Drawing in Space Final Sculpture:

Reed, 13 x 10.5

Purpose:

• To understand how a line can be used to create a three-dimensional form;

• To use reed to create a sculpture that considers space, balance, repetition, variety, and emphasis;

• To learn about sculpture artists and where they find their inspiration.

Artists Studied: 

Ruth Asawa, Mark di Suvero, Mia Pearlman, Martin Puryear, Richard Serra, Sarah Sockbeson, Stephan White.

Reflection: 

First I got my two, six-foot reed strips out of the sink where they had been sitting in water to make them bendable. Then, I used my hands to mold and twist the strips into the desired shape, holding the connections in place with paper clips. I repeated this process three times, two brainstorming sessions, and one final sculpture. During building, I was mostly thinking about it not looking awful, but also what would look good when it was hanging. I took into consideration both the size and shape of my loops and how they would interact with the rest of the sculpture. After leaving the final sculpture to dry, I went back and glued all the points of contact that had been secured with the paper clips together with glue. After that, I traced and cut the general shape of my chosen focal points out of a thin colored paper, and then glued the paper to the backsides of the shapes. 

There is variety in my sculpture when looking at the size of my loops, some are small and on the outsides of the sculpture, while others are large and encircle the entire sculpture. To show emphasis, I created one small circle on the inside of all the crisscrossing reed strips near the top of the sculpture, keeping in mind the direction it would face when hung. I then picked that circle to be one of my two focal points, the other, a lone loop on the outside of the sculpture, in another cool color, to complement, but not overpower the first.

I have discovered that it’s a difficult process and that it takes a lot of time, effort, and especially patience. You must find ways to make good use of the space you are given, while also giving the eye something to linger on. You cannot rush any part of the sculpture if you want quality craftsmanship, and I have learned to admire sculpture artists even more for these reasons.

Brainstorming:

Brainstorming Analysis:

I personally liked my second attempt more, because the first sculpture I did seemed jumbled, and didn't have as many recognizable shapes, whereas the second attempt played more with shapes that stuck out and drew attention to themselves which I liked a lot. I also liked the repetitive downward spiral on the second one, while the first attempt wouldn't catch my attention as much.