My second project for my Media Installation class this past semester.

For the particular assignment we were required to use an Arduino to create something to engage the viewer - be it with sound, visual queue, or something else. My initial concept couldn’t be done since the supplies in the 3D Illustration Lab were limited.

But the second concept worked just as well in my opinion and I’m happy with the result! What you see here is a heart made out of sculpy over a foil and masking tape armature. The two large arteries at the top are hollow to allow the LEDs and other wires to stick out like veins. The heart was then painted in several layers of acrylic to look like a semi-fresh specimen before being placed into the antiqued mason jar with clear floral resin. Fun fact, I went antiquing with a friend to get props and parts for this project! Very very good idea~

Before pouring the resin in I mixed in some yellow ochre watercolor from a tube to get a nasty gunky liquid effect and was pleasently surprised that it actually worked! Once everything had set and hardened the LEDs were hot glued in and the coding for them to blink/fade was written onto the Arduino with my professor’s help. Though… not everything went accordingly. In the end I had to seek out help from my friend’s boyfriend, John, who soldered some wires and rigged a new LED for me since the one that I bought apparently was dead. He’s getting a batch of brownies for helping me tremendously~

After completion, the heart joined my automaton in the gallery space along with some other student work. I sadly didn’t get pictures of it in the gallery and recreated the “scene” here in my apartment for some proper photos. Definitely must say I want to try working with an Arduino again, even if I’m terrible at it~ XD

Installation. 04.27.2012.

After several months of work, and being in a gallery for a few days I can FINALLY post this guy~

This is Breagan (you can see him here alongside his companion, Brenya - http://thequestforlions.tumblr.com/post/18340897715 ), an “oil slicked” coyote spirit. I use the term oil slicked loosely to describe his appearance. When Breagan “emerges” from the darkness he resembles a black sludge puddle that begins to form a sinewy, gooey, fleshy, skull-head yote.

This piece was a project for my Media Installation class this final semester, and the first project at that. The assignment was to create an automaton that either worked without the aid of human hand or an interactive automaton (like something that winds up or has a crank). This was the first time in my life I’ve ever done a piece like this, let alone one of this caliber (even if he’s technically considered simple).

His inner structure consists of a wooden base held together with wood glue and wood screws, a 2rpm disco ball motor, 1/16” Williams rod constructed into a hook and catch, foil for the resin to adhere to in a puddle form, and floral wire to create the form around the base. His gruesomely fetching outsides are made of sheets of latex skin, copious amounts of latex drenched yarn, hot glue drizzle, resin drippings, pools of resin, matted faux fur, and topped off with black acrylic paint.

Overall, I’m really pleased with the way he turned out! ; u ; He now lives comfortably by an end table in my apartment spreading his creepiness day in and out~

3D Installation. 04.29.2012