The Documentation of James McKinnon’s Botanical Sculpture
Through the process of my Botanical Sculpture, I have utilized the fifteen memory and wish flashes from the seminar, which I have obtained from my partner, James McKinnon to start forming an idea of his sculpture. These details were vital to begin my process of planning the creation and construction of this piece. Most importantly it allowed me to understand who he is. These flashes were personal and so revealed parts of himself that I would not have been able to read and contemplate on since it’s a subject that would only be expressed to someone close to him who he would feel comfortable exposing his vulnerable side to or even kept to himself. As I collected these aspects of James McKinnon, I have created a concrete angle of how I would like to execute his Botanical Sculpture.
As I listened to James McKinnon’s sound piece continuously, I have reflected on his dialogue through his tone, language, and attitude as he spoke to and of himself. The setting of the sounds were recorded in the streets of New York. As he spoke back and forth with himself it gave an impression that there was indeed two of James, however, one of him was his conscious. I often talk to myself internally and this allowed me to connect to his sound piece. I was able to identify this through my interpretation of two voices alternatively speaking back and forth, overlapping each other.
Based on the recording, a variety of themes have surfaced to my attention, such as the reflection of oneself, vulnerability, societal pressure, betrayal, and the lack of self-confidence. These themes all contribute to the materials that I obtain to integrate into the creation of James Avatar sculpture. One example of a material I will be utilizing mirrors and these mirrors will be either cracked or broken into pieces depending on how I plan to pursue these concepts I have mentioned. These mirrors will illustrate pieces of James self in which he attempts to rebuild and his inability to see himself in one piece, he illustrates a distorted image of himself.
I decided to incorporate a shape as the vessel, the material I will be utilizing is wood which I will be constructing four hexagons out of to create a whole. I specifically thought of the idea for the sculpture to encompass a geometric base which is important in signifying James personality opposite of an organic object. This geometric shape envelopes the main aspect of the sculpture which is the plant displayed in the center. The edges of the hexagon is what identifies this shape geometric. It’s qualities/characteristic pertain to his character which his he portrays.
The most significant feature of the sculpture is the flower I will display in the center of the piece, as I served the internet for flowers that could represent James, this particular flower intrigues me which is the Gladiolus, this flower is a multi-layered plant with petals that expand in many directions inconsistently. The petals are very delicate and can be plucked away easily away from the stem, the Gladiolus has a beautiful side but can easily become messy, falling everywhere in the space it occupies, which depict the thoughts James has with himself. The Gladiolus grows in a variety of colors, however, based on my decision I chose to to pick this flower out in red, the vivid color depicts the anger that James elicits through his sound piece. I aim for this flower to not only represent James but for him to be the flower in the sculpture. This flower will be placed inside a vase that I will be 3D printing, a round clear vase with a distinct quality that matches the diagram of a hexagon.
The colors I will be using in my sculpture will be spray painted on as it is quick and efficient, I will be using black to cover the hexagon I will have constructed. The color black is associated with the act of aggression which is illustrated through the tone and attitude of James, the act of confronting himself and scorning himself for his thoughts and actions.
I have alternated how the sculpture would be created, the wooden hexagons I wanted to install we’re going to be carved so it would resemble a frame, because of malfunctions in measurements I made a few adjustments to the composition of the sculpture. The most difficult aspect of building this piece was constructing the shape of the wood, the shape was a complex object to form, and was quite an overwhelming process. One particular aspect I have contemplated on the most was the form and structure, it is the most significant part of how I wanted to portray James.
When I finish building the Botanical Sculpture, every form and aspect of the piece will be different than what I imagine but I plan to execute this sculptural piece to the best of my ability and creativity.
NOTES: Though Process
Broken Mirrors
- Reflection of One’s Self
- Self – esteem
- Vulnerability
- Pitiful
- Societal Pressure
- Betrayal
- Dull
- Clueless
- Self – confidence
- Inside and Outside of One’s Self – mirrors reflected on both sides
-
- Pieces to rebuild of One’s Self
- Self – confidence and self – esteem
- Not being able to see yourself in one piece –
- Cracks that are made of the glass
Flower: (flower shop on 28th street)
Notes: five petal flowers?? *google search* five cell clusters
Top Three:
- Glasdiolus –
- Rose – the lack of self love – petals plucked off? –
- A complex flower that has layers
- A variety of layers (petals) to his personality
- Abstract: ??
- Delicate and Fragile
- The names significance | the person who discovered the flower | what is the names meaning
Characteristics:
Multi layered plant with petals that expand in many directions which are inconsistent. The petals are very delicate and can be plucked away easily away from the stem, the Gladiolus has a beautiful side but can easily become messy, falling everywhere in the space it occupies. The Gladiolus grows in a variety of colors, however, based on my decision
to pick out this flower in …
Origin:
Weather: This flower can only withstand … and blooms…
Color:
Significance:
Relationship:
Theme Colors: . . . what color will the vase be spray painted and the hexagon structure
- Black: is associated with act of aggression
-
-
- The confrontation which James has with himself
- James is scorning himself for his thoughts and actions
-
- Red: vivid color that represents strong emotions such as anger
-
- Anger within himself
- Depicted through his sound project which evoked the color red
Workshops: (to build and create)
- Wet and Ceramics Lab – vase for flower (messy, scattered)
- Laser Lab – mirrors (cut into hexagon shape for all sides of base)
- Wood Shop – base
- 3D Printing Lab – not sure yet…
Shape:
Hexagon (5 sides) – what could represent five sides of James McKinnon
- Geometric – signifies his personality, opposite of an organic object.
- Edgy
- Compex
- Variety
- Base – envelopes the plant that is displayed in the centre
Materials:
- Wood – For the main structure
- Glass – For the vase of the flower
- Wires – To travel around the plant
- Mirrors – For the inside of the base
Four Questions for James:
- How would you describe your personality to someone you love?
- Would you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert?
- Are you comfortable exposing your vulnerable side to people you don’t really know?
- Have you become a person who truly knows themselves or is that something you feel you need to continue to develop or discover?
