J2_Narrative Pendant Design Review

The Concept for this project came from a trip to Mexico that I took with my family. There is a rock formation shaped like an arch that is a big tourist attraction and connects the Pacific Ocean to the Sea of Cortez. The only way to get to the arch is by boat, and there are many glass-bottom boat tours to the area. The water is so clear and blue that it allows you to see deep into it, and to see all of the brightly colored fish. There are many other large rocks in the area, on which you can always find a few pelicans. Some even land on the boats.

My plan is to have a hinged form in the shape of the rock. The front will be chased and repoussed to look like the arch rock formation, with the water below it, and the back will have a chased and repoussed pelican with the water below it. The inside will hold brightly colored fish hanging from a chain. The form will be connected to the chain by cut out pelicans.

Blood diamonds, process and final piece

in class brainstorming

the wax floated to the top of the mold, luckily it all worked out

filling each half of the mold separately gave me the chance to alter each cluster

the marks that are left when worn

Blood Diamonds Artist Statement

While watching the Blood Diamonds documentary, I was instantly interested that a big problem with conflict diamonds is that if a person disobeys, is caught stealing a rough diamond, or for no reason at all, their arm will be cut off with a machete. This left them unable to work and to provide for their families. The documentary showed men of all ages, as well as women and children, with wooden prosthetic arms, with hooks for hands. These images provoked the idea that now, the amputees could never acquire a rough diamond, because they can no longer pick such a tiny thing in their hands.

The form of this neckpiece begins with a cast prosthetic arm with cables and straps, much like the ones seen in the video. Around the neck to form the chain are large clusters of rock, with a few visible rough diamonds, all cast in metal. The front of the piece is left open and unattached, to signify that the arm is reaching for the rough diamonds, but will never obtain them. The weight of the piece is significant, as it is meant to portray that the idea of losing an arm and not being able to provide for your family is suffocating for the people in Africa that are affected by conflict diamonds.

Casting Creative Caffeine #3: Materials

The photos for CC#3 can be found here.

Casting Project 1 Final Pieces

I finally finished my 8 skeleton to skin pieces. Here they are!