My final for my spring semester Spatial Dynamics was a series of wooden keys that transformed back into tree branches using found material. Part of the process that I really enjoyed was finding branches for individual increments from processed key form into a raw branch again.
Keys have strong connotations of secrecy and security- to me, they are, at the very base, are a symbol of access. For this assignment (a map of myself through time and space), I chose specifically to link these keys to access of memories. Countless events in my past are inherent to the person I am today. My family dynamic, friendships, early hobbies, etc. have led me to where I am now, but in spite of their importance, I can not remember these times clearly anymore as part of the natural process of growing up. My past is integral to my growth. I wanted to demonstrate and compare this phenomenon with wooden keys growing until they lose their shape, and therefore their function. By the end, the keys can no longer "access" that memory, but its previous key form led its growth structure.
I first explored what elements I wanted in my keys and how to shape them using the scroll saw/sander and drill press. Below are my experiments with sticks, finishes, hanging fixtures,and types of wood, I ended up liking the middle key the best, due to its more deliberate structure.
Close ups of the keys at the end of the transition,
More photos of each individual key can be found here on my Flickr.
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