We're Up To Something

We're Up To Something
A Site for Keeping Up with the Hartigans

Sunday, May 11, 2008

"SO, WHAT DO YOU DO FOR FAMILY FUN?"

Because I am still swamped and I'm pretty sure nobody but my family reads my blog anymore, I figured it wouldn't be such a big deal to post something you have to download to your computer to view, as I cannot figure out how to turn it into an animated .gif and my brother was not anxiously waiting around for me to ask tonight. So for your viewing pleasure, you may download this .mv4 file and hopefully view on your stupid PC's (MAC RULES!)

My final critique is the 15th, I will update what's up with us shortly after that.

As always

-love Cole

pouring bronze at home

posted by me | 7:49 PM | 0 comments

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

METAL CASTING 301 - MIDTERM

Good gawd where did February go?!?!?

It’s a good thing I only took one class this semester. Casting metal takes a lot of time.

Let’s review.

At semester start I was to take a five pound block of wax and create a sculpture that would eventually be covered in a ceramic shell and melted out. Thus the definition of “Lost wax bronze.”

I decided to create an installation piece called “29 frogs and one toad in a bucket” Based on personal experiences with the kids when they were younger and a book my son wrote and illustrated…. I’m getting very tired of frogs.

Gated and Sprued

Once these little guys are all cast in bronze I will be in “chasing” hell. That’s where I will have to cut off all the gates and sprues, fix the flaws and move on to patina.

I had another idea, I’m not sure you can tell what this is, and I tried to remove the background (not my best attempt) for better clarification. But it’s a fraying rope and the arms of someone climbing up it or hanging on. Not sure what I’m going to do with this piece, hopefully cast it in iron.

In the mean time we were to create a “scratch mold” to cast in aluminum. A scratch mold is just that, you scratch an enantiamorph (word of the day) into a block of sand, sprue, gate and vent it and cast it.

These are my aluminum pieces. I had the absolutely brilliant idea of turning them into a whole key, puzzle box thing… one week before the critique on it.

With my final wax piece also being due the same day, seemed like I’d gotten myself in somewhat of a pickle time wise so I put my “S.A’s” or “Student Assistants”on it (in other words John and Aron). Hey, the professor can have a Teachers Assistant, I can have Student Assistants. So John and Aron (mostly John) created the puzzle box and a damn fine job they did.

Closed and locked

Unlocked and Open

The solution is to make the keys align to form a circle. Clever no? I think I got an “A”.

Of course no class is complete without a mid-term exam, which I successfully bombed. I read the book, I highlighted important facts, I made flash cards and studied for days. What can I say I freeze on tests.

So that’s the latest on metal casting.

Oh, I just have to show you this wicked cool rocking chair. It’s one of the grad students, when it rocks the seeds in the top piece sound like soft waves breaking on the beach. Man where do people come up with these ideas? I’ll never be that creative.

posted by me | 11:22 AM | 1 comments

Saturday, January 26, 2008

YOU'RE NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN

Semester II - Metal Casting

The new semester started this week. I’m only taking one class (thank god!). Beginning metal casting. Now while this class is a “beginning” class, it’s considered “advanced” sculpting course, that I have been informed that I am not “taking”, but rather “following”.

I am scared.

Of course we all got the whole “what will start you on fire” speech like the last class, only 10 fold. Apparently things have a tendency to blow up during metal pours.

I had at least some sort of understanding of the process of things in basic sculpting, access to most of the tools at home and John to hold my hand should thing not quite work the way I wanted them to. I have no idea of the process of casting metal… at all. I feel like I’m flying blind and that is very unnerving for me.

An obviously tense and nervous class prompted the instructor to play the “get to know your classmates” game. Basically he asks us a question then we get to ask him a question. I’ve played this game before. The questions to the rest of the class go something like this:

What’s your favorite movie?
Do you have any phobias?
What’s your favorite pass-time?
If you were given $100 for a perfect meal what would you eat?
Is there something you could possibly not live without?
(o.k., I had to include the answer to this one, the girl said her kittens…. wtf, really? Water would have been my answer)

“Last semester when we played this game my question was where do you see yourself 5 years from now?” Again, wtf? Why can’t I tell you my pastimes or phobias. My answer:

“In an asylum as my daughter will be 15 and crazy.” I got a slack jawed silent room with crickets chirping in the background.

Today my question was “What do you think the biggest issue facing the world entering the 21St century?”

