Mapping as a Form of Art

When I started to break down the concept of a map I realized a map was more than just a jumble of roads and highways that guide you to your destination. My first realization was that there are more ways than following a road defined path to get to a specific destination. But rather you could define a journey to a destination by depicting the path there accurately using your senses. I concentrated on the visual path. What buildings and structures did I see on my walk to Mish Mish? Mostly I saw words, people and signs. Some more iconic than others, but ultimately all part of my journey. 

Map

When I walk from Cowgill to Mish Mish I notice a variety of things; mainly academic buildings, the aroma of food, landscaped areas, construction sites and shopping areas. My first attempt to depict this experience was very literal. I drew the areas I passed as their actual shapes. However, as I continued working on this project I realized that on my walk, I did not even notice the actual shape of the areas, I simply just recognized what I passed. So, I extended the patterns of the areas to depict my experience more accurately. 

Then I created an entirely different map. This map represents natural densities. In other words, people, vegetation, animals, essentially anything living is expressed with circles. The larger the circles, the more dense the natural elements. Since I was blending all natural densities, I chose to stick to the one color that was most prominent on my walk. 

Links for Experimental Instrument Project

Experimental Instrument Project:
Design an Instrument which recreates the acoustical qualities of a specific site/environment.

Links :
http://www.brucehaack.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahQKsW0LHEA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fULSNvaDsyA
http://keithhillharpsichords.com/
http://that1guy.com/
http://ninestones.com/begallery.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vv9OHA1lPw
http://www.diegostocco.com/
http://earthharp.wordpress.com/videos/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbgeDjgYxmI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZJNEF6iBNE
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/28/science/28acou.html?pagewanted=all
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Awd72xG2cSo
http://vimeo.com/3824601
http://www.hanginbalance.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9d1yDCWicf0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7dn3l2tP-Q&feature=related
http://jasobrecht.com/les-paul-guitarist-inventor-inspiration/
http://www.interestingengineering.com/this-giant-spiky-stargate-is-really-a-huge-musical-instrument/
http://orgs.usd.edu/nmm/UtleyPages/Serpents/serpents.html

http://www.felixsmachines.com/
http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2010/05/25/experimental-sound-music/
http://www.douglashollis.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=SF2KyQ91U7Q

From The Drawing Board to The Wood Shop

I learned that a composition can be made up of many smaller drawings. Similarly, every composition is different. Each and every movement and placement of the individual shapes are essential to the intentions of the composition. Some times breaking the boundaries, often seen as the invisible boarder, can be very influential.

Studying density involved making several iterations. Each changing a different variable such as height, distance apart or number of objects. The final model incorporates all successful techniques and findings.

First Project

At first, the purpose of this project was to create a landscape.  

As I was working with chipboard, I realized the shadows 

I created were really interesting.

 I decided to use Bristol to create shadows.  Scoring the paper 

instead of cutting helped me carry out my intention.  Each of the 

three photographs above was made of only one piece of Bristol. 

My final model was made of Rockite.  I wanted to design something

that would capture shadow with the use of strong geometric shapes.

Map

My map, a visual representation of simple spoken directions, transports someone from Cowgill Hall to Mish Mish by way of a scavenger hunt; only when the adventurer reaches one destination will the next step become coherent.

These are my individual drawings, done in soft pastels.

Final model

The goal of my final model was to achieve transparency with a solid object (cardboard). I used the properties of cardboard to allow light to pass through when you look at the model from a specific view. This project taught me about cardboard as a material and how looking at a project from a different view completely changed the look of the model.

Exploration of Surface-Final Model

The goal of this project is to express surface using any material in anyway necessary. I chose to work with wooden sticks to create a landscape that is formed from individual points. 

Each stick is spaced equally, creating a narrow ally that stretches from one end of the landscape to the next. The sticks vary in height, which allows an increase and decrease in surface elevation.

I decided to leave one lane clear of any sticks to break up the constant pattern of the landscape and draw the viewer's eye to this different and exciting space. 

Lastly, I added another layer by increasing the elevation of my base. This layer adds a second surface that mimics the landscape above.

What's more?

Then I started to make study models, to try find a good way to connect stripes into a plane or in other words, how to make a surface with stripes.

 

My first model

I did a “bird nest” for my landscape project. It was connected by strips in half inch by twenty-four inch. When I finished the main part of this project, I started to think how the stripes connect to the plane. This what I figured out.