Learning from the past:

Applying the knowledge gained from previous Art 5 Northern Lights projects - including successes and failures - we will work with aluminum armature wire and an undetermined illumination method to create sculptural objects that glow at night.

In 2022, students were given only one day to conceptualize abstract sculptures using 1/16" diameter steel welding wire. These maquettes (miniature sculpture models) were nondescript abstract sculptural forms utilizing the natural properties of wire as a linear form, creating a sense of volume with the use of minimal mass. Since the finished full-scale sculptures were to utilize # 3 (3/8") steel rebar which is available in 20' lengths, we started the project by using the welding wire's full length (36"). This 3' length @ 1/16" diameter was the equivalent of 18' @ 3/8" diameter... close enough to 20' to allow us to get a realistic maquette that mimicked the full scale project when using 20' rebar.

No welds were to be used, and the wires could be cut as needed, but only held together with hot glue, fine wire, or tape, and stuck into a sheet of expanded foam to hold its form. The maquettes were evaluated in a critique setting, and the most interesting and do-able models were chosen to scale up. Over the course of two days, with the maquettes in hand, the students met at the LBC and up-scaled their sculptures using the rebar and zip ties. As necessary, ends of the rebar were embedded into the ground either by brute force, or hammering. When needed, the rebar was cut with either a hack saw or bolt cutters.

The completed sculptures were strung with a variety of LED string lights provided by the LBC.

We learned a lot on this project. The rebar was somewhat manageable, but it was heavy, hard to bend into sharp forms, brutal on the hands even with gloves, and not very self-supporting in comparison to the maquette wire. We discovered that more time was needed to develop viable maquettes. Zip ties were not the best way to join the rebar, as they were plastic and wasteful, could break at inopportune moments, and sometimes would slip their locations. The rebar would deform rather easily, not in desired ways, and was difficult to cut on location. The LED lights varied greatly in quality and aesthetics, were difficult to string along the rebar, and not fine enough in resolution to enhance the aesthetics of the forms as was desired.

2023's students created large self-portraits using 3/8" diameter aluminum armature wire. All students first created individual self portraits to human scale from 16-1/2 gauge black steel annealed tie wire in the manner of Alexander Calder who invented the concept. The maquettes were allowed only to be made strictly from the tie wire, with no added materials or connection methods - other than natural twisting of the wire itself.

The class critiqued the results and voted on 5 of the pieces to scale up.

The scaled portraits faithfully reproduced the proportions, connection points, and line movement of the originals. Although the original portraits were black, the finished pieces were painted with fluorescent paint so they would glow in the darkness when lit by black light.

Overall, the 2023 project was more successful than 2022 because students had more time, better references, a clearer goal, a bigger budget, and easier to work materials.

How we scaled up to an appropriate size in 2023:

The portraits were scaled up to where 16-1/2 gauge (0.058") diameter became 3/8" diameter (0.375"). In essence, the portraits were enlarged by 6.5x, to become 60" or more in height. Here is the simple math: 0.375"/0.058" = 6.47 times. Rounding brought the scale to 6.5x. For example, if the original portrait was 10" high, the enlarged version was 65" high. We also had to calculate how much of the aluminum armature wire was needed for each enlargement. if interested, please see the Fall 2023 examples page for how this was determined.

How long did the 2023 project take:

Students worked mainly at home on their individual portraits and had one day of class time to complete them. The large portraits were then made in teams over the course of 2 to 3 days. They were stored temporarily in the hallway outside of our classroom. The portraits were delivered to the LBC when class was not in session by myself and Emiko Ogasawara. On location, they were painted with Montana brand fluorescent spray paints by a team of student volunteers during one class period, and hung on the fence for display.

What we will create for 2024:

Students have generally responded positively to the concept of developing colorful wire sculptures of Nudibranch (how to pronounce the name). These beautiful and exotic sea slugs are found in the ocean in all manner of locations. Here is a Wikipedia page about them. A quick image search reveals myriad versions of Nudibranch. In nature they are very small: some the size of a fingernail, and some the size of a forearm. For our purposes, their real scales do not matter. They need to be enlarged to where the glowing sculptures have a physical presence while on location at the LBC.

There is interest in nesting these creatures among a coral background. This concept, and the appropriate scale of the Nudibranchs needs to be developed further. There is also interest in other sea creatures.

Our Timeline:

Lauren Hodge Peters, Associate Director of Marketing, Data and Communications at the LBC has set these dates as markers:

Key dates

Main installation: Oct 14-16
Opening night: Sun, Nov 17

We will try to stick to the main installation dates if possible, but if necessary, We'll deliver and install - or tweak the project - no later than the class period before opening night. That will be the absolute last day to contribute to the project.

What you need to do, starting September 21, 2024:

Do image research on Nudibranchs, coral, and sea creatures in general; research fluorescent paints, armature wire, the concept of annealing, and the wire work of Alexander Calder. This is to give you a sense of what is possible, and the general aesthetics of wire as an art form. We will discuss your research in class on Monday, September 23, and start playing with tie wire on that day. We will also come to a conclusion on the theme of the project.

Please bring any pliers you may have at home, and comfortable gloves if you want to wear some.