Dinner and A Movie

 

Title: Division of Wealth

Materials: Digital photograph (Digitally manipulated photograph)

Inspired by the movie “The Menu”

The themes of this photograph include wealth disparities, classism, and deception. I arranged the objects to highlight a clear divide between what would be the upper class and the lower class. Dirt, spare change and a pair of boots can be seen within the lower class side of the image. On the other hand, a check, $100 bills, stocks, and gold jewelry are in the wealthier side. I wanted there to be an obvious division between both classes, shown with the utensils blocking each other off. The boots in the image, while on the lower class end, stand on top of the dinner seen. This is supposed to represent the dominating presence of someone taking control of the scene. The plate and plastic bag also add to the difference in classes. However, the cold piece of meat shaped like a heart is intended to make light of more sinister themes while also becoming a representing that at the end of the day, no matter what tax bracket you belong to, we all eat the same food.

Research 1

Glen Martin Taylor

Research 2

Julie Green

Historical Architecture

 Sculpture 1

Title: Tower

Materials:Paper, glue

Size: L= 3 in. W= 3 in. H= 11 in.

Details

Inspiration 

Building A

Lightner Museum - 1948

-Founded by Otto Lightner (1948): The museum was established by Otto Lightner, a wealthy Chicago publisher, who purchased the former Alcazar Hotel in 1948 to house his extensive collection of 19th-century fine and decorative arts.

-Former Alcazar Hotel (1888): The building originally served as the luxurious Alcazar Hotel, designed by architect Franklin W. Smith. It was opened in 1888 by Henry Flagler, a railroad magnate, and was once one of the most opulent hotels in the country.

-Expanded Collections (1970s): After Lightner's death in 1950, the museum expanded its collections. It now features a variety of exhibits, including Victorian antiques, stained glass, and mechanical musical instruments, preserving the opulent spirit of St. Augustine's Gilded Age.

Building B

Cathedral Basilica - 1970

-Founded in 1565: The Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine was originally established by Spanish settlers in 1565, making it the oldest continuously used Catholic parish in the United States.

-Building History and Reconstruction: The current structure was built in 1793, replacing an earlier church that was destroyed. It was constructed under Spanish colonial rule and features a blend of Spanish Colonial and Neoclassical architectural styles.

-Elevation to Basilica Status (1976): In 1976, Pope Paul VI elevated the church to the status of a Minor Basilica in recognition of its historical and religious significance, making it one of only a few basilicas in the United States.

Discussion: For this building I decided to combine elements from the Lightner Museum and the Cathedral Basilica. I created an octagonal shape for the building and layered it, similar to the Cathedral’s tower. Additionally, I used window designs that were similar to the Lightner for details in my building. I wanted the building to cast nice shadows both inside and outside. I also wanted the viewer to be able to look through the building, enhancing the visual. 

 Sculpture 2

Title: Modern Hotel

Materials:Paper, glue

Size: L= 5 in. W= 5 in.  H= 8 in.

Details

Inspiration 

Building A

The Governor’s House Cultural Center and Museum - 1598

-Built in the 18th Century: The Governor's House was originally constructed in the early 1700s as the residence for the Spanish Governor of Florida, making it one of the oldest buildings in St. Augustine.

-Historical Significance: Throughout its history, the Governor's House has served as the official residence for both Spanish and British colonial governors, reflecting the city's changing rule between Spain and Great Britain in the 18th century.

-Museum and Historic Site (20th Century): In the 20th century, the building was restored and repurposed as a museum. Today, it is part of the St. Augustine Historical Society and showcases exhibits related to the city’s colonial history, offering insight into its Spanish and British periods.

Building B

Casa Monica Hotel - 1888

-Opened in 1888: The Casa Monica Hotel was opened in 1888, designed by architect Franklin W. Smith. It was built as a luxurious resort for wealthy tourists visiting St. Augustine, reflecting the city's growing popularity as a vacation destination during the Gilded Age.

-Flagler’s Influence and Decline: The hotel, originally a symbol of grandeur, struggled financially after Henry Flagler opened his Ponce de Leon Hotel in 1889. By the early 1900s, the Casa Monica faced financial difficulties and changed ownership multiple times.

-Restoration and Reopening (1999): After being closed for years and deteriorating, the Casa Monica was fully restored and reopened in 1999. It is now a luxury hotel, blending its historical charm with modern amenities while serving as a popular landmark in St. Augustine.

Discussion: For this building, I combined elements from the Casa Monica and the Governor’s House. I decided to use the square shape of the Governor’s house for the base of the building. Furthermore, I created window designs and 3D elements that are inspired by the ones seen on the Casa Monica. As for the roof, I wanted to be innovative so I created a mosaic design on the roof and had it float over the building. Overall, I wanted the designs I used to emanate the same feeling as the tiles on Spanish architecture.

Photos (Dinner and a Movie)

 

Experimental Sculpture Collection Continued

 Research A

Artist: Oliver Neumann

Link A

 Research B

Artist: Julian Watts

Link B

 Research C

Artist: Website - Zenviet Art

Link C

Experimental Sculpture Collection

 

Sculpture 1

Title: Under the Bridge

Materials: Wooden dowels, string, glue, green ink

Size: L= 4in. , W=7in. , H=4.5in.

Sculpture 2

                                                                    Title: Red Landscape

Materials: Plastic, hot glue, metal wire, black and red ink

Size: L= 11in. , W=8.5in. , H=3.5in.

Sculpture 3

                                                                          Title: Layers

Materials: Wooden dowels, wood, yarn, blue ink

Size: L= 3.5in. , W=10in. , H=4.5in.

In Process

Reflection Statement

The three sculptures visually communicate the principles and elements of design such as focal point, texture, and negative space. Focal point refers to a part of the sculpture that the eye is drawn to first, which is why that model has a blue accent piece to make it more interesting. As for the texture piece, using a combination of different materials allows that sculpture to look more organic and similar to a landscape which helps further the textural aspect. Lastly, the negative space sculpture uses string in order to be able to see through the piece. The plastic also allows the viewers eyes to look through the material.

While exploring the materials to build the structures, I wanted to focus on using the limited materials in unique and interesting ways. For my “Under the Bridge” sculpture, I decided to experiment with draping string suing glue. This gave me the structural element I was looking for as it would allow me to bend and drape the string how I liked. As for the “Red Landscape“ I tested out burning plastic using the hot glue gun. For this piece, I really wanted to make a more organic looking structure, similar to a landscape. I decided to layer plastic as the base and use hot glue to make crystals like structures and also make big circular pieces to break it up and create more visual interest. For the “Layers” sculpture, I utilized wood for almost the entire piece. I though it would be interesting to paint the focal pint of wood circles blue to make it more visually eye catching while allowing the rest of the art to be natural. I also wanted this piece to be at an angle so I created stilts for it to sit on top of. 

For my future creations, I wanted to continue to explore limited materials. These sculptures allowed me to bend innovative in a limiting and creative way. It was interesting making unique designs while still keeping within some sort of framework. Overall, I thought this project was very fun and I would love to do more things like it in the future.