Learning what models can say that sketches can't

Week of November 5:

This week I focused purely on constructing my first model for one of my environments (9 hours total). After feeling out various materials, I constructed a cave-like environment with the use of rocks, epoxy, bristle board, and a large Monster can. I started by finding the exact demensions and circumference of the can to create a three part cone-like structure out of the bristle board that fit perfectly inside the can, creating dimension as the cone tunneled down from a larger opening at the veiwing point to a smaller opening at the ending point. From there I filled the inside with rocks section by section and epoxied them in place. Although using the epoxy was very time consuming, it gave the piece an awesome effect and created a shine on the rocks that the light can bounce off of, appearing as if they were in wet or in shallow water. I still have yet to construct the water source I would like to add to the piece, but have gathered the materials I think will work.

Once looking through the piece into the light I realized that although I liked the depth created by the longevity of the can, the inside, once filled with the rocks, became darker than I had anticipated. To solve this, I will have to place a piece of vellum on the end (where the light will enter), which helps expand the area light will cover and help illuminate the inside, bringing out some of the colors of the rocks.

Another issue I ran into was the weight of the can. Once fully constructed, it became very heavy, and seems impractical to carry around. Not only was weight and issues, but the use of the can itself started to pose and issue. I was aiming for a very metaphorical reaction to the use of a Monster can to play into the contrast of society's dependence on caffeine sources to get through the day when all we really need is a break, time to connect with nature. I also like the idea that the can is such a man-made mass produced object that has a one time use only, you open it, drink it, and then dispose of it, and by housing this environment inside, you now have a reason to keep it.
However, after getting my peer's and professor's reactions to the piece (I spent most of Thursday in the morning and during section asking for reactions), I have realized its impracticality to the goal I was originially aiming for in my project proposal. I realize to get people to want to carry this piece around, it has to be smaller, it has to have a function.... a function in terms that it becomes some sort of use to people, rather than a burden to carry. Ben English made a good point to me "If you build this environment in a coffee cup because it is something that people carry with them in their daily lives, then you are making them now carry two coffee cups... one with actual coffee inside, and one with this environment. Who wants to have to do that?" I need to re-evaluate how it will be carried: will it be worn? pocketed? put on a key chain? It needs to be smaller, lighter, so scale and sizing must be explored. While slightly disappointed to see my weeks worth of work prove to veer me off the track, it was a good learning experience as I realized many things that I wouldn't have been able to just through sketching and writing my ideas. Model by model, I will be able to see what is working and what is not and from thre be able to focus my direction into what I am truly aiming to do.