Weighted Mobile
Project Description
We have worked on the floor, table, pedestal, and wall but now it is time to occupy a space in the middle of the room. Hanging sculptures look to be floating, only suspended by thin, unobtrusive support. Each sculpture will use a counter weight in the form of anything you like up to 10 lbs. This counter weight will give your piece mass while enabling you to work on the delicate process of balance.
Hanging Mobiles are free to move and are a great introduction to kinetic sculpture and well as exploring a more formal approach to making sculpture. Answer the following questions, as you prepare to research for your design:
1. Is my piece balanced?
2. Does my piece have tension?
3. Am I occupying volume?
4. Does it work when viewed from all sides(top, bottom, and all the way around since it is hanging in space)?
Documenting your process is hugely important. These projects may not be able to be viewed at juries so it is important to show your thoughts and experiments as well as document the final product.
Optional: Consider how your sculpture can have moving parts, and how it will function. Look for objects in your everyday life that you can use as source material. You don't have to make everything. Some things can be modifications of existing things you already own (or find).
Specifications
Your sculpture must be smaller than 24"x24"x24". There is no limitation on materials, but it must be safe (no dangerous electricity, fire, sharp objects, etc).
Your sculpture must hang from a single point in the room.
It must contain at least 6 hanging elements and the counter weight.
Find materials from the world around you. Be resourceful- there are free materials everywhere.
Use all the skills you have learned through the year, and build on these. Challenge yourself to think outside of the box... literally.
Evaluation
You will be graded on creativity, originality, and concept and craft. You will also be graded on your process (time-management, and working through multiple ideas).
Please note: You will need to take photos through your entire process. These will be submitted along with the final project. No project will receive an A without this documentation. Process is important.
Lastly, your project must have a title, and you must think of how it will be displayed. Presentation is part of context, and context drives meaning.
Schedule
Homework- Due November 22nd
Your homework is to exercise the research and development stage of the creative process. You will do this by walking through the steps listed below. Here are the things you will need to bring to class on Jan 29th:
5 References w/descriptions
One-page typed document (printed out) with a list of 5 websites that you visited for your research. At least one of these websites must be an actual article (not a how-to, or list of pictures) that discusses some type of mobile or hanging sculpture. Examples of an appropriate article can be a newspaper story, something written for a journal/magazine, or something from Academia/industry). The one-page document must be printed out (no exceptions). It must include one-line brief descriptions for each website. This must be fully complete to receive credit for this portion.
Homework- Due November 22nd
Your homework is to exercise the research and development stage of the creative process. You will do this by walking through the steps listed below. Here are the things you will need to bring to class on Jan 29th:
5 References w/descriptions
One-page typed document (printed out) with a list of 5 websites that you visited for your research. At least one of these websites must be an actual article (not a how-to, or list of pictures) that discusses some type of mobile or hanging sculpture. Examples of an appropriate article can be a newspaper story, something written for a journal/magazine, or something from Academia/industry). The one-page document must be printed out (no exceptions). It must include one-line brief descriptions for each website. This must be fully complete to receive credit for this portion.
3 Detailed Drawings of your multiples
The drawings must be in your sketchbook using full pages(both sides when open) The drawing should show good use of the elements of design- line, form, color, texture, etc. (Note: These are fully-resolved drawings, NOT sketches)
In addition, the drawings should be informative; they should give us helpful information. Please be sure your drawings answer the following questions:
1. How is your mobile physically organized? Show details.
The drawings must be in your sketchbook using full pages(both sides when open) The drawing should show good use of the elements of design- line, form, color, texture, etc. (Note: These are fully-resolved drawings, NOT sketches)
In addition, the drawings should be informative; they should give us helpful information. Please be sure your drawings answer the following questions:
1. How is your mobile physically organized? Show details.
2. How many elements will be used? Be detailed and use color/texture/collage to show this.
3. What do these elements communicate? Descriptions/diagrams in the drawings should address this.
4. What concept are you engaging? Again, descriptions/diagrams could be helpful.
5. How is the form of your elements communicating? Scale, shape, text, etc.
6. What is the working title? This should be clearly labeled in your drawing.Materials and project 50% complete
You must come prepared with all materials and tools to work. Project must be at least 50% complete.
3. What do these elements communicate? Descriptions/diagrams in the drawings should address this.
4. What concept are you engaging? Again, descriptions/diagrams could be helpful.
5. How is the form of your elements communicating? Scale, shape, text, etc.
6. What is the working title? This should be clearly labeled in your drawing.Materials and project 50% complete
You must come prepared with all materials and tools to work. Project must be at least 50% complete.
Rubric for Homework
5 References = 10pts
3 Drawings = 30pts
Materials/Project = 60pts
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Total Possible = 100pts
A =100 - 90
B = 89 - 80
C = 79 - 70
D = 69 - 60
F = 59 - 0
Please be prepared at beginning of class with your own self-assessment based on the above rubric.
Final Project Due Date
December 1st- Project Due/Critique
Jean Tinguely
