expandthroughtension

I've been looking at this diagram/sketch in my notebook -
the film is the result of this reflection. The engineering problem of contracting and expanding is fascinating. 

shadowfoldingin3D

working on a body of work with the 3D printing. There is a film that uses the impossible object that was 3D printed. The film focuses on the shadow made from the object whilst it is manipulated in the hands. meanwhile preparations for the extensive hang on Friday are moving forward. creating sequence layouts for the different corridors, folding clear plastic for the boxes to hold the objects, printing the posters and testing 'stickiness' of various tapes. It will be great to see the work completed and available for others to see.

structuredialoguewithhandobjectlayered

The admin stage is upon me - I'm in the middle of organising the community engagement part of the project. Within the residency an element is sharing the learning that I have been involved in so far. One strand is looking at how to talk
about Science through the creation of Art. My own science education was not good so hopefully I can find ways to engage better with the past me when I meet them. Meanwhile I am continuing to work on bringing together the physical and the digital.

movingstaticobjects

two days on trains has given me the space to work on creating a series of moving 3D Google Sketch Up pieces. I have then combined them with images from the vast bank that I now have in the files. I have been looking at exploring different ways of grounding the moving elements on and with the static images

3Dspacesrealandimagined

The films on the screens in the Maxwell Centre look fantastic, it's great to have a physical space to put them and be able to watch reactions as people walk past. Meanwhile I'm slowly gathering people to work with - the project is extending into 3D printing, we are looking at creating a series of twisted spaces that are almost unimaginable without 3D software. I've been working with Google Sketch up and I love the idea that the structures in the soft-wear both exist and don't, or more correctly they exist in two states simultaneously. This visualisation of imagined spaces links neatly with the idea of the void and my attempts to cast spaces that one can't see. As ever what is wonderful about the shared spaces in The Maxwell is that somebody inevitably walks past and a dialogue is struck up, this really is how learning takes place. Today I was informed that I'm working on things called antiprisms - who knew  - wonderful, this led to researching and developing new structures with a richer understanding as a result. Another conversation led to thoughts about crystallography, notions of symmetry and pattern making through convergent beam diffraction. The idea that the categorisation of objects taking place through observable functionality can lead to connecting with textile design is something I didn't start the day with.  Next week I have organised to put some of the 3D work in cabinets, this will, in my mind replicate the effect of the clean rooms, placing objects within defined spaces for the purposes of observing. 

electronmanipulationunfoldingthinking

a series of films - imaging and the image of science is at the heart of this piece, struck by the imagery created with the electron microscope and Atomic Force Microscopy I created a number of short films and still images which in themselves documented a number of bookworks that were made in response to hand movements and gestures within the lab. The films were treated to 'mimic' the effect of electron imagery.    

the 2 panel films below are a series of works that look at how science concepts are communicated through subconscious hand gestures in the lab which are juxtaposed with objects made in response to the initial movements. The duality creates a dialogue between documentation of the lab, a response between the static and the moving.

.

2 panel blue folded object - unfoldingthinking

https://youtu.be/XCizd3eRR3w

2 panel blue triangle object - unfoldingthinking

https://youtu.be/hxJAPirIac8

2 panel over and under - unfoldingthinking

https://youtu.be/P_IFjSO7pvw

2 panels dark circle lots - unfoldingthinking

https://youtu.be/gibw8NbXFEw

2 panels diff photo layers - unfoldingthinking

https://youtu.be/9ny0Azq_xRA

this film continues to explore how science concepts are communicated through subconscious hand gestures in the lab. The initial documentation of hand gestures is presented next to a film of a bookwork which has itself been taken back to the clean room. The screen duality creates a dialogue between documentation of the lab, and the object made in response.

room clean actions in dialogue with object - unfoldingthinking

https://youtu.be/vrgvk7JphMA

shinespinmultiplyrepeat

the 'break' has given me time to assess the huge amount of filming I did last term - in the final days I also generously got to document some particular pieces both in a clean space and within a glove box - thank you. I've been creating a number of films that have an element of narrative embedded within the pieces. In some ways the films reference themselves, they show where the initial ideas for the pieces come from within the work itself. This dialogue within the frame mirrors my experience within the project so far. This act of observing has been crucial to the works development. I'm uploading the films later so that they can be viewed to a wider audience - meanwhile here are some gifs that are an element of this conversation. (I've been watching a lot of Vapourwave videos over the break).

newfilmsonscreens

It was exciting to arrive in the Maxwell Centre yesterday to see the new films on the screens. They look great - for me they give a sense of transition - three have been loaded  - they are 'what inspired me to work with NanoDTC' - an early folded structure - 'my initial work on the project' - a film with sci-fi tendencies' and a starting point for a body of work' - the hands. to see the work in full https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MMQyR2KLns&feature=youtu.be it has Esther Morgan reading Industrian Light and Magic a poem she wrote in response to a conversation we had about me explaining death and the force #starwars to my eldest child.

magicscienceconversation

a day in Cambridge - but before arriving it required some planning - I am beginning to make connections with individuals - the process of collaboration is always interesting - what is possible, what is wanted and what is offered ... I realise that I am in other peoples busy spaces, infiltrating, so am trying to request and connect,  whilst being hyper accommodating and creating minimum fuss. A meeting with a possible 'real use' for my folding structures, developing the idea of touch and connectivity through conductivity and circuits......watch this space. I've made a number of new structures inspired by the hand gestures that I have witnessed. These are made of many 'harmful' materials (dust) so I filmed them within the space outside the clean room, although its proximity to the room still required care. This went well with some excellent images both still and moving. I feel I have created so much data from the session which I now have to look through to determine the next steps. It's always interesting to see what others do with the structures I make and there were a couple of moments of magic - especially explaining a 'science' idea whilst holding a non related structure - a form of meta moving sculpture communication - art/science squared. I also had a meeting to discuss placing my work in a glove box so I had made a number of structures that have non-invasive properties, basically fibre and moisture free. The rubber, metal and plastic pieces refer in colour, texture and in some cases material to the experience of the glove box itself. Obvious I guess as I was working within a limited material palette and parameters but not at the time of making - apart from the oppressive black rubber piece. I've agreed and arranged a time next week to do this - very exciting..... 

introscreenhi

I wanted to introduce my work to the new students and the space in general - there a number of short extracts of 10 films on the screens around the building - hopefully connections will be made between what they see there and what I show at the Summer school. links to some of the films.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLtzViHqqcg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY3fN9vfIR4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06f80EtS3SY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYmqwBIWpNA