FMP

Site Specific Sculpture Experimentation

As part of my previous project concept, I had decided to create and experiment with site specific sculpture using a similar technique that I had experimented with in the previous project. My aim was to create something that would change with specific changes in the weather. With this experiment in particular, I wanted to experiment with making a sculpture that would move in the wind.

My initial idea was to create multiple metal frames shaped as spheres, and attached brightly coloured ribbons or fabric onto it so that they would move in the wind and create an ever changing sculpture.

I decided that I needed to experiment before jumping straight into creating the final product, and so decided to make only the frame, and see how it would be affected when hung outside where the wind could get to it.

The first experiment was made using three metal spheres that were connected to each other by twine, and that would be connected to a tree branch by twine also. I chose twine because it is a material that allows for movement, while being strong enough and flexible enough to allow for adjustments if necessary. 

I chose to attach the first experiment to a tree near the building. It was one of the only places I could hang it to be able to see the outcomes clearly without interruption, but also so that it didn't affect any of the health and safety precautions. The branch I hung it from was one of the only ones that stretched out from the tree, and was also very narrow and flexible.

Because I had chosen to make spheres, the experiment actually had a lot of bounce to it, and moved a lot when blown by the wind. 

For the second experiment, I chose to make interlocking rings, rather than having the rings attached to each other by twine. This one, when hung up, spun rather than bounced. I hung it on a branch that was considerably lower and more stable than the first experiment.

Using the knowledge from this experiment, I intend to make a sculpture much like the sketch I had planned to begin with that is affected by the wind, but rather than just trying something to it, I want to utilize the knowledge of the movement of the sculpture, depending on how it is made, to make something that is not only affected by the wind, but also changed as it is affected by the wind.

After making the basic frame, I decided to hang it outside to see how it would move in the environment I placed it in. I observed it for a minute to see how it moved when wind was blowing, and found that while it did rotate, it would only rotate so far and then turn back because of the way I had attached the string to the experiment. It does move however, and will be ready to put on the CD's I had planned.