AN ADVENTURE IN WIRE
Showcase of Work
GONE FISHING, 2021
KILEY CLEMENTS
WIRE SCULPTURE (18 GAUGE AND 9 GAUGE ALUMINUM WIRE)
Prior to starting this assignment, I had never even tried wire sculpting. All my life I have loved the arts, but the zeal only spread to two-dimensional mediums, namely illustration and painting. Truly, I’d never really given wire sculpting any thought until this workshop. It was a challenge at first; my fingers were constantly aching and I could never do the four-strand braid quite right. But, through practice and the helpful mentoring of my group leader and peers, I feel I have gotten much better at this hidden gem of a hobby. I hope that this sculpture demonstrates at least some sort of improvement.
AN OLD MAN IN THE RAIN, 2021
MAHAN HAGHIGHATIAN
WIRE
For my final project, I made a sculpture of an old man holding an umbrella. At first, I created an underlying body frame. Then, I started wrapping wire around it to create volume and shape. Next, I made a small umbrella by connecting wires through wrapping. Lastly, I placed the finished sculpture on a wooden base through screwing. Working with wire for the first time was very challenging. However, I started to get more comfortable with it having more practice. Even though I think that I still have much to learn, this was a very rewarding experience as I not only learned simple techniques but also understood what it takes to create an entire figure. With all the time and work I put into this sculpture, this old man holds a special meaning to me as he makes me proud and reminds of this enjoyable experience.
LOSING MY HEAD, 2021
ASHLEY HIGGINS
WIRE
This is my take on a brain. It represents a disappearance of the mind, of the brain, and of sanity. This is the first wire sculpture I have ever made without instructions and I am extremely proud of myself. The brain rests atop a stand to keep it poised in the air, as if one was losing their head. The medulla is made by wrapping wire around a loop to make a sphere and adding on a separation of twisted wires to form cranial nerves and a dissolving effect. The top half of the brain is detachable to further the idea of losing sanity or logic. I have never worked with sculpture art before, so this was a learning experience that bloomed into a new passion within the arts!
GROWING ONE BRANCH AT A TIME, 2021
JOYMARIA KIM
WIRE
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve worked on a hanging willow tree sculpture. To make the tree, I compiled several pieces of wire, used the twisting technique to make the main branches and the wrapping technique to make the hanging branches. The decision to add green beads and a rock base was inspired by another artist, and it’s amazing how the addition of a few elements can bring an artwork to life. Even after completing my first sculpture, I felt like there is still so much to explore about wire. I began the workshop with no knowledge of wire and minimal skill in 3-dimensional art. This experience reminded me that growth requires practice and patience. And with each snip, bend, and twist, with each branch of my willow tree, I became more comfortable with a medium I had never even heard of until last year.
DRIVING NEW ROADS, 2021
JAMES MURBACH
WIRE
When looking for inspiration for my sculpture, I was originally drawn to cars because I saw such a great amount of variety in them. Any two wire sculptures of cars I had seen were different, and they each had their own style and unique look to them. For my sculpture I took inspiration from cars like the Ford Bronco and Chevy Blazer. And to differentiate it more, I decided to add working headlights and taillights. Exploring wire as a creative medium has been an interesting and fun process, and even though I have a lot to learn, I am happy with how my sculpture turned out.
A FLORAL CORSET, 2021
KATIE QUINN
MIXED MEDIA/WIRE SCULPTURE
For my final project, I designed a wearable sculpture of a corset. Originally, I wanted to create something that could be worn by anybody. Upon further research, I found that most corsets are traditionally made specifically for one person. Thus, this project became something I would make for myself and something that I, specifically, would feel comfortable and confident in. As for making the corset, the thick wire was used for the main structure and supports. The thin wire was used for details and wrapping around the thick wire as reinforcement. I incorporated flower accents to add a bit of pop and color to the corset. I don't primarily work in fine arts but learning how to work with wire has made me more interested in learning more about different forms of sculpture. It has also given me more confidence to go and try new forms of art.
