Today's Class- Today we opened with a critique of the plastic and other discarded manufactured materials projects, and then the students completed the course evaluation forms. After that, I introduced the career of designer Buckminster Fuller, whose approach to design influenced much of what is covered in this class. With all that out of the way, I introduced the new project, creating sculptures using old books as the medium.
How to make this up- The modern book is based on the codex design, an invention of the Ancient Romans. Multiple sheets of paper are bound along one edge, and may be manipulated, while still staying in the same order. As a book is opened and the pages turned, the overall dimensions continually change, and since the block of pages can be treated as a sculptural material, the result can be a sculpture that can change and be returned to its original state. You will need an old book that you don't mind cutting up, at least 250 to 300 pages is recommended, and hard covers are more stable than soft covers. You will have two main options in how to approach this project:
A. Single View
With this style, the book is opened to a single point, revealing a three dimensional artwork. The point can be just inside the front cover, or anywhere in the block of pages. Some student examples from previous semesters-
Portrait head in deep relief. Those dark marks are not pigment used to draw, but shadows created by the carving.
Above and below two landscape scenes with multiple layers of content. Part of each page left as a frame connects all the positive shapes to the book.
Adding images or color to the pages is not allowed, but you may make use of any that are part of the original book. In this piece, the student took advantage of book's many full page color glossy photos to create a complex multi colored and multi layered design.
B. Changing View
With this option, you create multiple sections, with various negative spaces passing through the whole book. The negative and positive spaces change as viewers move through the book, resulting in an ever changing sculpture.
This student example has four basic sections, and aspects of all four can be glimpsed as soon as the first section. Negative spaces change shape, and appear and disappear as one proceeds through the book.
This example is very geometric, but the same idea can be applied to more organic shapes, such as figures or landscapes, realistic or abstracted.
General Rules:
1) The book must be able to open and close.
2) Glue may be used to repair torn pages, but not to build sculpture. Everything in the piece must be part of the original pages as bound inside the cover.
3) You may not add color or images to the pages, but may make use of any such things that are part of the original publication.
4) No specific subjects are required for this project. You may work abstractly or representationally.
Keep in mind-
Sharp blades cut better than dull blades, which may just tear the paper. Have replacements ready.
This will take a lot longer than you expect, especially if you've never tried something like this before. Don't try to rush through it.
If you're not sure how to make it work, it may help you to visualize it if you do sketches first, or even cut out sample templates and stack them on top of each other, to see the visual interactions and the best places to have everything be attached.
Placing something hard under the page you are cutting may make it easier.
Homework- Due to the lengthy time required to do this project, it will be continued in class next week. Based on the progress in class next week, by the end of class I'll announce the due date, some time in December.
The proportional room/installation piece is due at the beginning of class on November 24, 2015.
The due date for the museum paper is December 1, 2015.
For next class 11/24/15- Other than reviewing the scale room project, you'll have the whole class period available to work on the book project. Bring your book from today (or a new one if you have decided to start over) and knife.
