Instrument of Persuasion: Petroleum Penguin, by Miranda Jacoby (2013)
These penguins were made using a modified version of this paper craft model from Canon (Some of the tabs were changed to compensate for the larger scale).
Two Chairs and a Conversation Part 1, “State-of-the-Art Virus” by Miranda Jacoby (2013)
“State-of-the-Art Virus” is a conversation between a doctor and the first computer-augmented human to contract a digital virus. From mechanical prosthetics to neural implants, I think that humans are heading towards a physical synthesis with the technology we’ve come to depend on. Yet, this synthesis opens us up to a slew of new ailments, which may one day result in such a thing as prescription antivirus. Additionally, there’s an interesting parallel in the fact that malware infections in medical equipment has become a big problem in recent years.
The doctor’s chair has a straight back and a professional appearance, with slight, soft curves to suggest an organic element. The patient’s chair is a corrupted version of the doctor’s chair, whose warped effect was inspired by a distorted cabinet designed by Italian designer Ferruccio Laviani. Due to it’s viral nature, the patent’s chair is not meant to be interacted with. In the final design, both chairs will have another pair of support beams closer to the bottom of the legs to increase stability.
As for the setting, I was looking for something minimalist, well lit, and sterile. Yet, I was captivated by the paint splatters in this alcove and the rust stains on the staircase, as they incorporate the chaotic entity of the virus into an otherwise clean environment. This location is meant to be a secluded corner of a hospital, where the doctor and patient anxiously discuss what can be done to combat this new ailment.
Imaginary Landscape: “Earth’s Bones” by Miranda Jacoby (2013)
“Earth’s Bones” is about soil erosion due to deforestation. By combining the shapes of a human rib cage and a mountain, this work intends to drive home the idea of a future where humans have taken so much form the environment that it has become barren, and is thus unable to sustain life. In the first six pictures, a white background is used to denote the sterility of the bone mountain, as nothing can grow due to the loss of topsoil. The last picture shows the contrast between the bone mountain and a healthy hillside, highlighting how much we have, and how much we have to lose.
The total number of parts in this piece is 98. Of significance are the 13 pieces making up the base, which create 12 pairs of ribs connected by a spine to create a rib cage. According to New York’s City Waste Services, recycling a ton of cardboard saves 17 trees. Thus, there are 17 cardboard trees on the mountain, in a misguided attempt to turn the cardboard back into trees that succeeds in form, but not function. On the topic of materials, Masonite was chosen for the bone mountain due to its color, which emulates the characteristic brown tone of dinosaur bones often seen in museums. Coincidentally, the joinery used to make the ribcage was inspired by the dinosaur models one can find at museum gift shops.
(Upon further research, the 17-tree figure many not be as accurate as previously thought.)
Laser Cutter Example: “The New America” by Nando Costa (2013)
vimeo.com/77270043
This piece’s abstract story-line focuses on the various cultural changes experienced in America over the past couple of years, particularly the economic downturn and the resulting shift in values and beliefs of some of the population. The 800+ frames comprising this stop-motion animation were created by using a laser cutter to engrave wooden blocks. The frames were then photographed and assembled into the transfixing animation above.
Laser Cutter Example: “Hand Bowl” by Penfold Merton (2012)
This piece is a combination of two things commonly used for the act of holding: a hand, and a bowl. It was digitally modeled through a combination of Poser, Blender, and Autodesk 123D Make, and then laser cut into 40 layers of interlocking birch plywood.
Laser Cutter Example: “Kinetic Creatures” by Lucas Ainsworth & Alyssa Hamel (2012)
The Kinetic Creatures above consist of Rory the Rhino, Geno the Giraffe, and Elly the Elephant. This project is a result of the artists’ desire to create something mechanically complex yet accessible to everyone via easy construction with straightforward segments. The pieces for these creatures are laser cut from cardboard, and put together using tabs-and-slots. There is a small wire crank in the side of each kinetic creature, which when manually turned creates a walking motion.