Am I running for president? My answer:

“Well lets see, George W. Bush, over population, financial debt beyond reasonable belief, kids today are spoiled, complacent and expectant; unmanageable healthcare expenses, global warming, religion, Britney is pregnant again and Heath Ledger was found dead yesterday.”

My question to the professor: “So, other than sculpting, what’s your favorite pastime?” His answer: “Canoeing.”

See how nice I was to the professor? What is it about me that I get questions like this?

Oh well, whatever.

So here’s the start of the semester project. Take this lump of wax and create something to cast a mold and eventually cast something in metal.

Any suggestions?

posted by me | 6:22 PM | 1 comments

Sunday, December 23, 2007

YOU'RE NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN - SEMESTER REVIEW

The rants and babbling of a 40 something year old returning to college.

I know, I was really bad about posting my projects. There came a point when I finally gave up on the idea that I would be doing anything other than homework during my spare moments. So here it is the semester in review:

DRAWING 1-101

This was my final pic in drawing. It's a horrible photograph because I fixed it with a high gloss fixative and all I get is reflection of light off it. But trust me, the plaster looks real, which is actually my favorite part of the drawing.

Here's the rest of my portfolio from Drawing 1-101. I didn't include earlier images that'd I'd already posted and the 5 dozen or so quick sketches or the stuff from the beginning of the semester... basically because I threw that stuff away before I realized I was supposed to "save everything" or the stuff I just pretty much ripped up with frustration. DRAWING Portfolio

John kept me company during my many hours of drawing and drew his own pictures and of course I was a complete baby because he was able to crank the drawings out in hours, while mine took days.

SCULPTING 1-101

FOUND OBJECTS

My second sculpting project was centered around a "found object". Justin and Rashad took us to a scrap/salvage yard to "find" something. I really wish I would've taken a picture of what my object was before I turned it into art, but here's the final piece at Crit time:

You'd be amazed at how many things in your house can be used to create art. I currently have a leather rug in my living room that is significantly worse for wear due to using part of the rug in this sculpture.

PERFORMANCE ART

Performance art is NOT my gig. It was probably the most frustrating sculpture I had to create. In the end it turned out all right, albeit a tad risque'. Here's the final piece, but it doesn't come without warning, VIEW AT YOUR OWN RISK and it's probably not safe for work. The weird thing was, both my sculpting instructors said I really should take performance art next semester (wonder why?)... yeah, I don't think so. Performance art

ATTRACTION/REPULSION

This was my final sculpture. I did a collaborative with Fran and Paige. We decided on our own to do this and didn't tell the instructors. I was actually really nervous that Justin might tell us that we should have asked for permission first, but I think he was pleasantly surprised, as a safety we made sure that the piece could be separated in a heartbeat... just in case. But all went well. I created the city, Fran the suburbs and Paige the country/farm. It turned out fabulously! Here are some other images of the final piece. Collaborative Life

And some images of the rest of the class' work. Final Crit

It's odd to work with people and collaborate on a project, have it come together in the timeline it needs to, have everyone work well together and the final product be fantastic. I couldn't express to them properly what it's like in corporate america to collaborate on a project, because it's never that easy. 10 years from now, when they're part of Corporate America, they'll be working on a project as a team and recall all the stupid things I tried to predict for them and laugh, at least I hope they'll laugh.

All-in-all, the semester was stressful, entertaining, enlightening and wonderful. I met a great bunch of people, learned a lot (two words - that was for you Justin), and maybe even woke up to life again. Gotta thank the family for all their patience and such. Especially John who sat and watched me and the girls completely destroy his clean shop, while calmly helping us with the tools. You're a gem J.

Grades were posted Friday, I got an "A" in both classes. I'm pulling a 4.0 baby!!!!

Next semester... metal casting, I can't wait!

posted by me | 7:47 PM | 2 comments

Sunday, December 16, 2007

THE SEMESTER IS OVER - WAHOOOOOOO!

The workload has been enormous and I've really slacked on displaying my endevours, but I've just completed my drawing 1-101 final and my Sculpting 1-101 final is Tuesday. After that I promise I will recap the semester and display all my (crap) wonderful work! Well, actually I need to go grocery shopping first, because I haven't since September I think, then I'll post...

No really, I will.

TTYS

posted by me | 10:56 PM | 0 comments

Sunday, November 11, 2007

PICK-A-PARTY. ANY PARTY.

I don't know how college kids manage. I don't seem to do anything but homework lately. And I don't think I'm putting my best effort into it, but I did manage to fit in a great big party (over 150 people during the course of the day). However, this post comes a month after the event.

It was a montage party - take your pick.

Unveiling of Johns latest sculpture