Hybrid Heros
Size 3ft height x 2ft length x 1ft depth
Medium Cardboard, hot glue
Completion February 2022
Size 3ft height x 2ft length x 1ft depth
Medium Cardboard, hot glue
Completion February 2022
Exhibition Text
This hybrid- hero’s transformation was to show how self reflection can affect one's views. With the old folks tale of a cardinal and a loved one, along with the transformation that was created. This wearable shows the deep and vibrate colors that are in a cardinal. Using cardboard for a medium the basic form and structure of a cardinal was created. While being inspired by Katie Martin-Muerer and Ann Hamilton Body Object Series #13 toothpick suit/chair 1984. |
Inspiration
My main inspiration was Katie Martin-Muerer. She is a professor at UWM. She introduced us to the project called Hybrid Heros. This is where we used cardboard to transform ourselves as something we have always wanted to be or meaningful to us. Katie showed us her students at the university's old project to help get us inspired. She provided ideas and techniques for us to use along with other artists who used cardboard for their medium and their sculpture.
Another inspiration I had was Ann Hamilton. Ann Hamilton is a visual artist who is recognized for her large-scale multimedia installations. I used her Body Object Series #13 toothpick suit/chair 1984. The way she used the chair along with the person really captured my eye. This helped me gain ideas with ways I could transform myself. Also the way she made it look like she used other materials I found inspiring. |
Body Object Series #13 toothpick suit/chair 1984
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Planning
When I first learned about this project I had no idea what I wanted to do. My first thought was to create an Irish dance dress, but I didn’t really think that I was transforming myself. I then came up with the idea of becoming a cardinal. I felt like this animal could be really fun to transform into, and it has a lot of meaning to me. A cardinal is supposed to represent the spirit of a loved one who passed away. In 2019 my dad passed away and ever since then I have seen so many cardinals everywhere I go. With this project I wanted to show that he is still here with me. This idea went along with the ongoing theme which is self reflection that I had with my other projects I have done throughout the year.
When I first learned about this project I had no idea what I wanted to do. My first thought was to create an Irish dance dress, but I didn’t really think that I was transforming myself. I then came up with the idea of becoming a cardinal. I felt like this animal could be really fun to transform into, and it has a lot of meaning to me. A cardinal is supposed to represent the spirit of a loved one who passed away. In 2019 my dad passed away and ever since then I have seen so many cardinals everywhere I go. With this project I wanted to show that he is still here with me. This idea went along with the ongoing theme which is self reflection that I had with my other projects I have done throughout the year.
Process
When we first were introduced to the project we were told to start collecting cardboard. This was around the holiday time so it was pretty easy to collect the normal brown cardboard. At this point I had so much cardboard and I still didn’t have an idea for this project. Then the idea of becoming a cardinal came to my mind. Once I had my critique done I was given a few more ideas for completing this project. I told a bunch of my family members that I needed red cardboard for an art project. With the brown cardboard I already had and the red cardboard I had just got I was ready to start my project.
When we first were introduced to the project we were told to start collecting cardboard. This was around the holiday time so it was pretty easy to collect the normal brown cardboard. At this point I had so much cardboard and I still didn’t have an idea for this project. Then the idea of becoming a cardinal came to my mind. Once I had my critique done I was given a few more ideas for completing this project. I told a bunch of my family members that I needed red cardboard for an art project. With the brown cardboard I already had and the red cardboard I had just got I was ready to start my project.
This was a pile of the brown cardboard. My plan for these boxes were to create the base then cover them with the other colors.
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This was the pile of colored cardboard. I mainly used red and shades of orange. These were mainly for the feathers. I also used black cardboard for the parts that would rap around my body.
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I started to sketch out my ideas. My first idea was to create a jumbo helmet in the shape of a cardinal's head. I wasn’t happy with this idea because I felt like I needed more to the piece. I felt like the wings were important to the full project because that’s how most knew it was a cardinal. Another idea I had was to create a full cardboard bird resting on my arm. I felt like this was a strong idea to create and people would know what my project was actually about. Once I presented this to Mr. Chad, he had a few concerns about the piece. First he didn’t know if I was truly transforming myself into a bird. Second he was concerned about holding the whole project on my single arm for long periods of time. This is when he gave me the idea that I ended up using. I was going to create wings that hooked on my arms along with a backpack type piece for the feathers on my back, along with the head.
When it was time for me to start creating my cardinal I took a box and measured my arm’s length to see where I needed to cut the box. I then made a triangle through the box to get that wing shape. Once I cut two different wings the exact same. I knew I wanted the wings to hang off my arm so I created loops out of cardboard that would fit my wrist along with my upper arm. I peeled off the black coloring from cardboard pieces to glue onto the loops, my reason for this is so it would blend in with the shirt I was going to wear when presenting. Once I got the loops glued onto the wings I started with the feather part. I wanted to do what normal feathers would look like for the wings and fur type feathers for the head and back. I started by getting my stencil feather and tracing it against red cardboard. I ended up making close to 200 of these feathers (50 per side). I started to layer the feathers to create a natural looking wing for the bird. I did this on each side of the wing, so that was a total of 4 times. The hardest part was at the top of the wing near my arm. I had to cut the feathers so they were a straight line, this was hard because the feathers kept popping off the wings even though they were glued down.
