Project1 Proposal

Project1 Reconstructions

Wes Firestone & Katy Wang

Concept

This project aims to highlight the transformative qualities of nature and its dualistic characteristics with its relationship to the industrial environment. 

We want to explore the theme, “when nature takes, nature gives” idea and the love/hate relationship we have with nature. 

In addition to the project’s cyclic/transformative nature we want to further explore questions like “what is coexisting with nature like”? “How are we impacted” ?

We felt that “rust” was a good example of how nature affects our industrial environment and expresses this hate/taking away feeling as well as problems of coexistence. 

Upon our research, we found that salt + vinegar is extremely effective at causing rust because “it contains a dilute form of acetic acid; positive hydrogen ions in the acid remove electrons from iron, ionizing it and making it susceptible to rust.”

We also found that this mixture is a highly effective homemade weed killer. This expresses the other side of nature which is “more loving” and helpful to us industrialists and gardeners.

Materials

• Portrait sculpture: Clay, aluminum, mud, weeds;

• Trigger: Vinegar（solid state - ice), salt;

• Supports: wire, ropes;

Scale

The scale of our model will be 1:1. We will 3d scan our face, and create the mold according to its dimensions. We may cut the face in several parts. 

The melting object’s size will be determined by how long it takes to melt, and how fast our face takes to rust and kill the weeds. I presume it would be at most around a foot in height and a couple inches in width. 

The distance from the hanged object and the face will be 7-8 feet or less (will experiment) The face will be on a display that will be 2-3 feet in height and 1.5 feet wide. 

Site

The site will be off campus. Regarding the backdrop, it will most likely be industrial with an ambience of a dimly lit room containing gothic features. 

Sketch

Appendix (Brainstorm)