Metal - Torch Welding

Kim gives Mike a demo on how to weld. :D

Hey Mike, I think you look really cool with those goggles. :)

Metal - construction

Bending the metal rods to get the exact curves I wanted was challenging. Also, as the round form of the rods make it hard to hold together, I needed a second pair of hands to help me hold it while I used the torch to weld it together.



Now time for the waves! Experimenting with paper a little bit.. I did not want to waste the usage of the metal, even though I had extra. Using Bristol board, I cut a sample shape. At first I was planning to trace the shape exactly, but I found it easier to free-hand the design.


With Mike's help, I learnt how to use the plasma cutter!The first few tries came out terrible...
... but after switching to the other machine with a better tip, the cuts became much more smooth.

before polishing and after polishing the metal.

note to self: don't wear rubber-soled shoes when dealing with hot metal..Did not take photos of attaching the waves to the main structure..which was also a struggle because again, due to the round edges of the rods, it was hard to hold together.
It came out alright, and again, I feel that if I had cut one more piece, it would be more complete.
overall, even though it came out quite different from the sketch, the piece turned out pretty well and I was able to utilize many of the workshop's metal tools.

Metal - Supplies

Alro's Metals!


because I was not sure how big exactly I wanted the sculpture to be, it was tough deciding how much metal to get.

man that's an awesome machine... munching metal!

The friendly guys at Alro's.
Thank you JiaWei for giving me a ride to the store! :D and Josiah too.

Metal - Joints & Sketches

here goes... here is the beginning of the process log of Assignment Metal.

Wahoo! almost done for the arc-welding exercise. It's hard to see through the dark mask and the rod kept getting stuck to the metal... but for a first time handling of these equipment, it's not too bad and I can get the hang of it after a while. Still needs much more practice though.

here's Mike making the metal edges real nice for the arc-weld!

If I had time... I want to make those edges smooth...

Below are my ideas for the sculpture. Since we have to "create a piece that uses some form of soft sculpture", I wanted to challenge myself to give the illusion of softness using just metal. Smooth flowing forms appeal to me very much, so I thought of using air and water as the theme, inspired by Chinese elements..

Below: I tried using wires to get a feel of how I want the metal to twist.

Metal Sculpture Research

25 Metal Sculptures: Sculptures that inspire and use metal as the main element or use a contrast of hard and soft. (in random order of like)

1. Drew Flaherty, Gargoyle, year unknown
http://www.drewflaherty.com/home.html
What I Like (WIL): I am a big fan of Steam-punk items and art that makes use of found objects to create something else.

2. Larry Griffis, Flame Blossom
http://www.larrygriffis.com/abstract.phpWIL: The design is simple, and the intertwining gives it an organic feel which adds a certain softness.

3.Robert Sanarbria, Double eagle
http://www.sanabriastudios.com/copper.htmlWIL: The way the metal swirls upwards gives the impression of fluids and a rather graceful movement. The way the strips are held together creates a wave-like texture as well. Such pieces make me feel awe for the metal element and its ability to depict the other elements.

4.David Boyajian, Aegean Urns, 2003
http://www.davidboyajian.com/BLOWUPS/CORPORATE/AEGEANURNSPEOPLE.htm
WIL: The sculpture looks like it just landed/about to take off, due to the positioning of the long wings. This captures the piece in an elegant moment of movement. The material used for the wings also suits the piece very well as it gives an ethereal feeling. Also, it reminds me of a giant snitch (item from Harry Potter's world) and that amuses me.

5.Loreen Senge, Large Wave
http://www.seabik.com/
WIL: The colorful streaks of metal gives the artwork a soft kind of texture while implying the flow of the wave at the same time. The intricate details on the tip of the wave are like the shadow of leaves and it is random and precise at the same time.

6.David Boyajian, Silver Lining, 2006
http://www.davidboyajian.com/BLOWUPS/OUTDOOR/SILVERLINING.htm
WIL: The thin metal supports gives the impression that it is light and soft like a ball of clouds, and I believe it would be lovely to see it move.

7.Lawrence Argent, Mam, 2005
http://www.lawrenceargent.com/WIL: Poking holes into the organic shape reminds me of a sponge or coral. I like the way the artist gave soft edges to the shape of the sculpture, it seems nice and smooth like a pebble.

