Work displayed for Michael Glancy's Electroforming course, RISD Fall 2014.
Electroforming is a metal forming chemical process, where the combination of sulfuric acid, electricity, and copper anodes move metal to a prepared model. This occurs with careful attention to the environment and specifications of each bath, with the model painted/sprayed with electrically conductive copper or silver paint several times for a full coating. When the model is made of wax, it is then possible to burn out the wax, and the resulting object becomes hollow. Hollow results, requiring less metal is the most desired outcome for production jewelry in factories.
Here, I explored first with basic wax forms, enlarging sizes and details as the days progressed. Finally, to explore the inner/outer qualities of the metal as it is being formed. Finally, to incorporate it with my Senior Degree exploration of fabric forms, I electroformed a bean sac, as well as the collar of a shirt I constructed.
Experiments in wax and fabric
Inside/Outside Vegetable Brooch
Necklaces
Left: Yarn and blue ammonia patina, copper
Right: Porcelain embedded in electroformed copper, leather
Fabric sac, electroformed seams, enamel paint, lentils
Card holder: electroformed tiles, blue ammonia patina, resin, and plexi glass
Blackberry experiements, resin and polyeurethane rubber
Electroformed shirt and collar, with stainless steel chain
