Color and Balance (AKA The Cube)

ART 210 3D Design
Suffolk County Community College

Professor: Matthew Gehring 
gehrinm@sunysuffolk.edu
Office: Rm. 108 Southampton Bldg.

Office Hours:
M/W 9:30AM-12:30PM
T/R 9:30AM-11AM and 1:05-2:35PM
Please contact Art Department Secretary, Maria Cherubino for an appointment: 631-451-4093 or cherubm@sunysuffolk.edu

Requirements:

Step 1: Building your concept model

Using wooden cubes and hot glue, build a larger wooden cube that uses nine individual squares for each side (like a Rubik's Cube) and that disassembles into three parts. These parts will then be re-assembled differently to create different forms that you can use to emphasize the design elements of COLOR and BALANCE.

Step 2: Fabricating your enlargement

Using mat board or cardboard, and hot glue, build a larger scale version of your wooden model. You must use an EXACT scale enlargement ratio of two inches per wooden cube.  Make it in such a way that the exterior of your assembled cube is one distinct color and the inside (touching) faces are either complementary or analogous to the exterior color.

You may use new or found sheet materials.  Mat board is recommended and comes in a wide variety of colors.  To keep it green and cheap, think about cardboardshoe boxes, cereal boxes, and other product packaging. If it can be cut with a knife and has some measure structural strength, it can be used for this project. 

As you near the completion of each unit of your model, use internal weights to make your project balance in a way that it could not otherwise.  Try to make it look like it's defying gravity.

Step 3:

Disassemble and rearrange your model.  Photograph it from several angles in good light, such as in the shade on a sunny day.  Using traditional collage techniques, or digital methods, create an architectural or public sculpture proposal.  The images of your model must be placed in a photographic  or drawn site.  Your final mock proposal must occupy all or nearly all of an 18" x 24" sheet of durable paper.

Objectives:

This project is designed with the fields of sculpture, industrial design, and architecture in mind. The processes (including; concept model creation, 3D digital rendering, material selection, and fabrication) that you will use in this project are profoundly relevant to all three areas, as are the principles of design. For critique, be prepared to exhibit the following:

concept model

finished components assembled in cube form

finished components assembled to emphasize design element of BALANCE

We will use all of the individual interlocking pieces created by this class to create temporary installations within the Southampton Building that further explore and discuss ideas of sculpture and architecture through use of space, scale, rythym, repetition, structure, and architectonics.

Grading:

Grades for this project will be assessed by your level of craftsmanship and attention to detail, your deliberate and successful use of design principles associated with color and balance, weekly progress, timely completion, diligence, and class participation.

Required materials:

sheet materials such as mat board, cardboard product packaging
18" x 14" durable paper or  other appropriate surface

30 identical wooden cubes - 1/2" x 1/2" is the best size (AC Moore or Michaels)

18” metal ruler (Pearl Art Supply or AC Moore)

12" or larger drafting square (NOT a "T" square or carpenter's square)

Exacto or utility knife and spare blades (Pearl Art Supply or AC Moore)

mechanical pencil and refill lead

hot glue gun

hot glue sticks

masking tape

fine and medium grit sanding sponges/sandpaper 

paint and/or collage materials as necessary

For inspiration:

Due dates will be addressed in class.