Bridge 3: Prototypes and Testing

Since I’m going to make a scaled model of the library to show my idea, my prototype of it comes from the model that I’ve made in Bridge 2.

The only difference is instead of thin cardboards, I will be using foam boards and bubble wraps for my model. Thanks to my former experience on using foam boards and the model that I’ve made in Bridge 2. The entire process of making the scaled model was rather fluent.

This is my first time using cardboards to make a couch though, so there were lots of struggles and attempting.

 

Bridge 3: Material Development and Testing

I had set up my mind of using cardboards as the frame/skeleton of my couch from the very first beginning, the problem was the material that covers the frame.

At first, my first choice was using air pillows quilts like this:

However, I then found out it was difficult to get this material in stores and was also worried about if it would be strong and durable enough to hold human bodies. Thus, I gave up this material and moved on to a new option—bubble wraps. Since they are very commonly seen and used, they are way easier to find.

I first bought 3/16” bubble wrap and tested it. It was amazingly strong and since the bubble size is rather small, it is thus more flexible to cut. Hence, I decided to use it for my scale model of the library as well as the first layer of my couch.

However, for the second layer, the layer that will directly connect with human bodies, since part of my purpose was to serve comfort and softness, I preferred to use bigger bubbles than 3/16”. I looked up in stores and the biggest size I found was 5/16”, which was not as big as I wished. I then searched up online and found the largest size bubble wraps: 1/2″, this was the size I wanted to use.

Cross-Course Reflection

Xingman is not yet an artist. She is just enjoying actualizing crazy thoughts and ideas she has in mind via different media and materials. Her interested field is rather broad, from drawing/painting to photography, filming, and animation…she loves exploring various ways of expression to interpret her ideas. That’s why she has chosen Fine Arts as her major, so she’s given more freedom to try and do whatever she wants.

Across her first year at Parsons, it is not hard to tell that she focuses a lot on putting “humor” in her work. Whether it is “dark humor” that combines violence with humanity, or “hilarious humor” that comes with absurdity and nonsense, she can always connect different elements with a sense of humor in her works. During the year she tried many new ways of transforming her ideas, such as using materials like foam board, cardboard, wires, wood, and fabrics to create three-dimensional works. This learning experience excites her a lot since she used to be more concentrated on two-dimensional works, while now, she’s acknowledged how to utilize the sense of space and create substantial objects. Furthermore, throughout the first year of studying, she also enhanced her ability of researching. Now she is more directed and orientated when she needs to start an academic research for her project. She now knows how to locate her research field, how and where to find resources, how to filter and pick out the essential resources that are useful for her. With this skill of researching, she’s having more concrete and supportive backup to state her works in studio making.

The mechanical toy-like caterpillar she made for her Space/Materiality definitely has outstanding meaning for her. She struggled a lot during the whole making process. Back to the very first beginning, she did tons of research not only on caterpillars, how they move and how their bodies function when they are moving, but also the mechanic and technical theory on machines. She made a brave step in trying a completely new material—wood to make this object. Being unfamiliar with the material as well as lack of experience on manipulating machines, she failed several times. Though she did feel frustrated and had to face lots of problems, she finally came over the difficulties and completed her work, which is considered as well designed and well working. Another impressive project is the model and couch she made for her studio course. In this project, her journey of doing research is particularly notable. Before she finally settled on her idea of what installation to make, she spent months slowing developing her thoughts. Including choosing the site, spending time observing it, and studying all the essential elements in the site. The range of the research is incredibly and surprisingly wide and detailed, she not only studied the circulation of the habitats, but also the layout and furniture design in the site. After months of research, after uncounted times of selecting and eliminating, she eventually came up with her final workpiece and even made an actual sittable couch in full scale to present her intervention.

Obviously, she is looking forward to her future learning life in Parsons. She is engaged in 2d works as well as 3d works right now, and she still will. In the future, she expects to continue exploring deeper into various fields such as filming/animation and interactive/installation art.

GARBAGE DIARY

I don’t think I am drawn to any certain kinds of packaging nor color, what I do care is the quality itself.

I realize that lots of my garbage are made of plastic, which could and really should be recycled since It takes years to dissolve plastic underground.

In conclusion, one thing that got me the most from this three-days documenting is I surprisingly realize that I’m actually living a healthy life!

BECOMING NON-HUMAN

For this Non-Human Project,

I chose to be a HAWK, like this guy ↓↓↓

 

And as a hawk, the first necessity I need to guarantee a nice living life is a home—-a qualified space for me to place my nest. It should be up on high in a tree and has a clear view so I can easily scout out prey. For instance, it should be somewhere like this:

Thus, I chose out some special area in Tompkins Square Park. This special spot in the center of the park has some really tall trees which enable me to examine every little detail in the whole park.

Now since I’ve chosen my spot, I can finally start building my nest….

COME CLOSER!

Except for my self-built nest, I also saw some interesting houses that some humans had made for me. Even though I didn’t move in because they don’t provide me as many comforts as my own nest, I still wanna say that I like these houses very much, and I appreciate them for trying 🙂

I know that being a vegetarian is trendy nowadays, but I have to commit that I will and can never be one in my life. As a 100% meat eater, my diet includes all kinds of different animals, from snakes to lizards; rabbits to grasshoppers; and fish to mice. Technically I also eat squirrels, but since the squirrels here in New York City are amazingly strong and extremely tricky (probably because they’ve eaten too many humans foods), I have to cross them out of my list.

And that makes mice become my primary choice:

 

Please don’t feel disgusted by it. In order to stay strong and breed my children, I need to take in enough amount of protein. Therefore, foods like mice are essential.

Mice in the city live on garbage produced by human beings. That’s why in order to catch more mice, I wish they can be exposed more often, thus enclosed trash bins like these can be really frustrating for me.

However, if one day that all the trash bins can turn into open bins like this, that will truly be my “dream comes true”

 

Okay…that’s enough for today. I’ll see you next time!

MYCO-FORM (Mushroom) WORKSHOP

I first mixed the sawdust together with the bran, then added water and stirred to make sure they are all fully moisturized.

 

BEFORE

Then I put the bag into boiled water and let it boil for an hour.

  AFTER

 

After an hour of boiling, I pulled out the bag and let it cool down for several minutes.

 

I mashed the mushroom spawn

 

I then put the mushroom spawn into the bag and tried to mix them as evenly as I can.

 

At last, I closed up the bag with a twist tie, stored it in my room and wait for the fungus to grow.

 

So far my mushrooms are growing pretty well! I will keep taking care of it and just wait & see till it grows out actual mushrooms.