Intro-Sculpture - Mold making installation project

1. Mold Making Project
Introduction to Sculpture
Manami Ishimura

2. Objective
• Repetition occurs when we use the same visual element or effect any
number of times within a composition. The repeated forms create a
strong connection from an object to another.
• In this project, students explore the potential of multiplication of the
object that relates to their everyday life, creating at least 20 casts.
• In this project, students explore the site to install their pieces as
installation and document it.

3. Media and Process Requirements
• Create at least TWO two-part molds around an object (found or
created).
• These molds can be no larger than the size of a traditional shoebox.
• Minimum of 20 successful casts is required. (on the process, try at
least 3 different medium such as chocolate, jelly, cookie dough, water
to ice and so on…)
• Install in a specific site that fits with your concept and document it

4. Concept
Writing Assignment
1. Artist research
2. Concept

5. Research
Research at least two artists from the list below:
Néle Azevedo, Jenny Sabin, Do Ho Suh, Rachel Whiteread, Sandy Skoglund, Jeff Koons, Josiah McElheny, Jean Shin, Mel Chin, Diana Al-Hadid, Urs Fischer
• Write your artist reseach on a document format and submit on the blackboard.
*When including information about artists:
1. Attach 2 images of artworks you find compelling - include artist name, artwork media, artwork year
2. 2-3 sentences of bio details for the Artist
3. 2-3 sentences describing why you chose this artist or artwork
4. 2-3 sentences connecting this artists/artwork to our class and/or current project
5. List of sources
6. When you consider the connection between your work and artists'work, include visual research such as images of nature, developing a list of
ideas, studying artwork by other artists, and so on.
7. Brainstorm using mapping technique and draw sketches of at least 3 different plans for this project
8. Attach the brainstorming sketch and planning sketches
• Submit
• One Word file: write about the artist covering the requirements above and name a docx file using the following naming convention:
• (SurnameGivenname_Installation_ReseachBrainstorming.docx)

6. Brainstorm mapping following
the directions:
1. Theme (Everyday Life)
2. Objects that you use
everyday
3. Describe each object in 2
sentences
4. Give 3 questions for each
object
5. Narrow down the list to 1-3
objects that can be casted
and deepen your idea
following the questions in
the next slide.
*As you brainstorming, do not
evaluate any word or sentence.
JUST KEEP WRITING!!!!!

7. Concept – Writing Assignment
• Writing Assignment
1. Why make more than one?
2. When does the multiplication of an object make a stronger visual impact that seeing only one?
3. As you consider objects to cast, begin by thinking deeply and researching anything and
everything to do with your concept of multiplication… Mass consumption, seeing multiples,
creating rhythmic patterns, natural occurrences of replication(Readymade), cloning, creating
visual representations of multiples on a smaller scale or larger scale, or larger scale, production
line…
4. Consider also the postmodernist visual strategies outline in ‘The everyday’ (reading
assignments) or artist research (writing assignment) that artists use to construct meaning in
their work -history, appropriation, re-contextualization, layering, and/or hybridity. Could you or
are you planning to use one of these strategies? Use the strategies practiced in previous
projects – research each aspect of your idea, consult visuals, sketch multiples versions of your
idea, use the elements and principles to strengthen the idea.
5. Give 3 plans of your installation (can be the same object or different)

8. Using the Elements and Principles When
Refining Final Execution
How can you use these elements and principles to help you visually
communicate and change perspectives?
-Consider the Colors and Textures of the cast objects. How can you use
color to help change perspectives or add detail, interest, focal point,
and/or realism?
-Consider the Rhythm and Repetition of the objects as the sequence
progresses.
-Consider the Space (positive and negative between the cast objects.
Consider your Emphasis – what does our eye go to first? Second? Why?

9. Student Example
Click here to watch https://youtu.be/BQClmi980tc

10. Student Example

11. Potential Materials to cast
• Plaster
• Clay
• Wax
• Chocolate
• Cookie dough
• Water (ice)
• Paper/Leaves (like paper mache)
• Candy
• Jerry
• Plastic using a 3D pen

12. 1. Néle Azevedo
2. Jenny Sabin
3. Do Ho Suh
4. Rachel Whiteread
5. Sandy Skoglund
6. Jeff Koons
7. Josiah McElheny
8. Jean Shin
9. Mel Chin
10. Diana Al-Hadid
11. Urs Fischer
Reference Artist List
How do contemporary artists give their message through copying or multiplying
object/motif ?