8.Martha Walker, Aphrodite, 2001
http://www.marthawalker.net/gallery_aphrodite.php
WIL: Love how the mass of flowy, intricate webs gathers up into a ball, and the liquid nature of the form.


9.Martha Walker, Rise & Fall, 2008-2009
http://www.marthawalker.net/gallery_rise_and_fall.php
WIL: The dulating forms like cloth and waves growing bigger and moving forward but frozen in time.

10.Martha Walker, Sprouting, 2007
http://www.marthawalker.net/gallery_sprouting.php
WIL: Again, the organic structure of something growing from the core appeals to me.

11.Martha Walker, the end justifies the means, 2008-2009
WIL: This one got me a little confused. I like the form but I did not realize what it represented until I was typing this post... go figure it out yourself. I like that the title could go on both ways or forever.

12. YuYu Yang, Deer & Fawn, unknown
WIL: The elegant form of the deer being expressed through wire structures looks simple.

13.YuYu Yang, Renewal, unknown
http://www.yuyuyang.com/stainlesssteelsculpture.html
WIL: The sleek and shiny properties of metal are showcased in this elegant piece and emphasizes the natural beauty of curves and spheres.

14.YuYuYang, Advent of the Red Phoenix, unknown
http://www.asiaartcenter.org/e_index.php?page=exhib&exhibno=56
WIL: even without seeing the title, I could tell at a glance that the sculpture was of a Phoenix. I love the simple strokes used to convey the idea so clearly.

15. Master Chen, Sphere, unknown
http://www.sculptura.com/gallery.php
WIL: creates a translucent effect, and the illusion that it is light and somewhat magical.

16. John Searls, Mobius, unknown
http://www.metal-art-sculptures.johnsearles.com/steel-mobius1-sculptures.html
WIL: The metal dances in the air like a soft ribbon, flowing in and out together in unison.

17. Jeff DeBoer, Cyclone, 2006
http://jeffdeboer.com/Galleries/LargeScaleWork/tabid/61/moduleid/389/viewkey/photo/photoid/252/Default.aspx
WIL: The gracefulness and strength depicted in the horse is brought out in the pose.

18. James Surls, Eye Flower

WIL: The clever use of the almond eye shape as leaves, somehow reminds us that plants are also living things. Not sure if they have souls, but are certainly always there... Also reminds me of peacocks and a character from the japanese anime Soul Eater.

19. James Surls, Bridge & Needle, 2002
http://www.jamessurls.com/#a=0&at=0&mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=2&p=4
WIL: The effect that the shadows cast on the wall are a reminder of keeping in mind that sculptures are not just about the physical form itself, but how it affects the environment as well.

20. James Surls, All Diamonds, 2006
http://www.jamessurls.com/#a=0&at=0&mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=0&p=4
WIL: Cool looking sentiniel-like diamond creature!


21. Stéphane Halleux, Untitled, Unknown
http://beinart.org/artists/stephane-halleux/?GID=799
WIL: Robots with curious workings and details are wonderful things to explore, especially how they work.

22. Unknown, IDF bunker at the top of Mount Ben Tal overlooking Syria, Tiberias and the North (Golan Heights)
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/madman96/1/1200448440/tpod.html#_
WIL: The sculptures are made of scrap metal, they are fun art works that brings smiles to people's faces.

23. Fletcher Benton, Folded Circle Wedge Arc, 2008


24. Fletcher Benton, Broken Circle No.16, 2005
http://www.fletcherbenton.com/gallery.html
WIL: like musical box component, lyrical arrangment

25. Eileen Shahbazian, Outcrop,
http://www.essculpture.net/Bronze.html
WIL: the color on the bronze suits the title of the artwork very much as it sounds related to plants, or can even be seen as a heart. “Protruding through their bulbous pod, three tubular shoots sprout off in all directions. Like a seedling bursting forth in spring or a heart, thumping away with the help of its supporting arteries, "Outcrop" reflects on the ways in which nature can be both organized and sporadic, seemingly random yet intensely functional.”

These last 2 pictures I am not sure who the artist is, or if it can be considered the kind of metal sculpture we should be looking at for the assignment. Nonetheless it is metal, and inspires me as well. :D

whooopee!