Deer Totem Ornament
Spring 2019
Bass Wood, Aluminum
This totem ornament emphasizes the juxtaposition between the artificial and natural aesthetics of the wood brick. The deer, although chiseled from the same block of wood, is showcased through unnaturally stained wood and manufactured aluminum to present this comparison.
Project Limitations
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- Contains 3 words from the outer edge of the train-of-thought web
- Must be made from a 12in x 3in x 2in block of bass wood
Design Method
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The word web was developed through the process of consistently writing down words that are related to the previous words in the web. This ornamental design was created through the selection of three random words from the train-of-thought word web, and the three words that were randomly selected from the outer rim of the web can be used to make phrases or sentences in order to make the object. In this project, the words that had been selected were aluminum, brick, and deer.
Creation Process
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In the attempt to reinterpret the words, the comparison of a natural aesthetic to an artificial aesthetic was sculpted from the wood. To create the work, a lighter and a chisel were first used to create the carvings. The wooden ornament was then sanded, ebony stained, coated with lacquer, and waxed. Finally, metal pieces were cut by a jump sheer, sanded to 3,000 grit, and sprayed with protective enamel before being planted into the brick with epoxy.
Timothy Yue Li
RISD Spring 2019
tli02@risd.edu
