Wednesday afternoons at the moment are taken up with tutoring in Visualisation in the Architecture faculty at QUT. Week 11 was a session on modelling with paper, cardboard and foam core for first year students to learn the process involved in building conceptual models and mock-ups.
Drawing was the focus of the first week ... for many it's a new skill, yet to be acquired and tough going at the start. So it was interesting to see the enthusiasm for the 3D task this week. Working on model making, experimenting with forms ... abstract angular, geometric, curving and complex.
I took a few quick snaps of the process in between working around the room seeing what was going on but missed shooting the final results. Students loved photographing their models...particularly the task to get right in close to create the illusion of having designed huge spaces on a scale of a contemporary concert hall or cutting edge art museum. They will take this a bit further next week and place tiny cardboard people in these spaces to add to the illusion.
Its all about seeing ... about 'getting' the idea conceptually to continue developing the models to the desired outcome. It was such a stimulating exercise and great to see people enjoying the afternoon's class.
The following images below you can see here at the page on buildings I have (somewhat randomly) been collating. Adding them after showing the student experiments I thought made a neat link between where concepts can emerge from ...and how they may be realised given the circumstances.
Seeing them as paper thats been folded, cut, loped, twisted, bent and so on makes it quite fascinating seeing the core idea out of which the building has developed.
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This one here is really thought provoking ... called the Succulent House it collects rainwater through use of Biomimicry / Murmur.
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I had a strong passion for designing buildings when I was about 13 going on 14... only to be told that I could not take technical drawing as a hugh school subject as it was only for boys. There's something of a lingering architectural/structural thread running through my work over the years that was observed by some staff in this architecture faculty and one of the reasons Ive been included with the group of tutors.
It's certainly offered a tangent for visual thinking that I welcome gladly... and I'll be curious to see if, by the end of semester, something sticks from this time pursing an alternative line of thinking.
Tomorrow is my first day contributing to a community Mural Project... and this week will give me some studio time after a huge couple of weeks on other tasks. More soon ...
enjoy your projects won't you!
Sophie
sophie-i was only allowed to take mechanical drawing, NOT allowed to fabricate or learn metals and wood. because i was a girl. i drew gaskets, but never touched one. this is a great crossover experience for you and the students.
ReplyDeleteAmazing Velma... close but still far!
ReplyDeleteThings were so divided then.
The thing that made me not dwell on it was that ART was on the same line ... I was deeply immersed in art from age 5 so it was impossible to think I must give that up... but i remember being shocked that a door was so firmly closed.
Still it set up a valuable lesson at that point ... that some doors are not going to open...so be ready for plan B. The enjoyment of circulating around this faculty now is seeing into something I wondered about and recognising this time allows for much wider interactions between disciplines... something to be celebrated!
Love the in-class work... I'm integtrating a similar exercise into my nature drawing class - inviting students to see the form in a sculptural way and making small paper models of pine cones, etc. There are just such amazing repeated patterns in nature - as if I need to write that on YOUR blog!! Anyway, love how these pieces shape space, wonder what the little people will add.
ReplyDeleteWow, can't believe the stories you and Velma tell about doors closed to girls. I hear these kinds of stories from my students all the time... like the student last year who was not allowed to take art cause the art teacher told her she wasn't good at it at all. Her SISTER was the artist. Needless to say, she came to me after the first 2-D Design class and said she was really afraid cause she was told she was bad at art, and because she didn't know what she was doing. I responed that we take classes to LEARN what to do, we aren't suppose to know ahead of time. She took the class and ended up doing very well. She was excited at mid-term to take her work home to show her family that SHE could do art, too! I just love that.
Wonderful that the tutors see your architectural interests coming out in your work and that you get to collaborate with them, great.
Thank you Valerianna!
ReplyDeleteTHere's about 30+ in my group and 140 all up spread between 4 tutors. Very mixed group... first yr Uni students, some of them mature age students, a few from other faculties... Im finding it really interesting to get to know them through their work and how they respond to stimulus.
Yes...about the school thing...its seems to have been common... everywhere. Great story about the student you encouraged. Words can make such a huge difference to someone ...for good or ill. ANd it does inspire one to see past support bear fruits some times later.
thanks for your thoughts... very late and I could drop off at the computer...
so best be off V!
cheerio!
S