13. Néle Azevedo
Click to watch: https://www.uvm.edu/cas/rll/nele-azevedos-minimal-monument

14. Jenny Sabin Studio
Polymorph

15. Jenny Sabin Studio
Polymorph

16. Jenny Sabin Studio
Polymorph

18. Jenny Sabin Studio
Polymorph
Do Ho Suh

19. Do Ho Suh

20. Rachel Whiteread
Click to watch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_kpj9qGha4

21. Sandy Skoglund
Click to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fUOAT4yFf0

22. Jeff Koons
Click to watch: https://www.thebroad.org/art/jeff-
koons/balloon-dog-blue

23. Josiah McElheny
Click to watch:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bjdNuSrxcA

24. Jean Shin
Click to watch
https://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/shin

25. Mel Chin
http://fundred.org/

26. Paul Pfeiffer
Click here: https://art21.org/watch/art-in-the-twenty-first-century/s2/paul-pfeiffer-in-time-segment/

27. Diana Al-Hadid
Click to watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McVvi4GVS6U

28. Urs Fischer
Click to watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCXtBpP20SY

30. CASTING…
One-Part Mold Two-Part Mold
Undercut
Rigid Mold Flexible Mold
Castable materials- rigid and flexible

32. Safety Guide to Cast at Home
Do not put clay in oven or microwave at home!
-The school clay is not designed to child safety. Some industrial clay can
put in microwave or oven but not the school clay.
Do not rinse or pour plaster in the sick!
-Plaster is NOT home friendly. If you rinse plaster in the sink, it will
solidify and clog the pipes.
Do not EAT casts even though edible materials
-plaster and clay are not edible so the surface of plaster mold is not
safe. DO NOT eat your casts.

33. MAKING A TWO-PART MOLD
• Find the “halfway” point on your
object
• Build up a clay base all around your
object to this halfway point

34. • Tuck that clay base against the edge of your
object.
• Check for a nice even top surface to your
wall.
• Check for any little gaps or cracks that the
plaster could run into and fill them with clay.
• Smooth the surface and clean off any crumbs
of clay from your primary object.

35. • Make a clay pour spout.
• Make sure it is large enough to easily pour your clay slip into.

36. • Build walls around the clay base
• Reinforce and seal the inside corners where wall meets clay base
• Then reinforce the outside where the wall meets the table
• Make sure these seams are extremely tight with no cracks
• Make key holes in the clay base (forgot to in pics)

37. • Once all sides are sealed, mix plaster and pour it on top of your object.
• if your walls are tall, reinforce the walls with bricks because wet plaster is
heavy and could could push a wall over = big mess.

38. • Once the plaster dries, remove
the walls
the clay seams
the clay base
• Carefully flip over the plaster with object
attached.
• Build the second side of the clay pour
spout, and fill the tiny gap between the
plaster and the object with a little bit of
clay.
• Coat the plaster and the object again
with murphy’s oil soap.

39. • Cut keyholes in your plaster if you did not key the clay.
• Rebuild the physical walls and the clay seams and supports.
• Add layer of Liquid Soap because Plaster likes Plaster
• Mix your second batch of plaster and pour it on top.
• Once it dries, remove walls, all clay, and your Primary Object.
• Clean your mold and let your mold dry.

40. • Examine your object for “half-line”
• Create a clay wall around half of the object
MAKING A TWO-PART MOLD
with a more complicated form
and without wood boards

41. • Create a retaining wall to keep plaster from spilling all over the table.
• Plan approach to pour Slip or Wax into the mold:
Include a “plug” in the bottom
Or make the entire base open
• Include Keyholes or Registration Marks

42. • Mix plaster.
• Finger-flick a splash coat thin layer of plaster to capture any fine details
• Then pour more plaster until whole object is covered

43. • Wait for plaster to set – at least 30 minutes
• Once the plaster gets warm and then begins to cool, remove the clay walls and base.
• Do NOT remove the object
• Carefully turn over object and plaster
• Create a retaining wall again

44. • Plaster likes plaster
• Apply a layer of liquid soap to all plaster to be a separating agent for new plaster
• Mix plaster
• Splash coat
• Pour plaster to top of retaining wall

45. • When plaster sets and cools, remove all clay and carefully open the mold.
• If it does not open, try to pry gently at the seam:
Place wood wedge on seam and tap to release
Use compressed air to break surface tension
• Let mold dry for days till surface no longer damp

46. • Using elastic straps, connect the two parts together. The Keyholes will help make
sure the two sides fit together.
• Look out for leaks and plug with clay if any develop
• To make Hollow casts, pour in Slip waiting for clay slip wall to develop as the plaster
soaks in water from the Slip. May need to add more slip.
• When the slip wall is 1/8 – 1/4 inch thick, pour out excess Slip back into bucket.
• Let dry then gently open the mold to remove new clay cast.
• Keep track of time to help repeat the process.