Week 3 – Construction Complete, Excitement Rising!

I’ve led 7 tours now during my summer break and for whatever reason, this trip took me the longest to rid my jet-lag. However, I powered through and made huge strides in my project and am now at the point of just waiting for my show – on the creative side of the expectations. I am very good at visualizing something and creating it – but these columns and cubes could perhaps be the best “concept to reality” piece I have ever created. Below is an image of the initial sketch of the column with the cube.

Quick sketch of the column with cube.

From the moment I began thinking of this project, I could see everything perfectly in my head. Dimensions, colors, etc. just came to me – which may be why they came out so well and professional. Anyway, I’m jumping ahead. After researching plexi glass and possibilities to manufacture my own cubes, I realized it would be counter productive and not very cost-effective (which by the way this has cost a little over $500 so far) to do on my own – so I utilized the help of my wife to search on good ol’ Google acrylic cube containers (like those used for displaying trophies) and she found six 10″ beauties that fit what I was looking for perfectly. We ordered them and I was very pleased with what came.

Cubes!

Next up was the creation of the actual columns – but I put that on hold in order to make my basement into an art gallery setting or rather create the perfect room in which my project would sit. I started by mapping out the dimensions and painting the floor an oynx black matte finish. Next I purchased black plastic tarps and covered the ceiling as well as dropped 4 walls down encompassing the approximately 10′ x 18′ make-shift room. I must say, it is VERY dark in there! (My children won’t even go in there.) Soon enough, when the show gets closer, I am going to place a stereo outside the room that will be repeating the audio of toilettes flushing.

Mapping out the space

Getting my paint on!

After the room was completed, I had the help of my father to finish the columns. The material used for the columns were MDF as it cuts cleanly and is very smooth. A 5/16″ cut was placed at the top of every 11″ x 40 ” side in order to make the cube set subtlety and safely atop the column. Puttying the holes and splices proved to take a lot longer than I was hoping but the end result looks outstanding. Because there will be a light source on the inside of the hollow column, I spray painted and feathered down a gold shiny coat to add to the effect then painted the outside of the columns with the same black matte finish as the basement floor. Although much time and consideration went into the columns and the room, they are NOT the main visual I am trying to create; that is the gradient value scale color shift of the mundane liquid ingestible materials.

Side walls coming together.

Measuring and cutting.

It has a pulse!!!!

Painting the columns.

Ohhhh yeeeaahhhh!! Lookin good!

Buying and comparing various drinks at the store and my house was the most easy-going part of the week. I bought Red Bull, pear juice, Bud Select, apple juice, white grape juice, Sobe, Capri Sun, ice tea, etc.

Color choices

I was astonished to realize just how many drinks are shaded and tinted the same! (And with that, how many do indeed look like urine.) After pouring them all into clear cups, I chose six that were closest together in the family of value and arranged them accordingly.

And the winners are.........

It will cost quite a bit to fill all six containers full but it will be worth it. I tested out one of the cubes with just water and the effect is exactly on par with what is in my head. Although, it did leak so I had to go back to Home Depot and put silicone on the splices. The columns are now resting gently in the dark room, awaiting the liquid and final positioning. I am very excited! I haven’t set an official date yet but the show/open house will probably be during the evening of July 8th or 9th – which will give me another week to add reflections to the paper. I am excited to host this at my house and invite as many people as possible to share my vision.

My first stages of the paper will be worked on this next week with my advisor and after ideas, corrections, etc. get thrown around and implemented, I should be ready for the show and to add last-minute conclusions to my thesis regarding beauty and art.

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