Midterm Review

The midterm review presentation consisted of the display of the 3D extension of the tombstone fragment through the use of clay. 

There were three different extensions completed (Below). The first extension's shape was based on research on the most common three-tier shape of 17th and 18th century tombstones. The complete authentic inscription was not known to me at this time. Therefore, I decided to use three names from the 17th century from different parts of Europe where settlers in America originated from: England, Ireland, and France. This contributed to the second extension, where I re-shaped the tombstone into the second most common shape of 17th and 18th century tombstones to fit these names appropriately. The first extension was too large for the names to be justified, therefore the second extension was necessary. This shape is also associated with footstones, whereas the shape of the first extension is associated with headstones. This created an experimental element in the consideration of meaning when reshaping. 

The third extension was created after documentation on the fragment was discovered. This document revealed the original and authentic 1680 inscription and corresponded to the remaining letters on my existing fragment. Using this documentation, I created the third extension with the originally decided shape and carved the authentic inscription. The third extension was physically presented at the midterm review on October 30, 2024, at Columbia University.