SOCIALLY WIRED, 2021
MARIA RAMOS
WIRE
Human beings require communication. It is used on a daily basis and occurs at the smallest level of life: cellular. Throughout time humanity has ceaselessly sought to create new avenues for communication, its essentiality never overlooked. As a society, we are resilient when it comes to communication. When unable to speak, we write, gesture, motion, and touch. At this point in history, we are faced with a pandemic the likes of which we have never seen before, and although terms like “quarantine” and “self-isolation” have made it into our everyday language, we have found countless ways to overcome the barriers of communication. We have celebrated milestones by organizing socially distanced graduations and hosting drive thru baby showers, and of course there is the advent of Zoom. My artwork aims to express the essence of communication and humanity’s resilience in finding modes to preserve and improve it throughout history. When on the phone, there is always a person on the other line; we speak, but we also listen, and these natural human tendencies are what make us social beings, beings that can share in another person’s joys and sorrows.
COOPERATION FOR INSPIRATION, 2021
FIONA RIOUX
WIRE, MIXED MEDIA
Working with wire was wonderful. I enjoyed the new medium where I can make 2D and 3D sculptures. I discovered that putting too many ideas into the sculpture can distract from my intended message. My inspiration was incorporating themes and characteristics from both sides of the brain. I outlined a neck-up base and braiding a brain-shape around it. Next, the analytical left-brain uses the word “left” in binary, and a labeled right triangle. On the right an art palette and a musical instrument represent its nonverbal, creative nature. Both support an overhead lightbulb showing both sides contribute to forming ideas.
METAL OX, 2021
WENJIE WEI
WIRE SCULPTURE
I was inspired to sculpt an ox because it’s the Chinese zodiac sign of 2021. I used mostly thick aluminum wires to create bold outlines that complement the characteristics of a noble ox. The sculpting process included bending and twisting wires into the desired shape and connecting them through coiling. I also used thinner wires to produce additional textures and to provide structural support. Wire sculpting was a very fun and challenging experience. It was especially interesting to experiment with different techniques to see what works and what doesn’t. In the end, seeing the sculpture come to life made the finger pain worth it.
STAIRCASE CORNER, 2021
LAUREN WELCH
WIRE SCULPTURE
I wanted to express architecture through wires in a way that conveys the experience of common architectural forms, but is still unique. I created a set of staircases leading to doors, crafted by weaving thin 18-gauge wire throughout platforms made of rods of 9-guage wire. Working with this new material has broadened my perspective on wire technique, especially organic vs constructed methods to sculpting. The stairs and platforms were meant to follow a stricter construction pattern of mainly straight lines, to contrast with the more organic shapes around the doors and freeform wire work.
STANDING CANARY, 2021
TYLER YOUNG
ALUMINUM CRAFT WIRE, 18 GAUGE
This is a small sculpture of a bird standing on a block. The bird itself only consists of three wires total: one for the body, one for the wings, and one for the neck. The simplicity of this is what I mainly focused on-- birds are simple creatures, and so to make a sculpture out of it, all it takes is some standard shapes. Working in 3D is a challenge, especially on a smaller scale, but there’s still quite a bit of detail that can fit, which makes for an intricate creation that is meant to indicate that simplicity can still be cool.
THE HAND, 2021
JERRY YUAN
STEEL WIRE
For this project, I sculpted a hand reaching down from the ceiling. The sculpture is made out of thin steel wire, and the individual compartments (fingers, wrist, palm) are made independently, then assembled together. I took a free approach when it comes to wiring, as I employed an arrangement that is analogous to etching: the wires run in all directions and form the shape naturally and organically. The freedom of the wire orientations give rise to a more natural feel, as hands in real life do not follow regular patterns and contain all kinds of wrinkles, blood vessels, etcetera. Through the making and the gesture of the hand, I want to convey a sense of freedom, but beyond that, the interpretation of this sculpture is up to the viewer.
APHRODITE, 2021
JAMES AMADEA OBERG
WIRE
I created a bust of Aphrodite out of a variety of wires and plastic flowers, inspired by the multimedia sculptures we viewed in class. Working with a new medium was exciting, if not difficult, as I was always trying to figure out the best methods and trips to sculpting with wire. Drawing from the techniques taught in class and workshop critiques, I relied on braided wires, juxtaposing different gauges, and aluminum foil for shape bases.
I hope you have enjoyed the various pieces from my workshop. Please reach out with any questions. Feel free to inquire about how to get started on your own wire sculpture journey or working with me in the future. The best way to contact me is at serena.h.kemp19@gmail.com