Our art class created kinetic sculptures because we studied an abundance of different artists who based most of their artwork on the movements of animals. One artist we focused most of our attention on was Theo Jensen, the creator of these huge kinetic sculptures that move all on their own when the wind blows them. A question we were told to think about and later answer was “how does nature inspire and power movement?” The first step to answering this question was figuring out what our power animals were. After doing countless IChing tests I figured out that my power animal was a spider, and my two natural elements are earth and air. My favorite part about this project was doing the IChing tests because it was interesting to read the definitions that went along with each element. I’m most proud of the kinetic sculpture I made because even though it hurt my fingers a lot to make I finished it, and the three linear paths of movement represent the way a spider would move.
Date Completed: September 2012
Title: The Spider and It’s Web
Materials Used: Clay, Cardboard. and Wire
Size: 15”W x 13”L x 10.7”H
Artist Statement:
WHY:
Explain the concept/idea behind the piece: The concept behind this piece was to get a better understanding of what kinetic sculptures are and how they move on there own. Also learning how to connect the movements from machines/sculptures to animals.
What is the piece about? This piece is supposed to represent the patterns of movement while a spider is making a web.
How did you get to the final concept/idea?I figured out that my spirit animal was most likely a spider and I decided that the most interesting movements a spider makes is the one it makes while it designing it’s home (web.)
What do the parts of the piece represent? The colored clay represents my elements that I discovered while taking the IChing test (Earth and Air) and the wire represents the three linear paths of movement a spider makes while making a web. The beads are the part of sculpture that make it kinetic.
HOW:
Explain the technical/hands on process behind creating the piece (How did you build the piece?):I had to bend each wire into a different path of movement, then taking the colored clay I had to stick it to the cardboard making sure you couldn’t seen any of the surface. Lastly I formed beads that would be able to move back and forth on the wire.