To add final touches to my drawing I then chose a dark grey promarker and using the broad end of the pen, I mimicked the shadows that I was able to see. This last step's method was similar to how I learnt how to make technical drawings of objects at sixth form. I was pleased with the outcome that I was able to produce even though I found getting the proportions difficult to begin with.

Our Friday session brought our discussion on this weeks reading which was about the manufacture of paper, followed by disassembling our object. Due to the fact that I couldn't take my object apart, Lara asked me to research how our object is made. I found different videos on how different types of faucets are made and deduced which would be most applicable to the tap given to me. The information learnt from this research will be incorporated into my presentation at the end of week 4.