Just Your Average Studio Day

Today is a dedicated work day. With all of my studio classes in full swing it's time to get down to business.

Models models and more models!

These models are being made for Junior Jewelry and are based on the concept of sound and of opposites. 

I love music but I hate loud sounds so this pair of asymmetrical earrings is based on this idea. 

The small piece is going to attach to the ear so that sound is muffled, either with a headphone adaptor or with an earplug. The other piece is based on a gramophone and will funnel the sound directly into the ear to amplify it even more. The attachment will most likely need to wrap behind the ear to suspend it outside of the opening of the ear.

The Pigman and Hoopskirts

How could you not love a good murder story? 

If you are around tonight and want to experience a fantastic tale of devotion then drop by the pillowman featuring the talents of the RISD Exhibitionists, the student run acting group. Tonight is the last night and you shoudlnt miss out!

In other news I've been thinking a lot about hoop skirts the past few days.

In my Blake and Hogarth class we are required to do extensive research about details and information found in the engravings of William Hogarth and I was reminded of how much I love period costume. While researching a different aspect of the engraving The Harlot's Progress Plate 1 I looked into the evolution of the hoop skirt, bustle and farthingale. They came into fashion in the 1600s and stayed in fashion up until the beginning of the 20th century. Worn as an undergarment they forced both fabric and the wearer's body into impossible shapes. 

The trend began with the farthingale, then developed into the pannier and finally into the crinoline and later into the bustle 

I love the relationship between the hard metal boning and the soft ribbons that hold the fixtures together. I need to explore this idea more.

The RISD Apparel Triennial

Last night the apparel triennial opened to the public. Amid the madness of a show opening the student work rose above the masses. From womens wear to children's fashion everything from a-z was in the space. Some of the highlights were pieces by Jamall Osterholm with his black and white knitwear collection and the wearable sculptures made by several students as well as the striking larger than life fashion illustrations that adorned the wall. 

 

 

 

If you are in Providence and haven't already gone to see the show you had better hurry! 

 

 

 

 

 

Preliminary Tests

You know the feeling you get when you have a great idea and you just want to dive head first into it? 

That's how I feel right now.

So late last night (let's not talk about how late) I decided to attempt the first series of sketches that I could make in Rhino. 

Some worked better than others and that leaves me with the four examples that I have to show you. The major problem I'm running into right now is finding a way to make the cone points not rub against the skin uncomfortably. Tests with other rounder shapes appear to be more comfortable but will require large gaps between each layer of the necklace in order for it to have motion.

The other challenge is trying to develope a way to 3d print the necklace in one printing without processing afterwards. I believe that I could make each joint to be a ball joint and have the holding disks emerge from that but the complications of making sure they are the right size and strong enough to hold the weight of the necklace will undoubtedly bring about their own challenges. 

Oh well, I'll cross that bridge soon enough. 

Flower Garlands

While traveling down the rabbit hole of the internet I came across a few very interesting things.
I began by finding the wonderful and amazing flower garlands of Thailand.



The range of color and the range of techniques were just mind blowing.


Each garland is strung by hand using fresh flowers and must be completed before they wilt or bruise. with each garland having 1000 or more small flowers this task becomes infinitely harder.

But the translation of these techniques into other forms is what makes them truly inspiring.