The Machine

 I'm the first to admit that this project is just a little weird, and a bit outside of my normal work.  Our challenge for the final project was to create a sculpture that is a machine, meaning that it has a kinetic component that preforms some action.  We were required to use 3 gears. 

Immediately I began thinking about toys... specifically beautifully crafted children's toys.  I knew I wanted to build something out of wood of high quality and really challenge my use of the material.  Originally I wanted to make some sort of mobile that rotated.  I started drawing up the stand for the mobile and was distracted by the form I was creating:  a simple tripod became this non-descript creature... So at some point I couldn't figure out how to get the mobile to work, and decided just to build on this form.  I added wings, and the kinetic motion associated was that the wings flapped when the gears rotated. 

So... this project became a huge headache, and a real frustration for me.  I was working with 'Allwood', which is 3/4" pine that is glued together lengthwise.  This wood is rather weak and it was easily damaged and split.  I did not hold up to rigor of construction.  I ended up using superglue to reattach pieces that separated (super glue because it sets faster than wood glue, and I was running out of time!).  

Other headaches... there was just entirely too much sanding required.  I spend a whole weekend sanding.  And all the joints: ah!  I wanted to use a dowl to connect pieces to keep things clean and nail free... but this is easier than it sounds.  Pieces never lined up correctly.  I just kept losing patience.  And it really bugged me that nothing was square... I just kept correcting and guessing and that made me crazy.  And to top it off, about an hour before this project was due the machine didn't work the way I thought it would and I was scrambling to improvise to get the wings to flap.  urgh!!!!

 

What I like: I like the lines of the form and I like the finish.  I used Danish oil.  The surface is so smooth and the oil really brought out the beauty of the wood.  My goal was to create a concise form all of one aesthetic.  In some ways I think I accomplished this.  I think I would make it smaller if I were to make it again, and maybe loose the little feet.  The form was intended to stand over a crib, as it was a mobile, but with this new purpose the height of this is not necessary.

Ironically, once the critique was over I was demonstrating the piece to one of my ceramic friends and the wood split AGAIN.  I haven't repaired it.  Something tells me this piece was not meant to be.  I'm ready to abandon it.