Type Workshop / Image Making / Fall 2022
Within this project, we were tasked to create a large scale site specific word that interacts with its environment. This word would need to be created using a unique material, while additionally making your viewer move to view it.
Our group really loved the idea of creating our word to resemble stain glass. We chose to use the environment in front of the UMSL observatory, which is used to examine celestial events, to showcase our words meaning. By using natural light, we were able to create a unique stainless effect to reflect upon the sidewalk leading to the observatory.
The Process
Our process began with figuring out the best materials to create the most successful outcome. After research, we discovered how successful modpodge and food coloring is when trying to resemble stain glass with plastic. We decided the cost efficent approach was ordering bulk packs of plastic square plates to assemble our word.
Through trial and error after painting the plates, we figured out the best way to assemble our letters. We used a wood burning tool to create holes in each plate. These holes were then used to connect each plate with zip ties. We additionally decided to paint the zip ties to allow the assembly of each plate to blend together. In order for our letter forms to stand by themselves to be showcased, we used thin metal poles to attach to each letter and stick along the sidewalk.
Shine is created by MacKayla Foutch, Alanah Fahey, Eric Pham