Associate Professor Thomas Sakoulas
State University of New York at Oneonta : Art Department
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Volume Containment With Linear Elements

Using wood or wire, construct a linear design that contains volume.  Plan your design carefully (use drawings if necessary) and use a large amount of linear elements in order to contain as much space volume as possible. 

Be sure to visit the Gallery page, and to memorize the safety rules.

A successful design will incorporate a variety of linear forms that will enrich it with their complexity, while the focus of the viewer will be aimed at the contained space. Your work should be a sculpture “in the round”, and should measure at least 40” in one direction.  Feel free to experiment with the scale of your object in its context and the proportions of its individual components.  Keep in mind that the contained space can either be interrupted by linear elements, forms, or it can be clean of any obstructions. 

Your every decision will affect the nature and the quality of the contained space.  The surface of the structure can be painted or otherwise altered if you feel that such treatment will improve it, (be careful not to create an elaborate ground for a painting). It might be necessary to construct a working scale model of your design that will allow you to experiment with different configurations before the final piece begins to take shape. A three dimensional working model is preferable to a two-dimensional drawing because it allows for direct manipulation of physical space and, thus, for easier problem solving.

Materials

Wood or wire (or a combination of the two)> First make some sketches and decide what kind of design you should create, and then pay a visit to the lumber yard to see what kind of wood will be appropriate for it.

Alternately, you may use sticks, branches, or any other linear medium you desire in order to construct your design. You may also use any means of construction you deem necessary to join the wood together (nails, screws, wire, rope, string, dowels, etc.)
You may, if you wish use only wire for your piece, but from my experience, you will have to really work hard at giving substance to your wire piece.

Consider the following

  • What does space mean to me?
  • What is “line”?
  • What constitutes volume?
  • How can empty space be as important as form?
  • What is the relationship between Form and Space?
  • How does my design conform to the answers I gave to the above questions?

Here are some ideas

  1. Find an architectural detail in our building and react to it with your design (attach to it and expand if you like)
  2. Enclose an object within the boundaries of your work (does this make the space more meaningful?)
  3. Enclose a person whithin...Just kidding, but it could be an interactive space that people could explore physically
  4. Create an interactive design by altering the way people have to react around it (a barrier, a guide, or a path)

Linkds

Alexander Calder's Wire Sculptures (from Yahoo! links)

Alexander Calder's Circus (from Yahoo! links)

Alexander Calder's Mobiles (from Yahoo! links)