This studio consisted of three projects, a waffle structure, stacked structure, and a piece of furniture.
The waffle and stacked structures were introduction projects to gather inspiration for the final project. These structures explored the relationships of layering, material, and orientation.
The materials for the waffle structure were black and white acrylic sheets. The sculpture was designed in Rhino7, then laser cut and assembled. The pieces fit together like a puzzle, so no adhesive was needed. This method not only highlighted the precision of the laser cutting process but also emphasized the interplay between the contrasting colors of the acrylic sheets. Additionally, the black and white acrylic sheets created optical illusions, reminiscent of classic black-and-white optical art. These illusions played with the viewer's perception, making the structure appear to shift and move as they changed their viewing angle.
The materials for the stacked structure were basswood sheets, clear acrylic, and clear adhesive glue. To make the sculpture more dynamic, I added a tunnel through the clear acrylic so that, at a certain angle, all you could see was the tunnel. This feature created an intriguing visual effect, drawing the viewer's eye through the piece and inviting them to explore its depth and layers. The tunnel itself created an illusion of infinite depth, making the stacked structure appear more complex and engaging. The combination of materials and the strategic placement of the tunnel enhanced the overall visual impact, making the sculpture a captivating piece.
The final project we were assigned to create a piece of furniture. I took the vague prompt and wanted to create something that I could use every day, in the form of a lamp. My lamp was heavily inspired by the De Stijl movement.
The materials for the lamp consisted of primed pine wood, red blue yellow and white paint, red blue and yellow opaque acrylic sheets, industrial lights, wire, crips, and screws. The design and assembly process took a significant amount of time, especially when factoring making the lighting seem invisible.
Another unique aspect about this lamp is that the square acrylic sheets can be taken out and moved around the lamps. Even though there are different sized squares, like 4"x4", 5"x5", and 6"x6" they all have a 2" slot in the middle to slide in to the wood. They can be moved and readjusted at any point. I take advantage of it and explore the colors' relationships with light, whether that be sunlight, fluorescent studio lights, or the lights in the lamp.
