The Cantilever & The Solid/Void Design
The Solid/Void Design
Part one, of a two part project, was to individually design a small sculpture that would express the relationship between solids and voids. Everyone involved chose to use cardboard as the material for the sculpture; since we were instructed that only Elmer's Glue could be used as the bonding agent for the sculpture. I, on the other hand, chose nine 6"x6" plexiglass squares and sixteen 2"x4" 20-Gauge galvanized mending plates.
The mending plates alone, unbothered, demonstrate a relationship between solid and voids. When made in factory, the teeth of the mending plate are punched out leaving voids where they once were. As for the plexiglass, I etched in triangles that got smaller and bigger with each square.
One of the reasons I chose these materials over the traditional cardboard, besides being different and standing out, was because I loved that the entire sculpture was able to be assembled without any Elmer's Glue or any other bonding agent or fastener of any kind. The plexiglass fit snug in between the teeth of the mending plate. The beautiful contrast between the clear plexiglass, frosted plexiglass and the steel are another huge favorite of mine and are extraordinary examples of solids and voids.
The Cantilever Design
For the second part of the project, we were paired up with another student in our studio and had to choose the better sculpture out of the two. We then had to design a cantilever that would act as a display shelf for the chosen sculpture. Similar to my sculpture we designed a cantilever that would be able to be assembled and disassembled without using any fasteners. Our intricate design allowed each individual piece to slide into its desired position or niche using the wall and the weight of the sculpture itself to remain sturdy. With three judging criteria's: the sculpture itself, the cantilever itself, and the two as a whole, we were honored with the 1st place prize out of all the studios and students in our graduating class.
