This piece was made with thin balsa wood squares that were soaked in warm water and then formed over a glass to dry. The pieces formed curved shapes, by gluing them together i formed an abstract piece. Its curved and pyramidal shape imply a growth of a tree shape, as if taking the original material back to its roots forming it back into its original shape.
For this project the assignment was to use air dry clay and a found object. My first idea of dwelling was to make a bromeliad plant which is often the home or dwelling of a small Bromeliad tree frog. I was prepared and set to make this piece by constructing long leaves out of the air dry clay and then allowing them to dry i also sculpted dirt and filled a small found object of a pot. Unfortunately i learned the lesson of air dry clay and even when the leaves had dried they still flopped over not holding a shape, and also crumbled in my hand due to the thickness. so i was back to the drawing board hoping for new inspiration. i went a while with a difficulty of coming up with an idea when hiking through the mountains of north Carolina i found my inspiration.
This inspiration was discovered with the use of a found object. I came across a large dried honey comb found in an old north Appalachia cabin. This intricate art executed by nature inspired my project for dwelling.The comb provides home for thousands even though it is so small. The natural hexagonal pattern formed within a honey comb is inspiring in itself and the look of the comb combined with the fragility allowed me to elevate it by adding air dry bees, and dripped hot glue honey. It is mounted on a block of wood. Unfortunately is is similar to my previous project but this is purely by coincidence, because of the inspiration i stumbled upon in the mountains. Just outside of Asheville located on the blue ridge parkway is a folk art center. This center is filled to the brim with interesting pottery, weaving's, wood carvings, and quilting. The wide range of folk art really captures the sense of Appalachia and the amazing north Carolina pottery has inspired my love of the craft. Here are some of my photos i took at the center.
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