Experimental Design

Creation through intuition

Alex Fagerström Bronze casting - Kalle Jalava Glass blowing - Zachary Compton

For this project, I aimed to establish a framework where specific variables are strictly controlled while others are left to chance. To achieve this, the project involved casting a bronze frame to serve as a restrictive vessel for blown glass, forcing a physical interaction between the two materials.

The Process

Initially, the concept utilized aluminum, but feasibility studies regarding melting points ruled it out. After expert consultation, I transitioned to bronze to withstand the thermal stress.

The timeline was tight, requiring a rapid transition from digital to physical fabrication. The workflow compressed FDM printing, the scheduled casting slot, bronze finishing, and glass blowing into a strict schedule.

Letting Go of Control

The rapid schedule necessitated a reliance on intuition rather than iterative calculation. I had to trust the material process rather than attempting to force a pre-determined narrative onto the object.

The Outcome

The final artifact captures the tension between the materials as the glass forces its way through the bronze exoskeleton, subjecting the rigid form to the unpredictable nature of the expansion.

Upon removal from the kiln, the bronze had oxidized, developing a distinct black film. As the object is handled, this oxidation will wear off over time, allowing the artifact to evolve and never be truly finished.

Allowing the process to guide the evolution of the piece is a sensation shadowed by the fear of loss, but sprinkled with the excitement of discovering something unimaginable.