The second piece of the project I worked on was the back. I cut out a piece of cardboard to be around the size of my back. I then cut black strips of cardboard to make straps almost like a backpack. I tested it out a few times just to make sure I could get the piece on and off easily. Once I was happy with the back piece I started to cut the fluffy red feathers. I took all the scrapes from my other feathers to create these. I just cut them into small little pieces, knowing I could reshape them later on if needed. Once they were all into the smaller pieces, I peeled the back of the cardboard to give it that fluffy look. I then glued them all over the front of the back piece. The hardest part from this was not leaving any brown spots from the cardboard underneath. Once I was finished I added more fur under the already glued one just to add more depth to the piece. I tried it one again with the wings just to make sure everything fit nicely together.
The head was the last part. I used a popcorn bucket that was a Christmas present for the shape. The first part of making the head was making the beak. I took orange cardboard and cut triangles. I then glued them together to create the shape of the beak. I then cut a piece if black cardboard to glue the beak on. Once the black face part was glued onto the popcorn bucket, I glued the beak. I added circle black eyes to help bring the cardinal to life. Once I was happy with the face of the head I added the fluffy fur all around the head. I repeated the same steps I used while making the back of the cardinal with the head. Once I got the fur full enough I started on the top of the head. I took the same feathers from the wings and double sided them. I then placed them in a mo-hawk style and glued them together. Once the mo-hawk was glued on the top of the head I added the fur fluffy pieces all around to really give the bird that fluffy look.
Reflection
Compare and Contrast
Similarities
Overall this project forced me to get out of my comfort zone by using new materials that I would never think to use. Not only did I use a new material I also had to make something to wear and transform myself. I think the hardest part is coming up with an idea that would work out. I think my favorite part of the project was creating the wings. I liked the way the different shades of red would blend together to create a real life looking bird. This project also let me work with something personal to me. It gave me a closer feeling to the finished piece knowing how meaningful the piece really was. Even though I struggled with the different parts I still enjoyed working on this. I think next time I would maybe add a tail to the bird that could wrap around my leg. I also would find a way to make the large feathers on my wings more flexible.
Compare and Contrast
Similarities
- I was inspired by some of the past students Katie showed us. With how we used the cardboard. This includes the color and shape, along with some of the meaningful stories.
- Another thing that was similar was the techniques used. Katie told us a few techniques that past students used or what she found was helpful. These include peeling the back of the cardboard, scoring the cardboard to make it rounded.
- Color- I used different colors in my piece. I used the color to give my cardinal a real bird-like look. I stuck with reds and oranges while Ann Hamilton stuck with blacks and different shades of gray.
- Another difference I had was that I had a theme and people knew what I was trying to create compared to Ann Hamilton where it leaves you questioning what you are looking at.
Overall this project forced me to get out of my comfort zone by using new materials that I would never think to use. Not only did I use a new material I also had to make something to wear and transform myself. I think the hardest part is coming up with an idea that would work out. I think my favorite part of the project was creating the wings. I liked the way the different shades of red would blend together to create a real life looking bird. This project also let me work with something personal to me. It gave me a closer feeling to the finished piece knowing how meaningful the piece really was. Even though I struggled with the different parts I still enjoyed working on this. I think next time I would maybe add a tail to the bird that could wrap around my leg. I also would find a way to make the large feathers on my wings more flexible.
ACT Questions
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork?
When I started the project I didn’t know what I wanted to create. After coming up with an idea I realized that Katie from UWM was a major inspiration to my piece. I also wanted to use the inspiration she gave us. From there I decided to research a few of the names she has given us and came across Ann Hamilton.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
It was hard trying to find information on the piece’s. Most websites would just tell you the basic information, which wasn’t helpful.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
How cardinals are supposed to represent a loved one who passed away.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?.
The theme that I decided to talk about in the piece was self reflection.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
I just used the artist’s that Katie gave us, but how they used different mediums during their times.
Bibliography
https://www.annhamiltonstudio.com/biography.html
When I started the project I didn’t know what I wanted to create. After coming up with an idea I realized that Katie from UWM was a major inspiration to my piece. I also wanted to use the inspiration she gave us. From there I decided to research a few of the names she has given us and came across Ann Hamilton.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
It was hard trying to find information on the piece’s. Most websites would just tell you the basic information, which wasn’t helpful.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
How cardinals are supposed to represent a loved one who passed away.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?.
The theme that I decided to talk about in the piece was self reflection.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
I just used the artist’s that Katie gave us, but how they used different mediums during their times.
Bibliography
https://www.annhamiltonstudio.com/biography.html