Making Process 2: Stopping the Spillage

After having the tubes cut on Friday, I began to set up the process to begin pouring the plaster. I had to put clay at the base of the tube to try and stop any of the plaster leaking as well as secure it with cable to ties to stop it falling over. After testing one to see how much plaster a tube would use, I made all the other plaster rods. It did not run as smoothly as the first tube; the clay was not completely air tight and the plaster leaked everywhere on one of the other tubes. Also, it was quite challenging making the plaster the same consistency with each bucket. Some were thicker than others and I had to make around two buckets for each tube. Eventually. after solving the many crises that occurred and cleaning up all the mess I had six plaster tubes.

To prevent spillage

Cable ties to keep tube sturdy 

Final set up before pouring 

Making up plaster

Pouring Plaster

Making Process 1: The Mould

Trying to find a massive tube to pour plaster in was beginning to be a challenge. I needed to find not just one, but numerous long tubes which were at least 2 metres long to act as a mould for the plaster. I could have used drain pipes or plastic tubes, but those both cost money. I decided to go with the cardboard carpet tubes that are about 4m long. Transporting these were a slight issue as a result of their size, but I went to the closest carpet shop I could find to the college, which was a 15 minute walk. I carried around 3 tubes to college, each 4m long.

Tube Sample

Some of the carpet rolls

 After dragging these massive rolls to the college building, I had to cut them down to length. Due to the number I had, I decided to cut the number from 10 to 6. I cut the tubes from 4m to two 2m tubes using a saw. As I want the tubes at around 1.8m, this leaves room to sand down the ends or cut them to size.

Cutting down tubes

Cutting down tubes

 Next week, I will be pouring plaster into these tubes and making the plaster rods ready to be drilled and carved.

Chalk to Plaster (Final Piece Idea)

My final piece is based upon bone and how I recreate this look using plaster. After investigating the different ways bones are affected such as by disease or fracture, I chose to create a piece that shows these varying effects. I have looked into osteoporosis, cancer, fractures, brittle bone disease, osteoporosis and many more, which each attack the bone different causing various aesthetics. I have originally thought of making 10 different bones but this may be ambitious with time. One rod of plaster represents a bone. The disease coverage on the plaster rods depends on how it effects the bone, for example, osteoporosis effects most of the bone and bones in the body, so will cover a large surface of the rod.

To experiment with the composition and look of my final piece based upon my drawings, I used a pack of chalks. Although this seems unusual, it has the same aesthetics as the plaster rods and I can experiment with their order and how many rods work.

Pack of Chalk

10 pieces of chalk

Each one of these chalks will be a different disease, the first one being clear to show a 'normal' bone.

Brittle Bone Disease look 

I broke the chalk to see how it cracked and shattered for diseases like brittle bone disease and fractures.

Different disease ideas

Overall, this was a useful process as I could experiment with composition, and have a more realistic view of my final piece without actually having to make many plaster rods. Moreover, it also allowed me to see how I could make the real plaster rods and the percentage of disease to each bone. For example, the fractured bone could be in thirds as it is pleasant to the eye. I can also pick out some diseases that look better than others if I need to cut down the numbers of rods due to time.

Negative Space of Plaster

After forming the plaster bone marrow-like structures I decided to look into the negative space, and the shapes created from within. I began using plasticine as it is a very malleable substance.  I used sections of plasticine and compressed them into the porous structure. When I pulled out it out, it has an almost alien tendency. The shapes formed were tentacle-like or the texture of some monstrous rash.

Plasticine 

As a result of the success and its intriguing nature, I chose to look further into this idea of the negative space. I used wax, and poured it into the penetrable plaster shapes. What I quite stupidly did not think about was that the wax would pour out of the holes. In hindsight, it seems such as obvious thought but after going ahead with the practice it all flowed out. It did create an interesting design with a dripping effect. If I was to repeat the wax, I would use not completely melted wax, so I could squash it into the holes similar to the manner in which I did the plasticine.

Wax Drps

Failed wax attempt

Finally, I used latex, which in itself has a very alien-like texture. I added the latex to the plaster, layering it up over time and waiting for it to dry. Once it was dry, I peeled it off the plaster, which revealed this peculiar, flexible object. I decided to stretch it out in a frame so the bumpy surface was the main focal point. The latex looks like an enlarged bacteria or mitochondria. Although unusual, I am still unsure whether or not to pursue this further as a final idea.

Process of latex onto plaster