Strides

I spent time sketching and doing tests this week to make sure I had as many details worked out as I could before proceeding with my next two sculptures. The second one I started is not going to provide the right acoustics, so I made a plan for how to redo it. 

After recording a violinist this week, I could finally start to see the pieces of my project coming together. I had a huge epiphany about the structure of the sound piece that will drastically change the experience of the listener. Instead of letting the sound slowly fade from one type of rhythm to the next, I will let the tone sustain over a full passage through all three sculptures, and have it complicate with each  loop. This way, the listener will be able to detect the subtle differences in sound caused by the acoustics much more clearly. 

Next week is spring break and I'm planning on finishing the second two sculptures and a rough cut of the sound piece. Wish me luck! 

Sound Off!

This week was all about sound. I recorded some oceanic sounds and a very talented saxophonist for my piece, and I am thrilled with the results. I also got a lot of my second sculpture completed. This week I realized just how many elements there are to consider. Everything from the viewer's relationship with the sculpture's opening, to the timbre of a musical instrument can influence the success of the piece. My goal for next week is to pay more careful attention to small details without losing sight of the big picture. I plan on creating a nearly completed mix of the sounds I have collected thus far, and hopefully finishing the second sculpture. Below I have a small sample of sound with (probably) all of the finished tracks mixed in for the first sculpture.

On To The Next One

This week I finished sculpting my first sculpture, began work on the second, and recorded more sound. I got a lot of great feedback in my critique, and realized that I am showing off the interior of the first sculpture because you are able to see down inside of it. I can highlight that feature by making the inside a really vibrant color. I need to run some tests for next week on small test tiles to see what glazes or treatments I'll be using for the surfaces of my sculpture. This weekend I will hopefully have my second sculpture ready for carving.

The Fun Part.

This week I finally got to test the sound in my first finished form, and begin the "fun part", which for me is carving the texture into the clay. I had an amazing chat with Stephanie and Jim, and walked away with a million new things to think about. The thought that made the most immediate change to my process was that mimicking the texture of the sound with the texture of the sculpture doesn't leave much to the imagination, and doesn't challenge the viewer. As Jim said, "the sound is already LITERALLY coming out of the sculpture. THEY'RE CONNECTED!" So, I have been incorporating some unexpected elements in the design of the first sculpture in order to allow the viewer to make various associations between the sculpture and the sound. For next week, I am recording a lot more, and getting the bulk of my 2nd sculpture completed. I am in the process of setting up times to record a violin, saxophone, and trumpet, and could not be more thrilled!

Serious Goals

As time is running low, I find myself both terrified and eager to make serious progress on my project. I sometimes find myself rushing, and the process becomes unenjoyable. Other times the long hours help get me into the groove of building, and make the process more exciting. Finding a balance is key, but also setting serious goals for when things will be accomplished is essential.

This week was dedicated to building and figuring out which sounds I need to obtain for the remainder of the pieces. I have been recording and experimenting with a bunch of different things, and hope to have something I'm happy with come this time next week.

For next week, my goal is to have one sculpture ready to bisque and some sound clips ready for my second piece. Below is a photo of the interior of sculpture one. The grooves are to eliminate some of the echo caused by the shape of the piece.

Progress Report

This was spent finalizing designs for my sculptures, making models of the interiors of the sculptures and beginning construction on the first one. I learned a lot about acoustics of spaces, and am trying my best to duplicate those in my work. For next week I'd like to have sculpture one nearly finished, and to do some serious editing of sound. If possible I'd like to record some more sound as well.

Excitement In The Air!

Wow, what an incredible week! I am all cued up and ready for a fulfilling weekend of progress on my IP project. This week I started out by recording some absolutely stunning ambient music with the help of my good friend and talented musician Shawn. I will be working with him on some other sounds for my project as well. These will be layered with sounds found in nature, voice, and other musical sounds made from all kinds of things. The sounds Shawn and I recorded in this first session were made for the most calming and subdued sculpture of the three I plan to make, based on the ebb and flow of ocean waves. Take a listen to the sample below and let me know if you can feel an "ocean-like" sensation! Next I made a huge vat of clay to make my sculptures with. Using clay reclaim and a mixture of grog, minerals, clay powder, I came up with a consistency that should offer plenty of strength and just the right amount of control. The rest of my time was spent reading and solidifying my sketches for the interiors of my forms. I rediscovered the beauty of collaboration this week, and it was extremely rewarding. I can't wait to mix my collaborations together in the studio, and produce something really special. For next week, here's to hoping that I have a lot of progress on my sculptures, and a good idea of what they will sound like.

Reflection & Projection

Over the course of the semester, I learned a lot about myself and my approach to creativity. I realized that more often than not, I will create a piece of artwork because I can't get something off of my mind. This may seem like an obvious chain of events, but I feel it has sometimes hindered my creativity rather than helped it along. Being able to separate my emotions and thoughts from my artistic interests has been an invaluable lesson for me. Realizing that things I need to address in my own life don't necessarily need to be actualized through a creative outlet, but might be better suited for other means of psychological analysis is important. I think making art to help one through a life situation is wonderful, and is in fact the reason I pursued art so long. But for IP, I let my need for that outlet prevent me from creating what I really wanted to make. In the end I wound up limiting myself from all of the tools I was craving. This year, I am turning over a new leaf in my IP. I am taking the advice from my review and putting my best foot forward. What resonated with me the most from the feedback I received was to ask myself how I will approach my project having lifted all limitations. After reflecting on this all of break, I've come to the conclusion that the limitations will present themselves as I go along. I will have to make sound and sculpture act as one, work within a repertoire of sounds and voices, and tie everything in with contextual relevance. the difference now is that these limitations are natural, whereas before I was boxing myself in with the materials I had forced myself to comply with. This year I am free, and excited to face each new challenge as it presents itself.