This five paragraph writing includes precedents, inspirations, elevator pitch, production calendar, and an overview of the Thesis I course.
About Thesis I;
During the “BFA DT, Thesis I” course, by getting motivated from my emotional urges and family relationships- I decided to undertake multiple experiments that shaped around four materials. The core material for every experiment and prototype was copper pipe fittings, to output an organic structure wood was the choice of material, to make colors unforgettable canvas was used and LED’s were used as the light source(s) in every single piece. The unattainable goal of mine was to create an emotionally driven, visually satisfying and interactive chandelier. The chandelier was supposed to help me and the my audience to reattain the customs of gathering people under a prepossessing indoor light source.
Precedents;
Artist: Spencer Finch
Example Work: Paris/Texas (2003)
California based, American artist Spencer Finch, who is also a part of Light and Space movement “is best known for producing large-scale sculptural installations that filter or transform natural light or create synthetic light effects.” Paris/Texas is a work that recreates the color scheme of Paris in Texas with the usage of specific light intensity and color data gathered on a specified day.
Artist: James Turrell
Example Work: Arrowhead (2009)
Another California based artist James Turrell uses the perceptional quality of light to create immersive environments that merge the natural and artificial lighting to produce peaceful and religiously inspired spaces. The piece Arrowhead pushes the perceptional quality of the eye to the limits while the viewer gets the chance of viewing the day and night sky in an enclosed space that is painted by changing colored lights throughout a 24-hour period.
Artist: Dan Flavin
Example Work: Untitled (to Robert, Joe and Michael) (1975–81)
American minimalist Dan Flavin who is known for his installations and sculptural objects which are made by commercially available fluorescent light fixtures. This work by Flavin explained extensively in an article by Greg Lindquist of The Brooklyn Rail. “Another factor here is the eyes’ tendency to see colors in complementary pairs, so hues appear warmer or colder according to what they are placed next to.”
Main Inspirations;
My main inspiration for the freshly updated version of my thesis project consists of three different mediums.
1- Nothing Gold Can Stay (poem) written by Robert Frost
The poem was written by Robert Frost in October 1923 and brought him the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1924. In eight lines poem covers loads of subjects, such as; the nature and the cycle of the sun.
link to the poem = http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/a_f/frost/gold.htm
2- The Outsiders (novel) written by S. E. Hinton
The poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” also appears to us inside this coming of age novel written by S. E. Hinton. The poem appears to us as a reference to themes such as “loss of innocence” and “coming of age”. The poem is directed towards the main character of the novel Ponyboy Curtis.
3- The Outsiders (movie) directed by Francis Ford Coppola
The Outsiders movie starring Thomas Howell is a visual portrayal of the novel. There is also a scene in the movie that is only dedicated to the poem. Ponyboy Curtis reads the poem to his friend while they are both watching the sunrise.
link to the scene = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOwPaC3ZaQQ
Concept / Elevator Pitch;
My thesis project is a kinetic sculpture that is composed of fabricated metals and artificial lighting. The piece metaphorically references the poem, Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost in order to criticize the lack of appreciation and the act of taking things for granted.
Production;
February 5th – February 12th —— Articulate the idea+Research materials+2D prototypes
February 12th – February 17th —— Real size prototype (with using cardboard, paper, Arduino)
February 17th – February 24th —— Gather materials (steel parts + tech parts)
February 24th – March 3rd —— Production with actual materials (code+physical production )
March 3rd – March 10th —— Production with actual materials (physical production, polishing, etching)
Bibliography:
From The Poems of Robert Frost: an explication. Copyright © 1991 by Mordecai Marcus.
Hinton, Susan E. The outsiders. Copenhagen: Easy Readers, 2017.
Lindquist, Greg. “DAN FLAVINs Altering Light.” The Brooklyn Rail. Accessed December 23, 2017. https://brooklynrail.org/2012/06/artseen/dan-flavins-altering-light.
“Spencer Finch.” 113 Artworks, Bio & Shows on Artsy. Accessed December 24, 2017. https://www.artsy.net/artist/spencer-finch.
The Outsiders. Produced by Francis Ford Coppola.