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Final Submission Form

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Editing Maquette on to Site

I first started by using the magic wand tool on Pixlr to remove all background from the picture of my maquette and then merged the two images together.

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Barbara Hepworth

Barbara Hepworth distinguished herself as a world-recognized sculptor in a period where female artists were rare. She evolved her ideas and her work as an influential part of an ongoing conversation with many other important artists of her time, working crucially in areas of greater abstraction while creating three dimensional objects. I wanted to touch on Hepworth’s work as she too manipulated metal and creates sculpture work that is also abstract with hidden meaning.

Meridian (1960): Bronze sculpture

Meridian is a bronze sculpture and is an early example of Hepworth’s public commissions, commissioned for State House. The sculpture resembles a distorted spiral with ribbons of bronze forming triangular loops. Hepworth intended the fluid lines of the sculpture to contrast with the rigidity of the building's rectilinear architecture

Four-Square (Walk Through) (1966): Bronze sculpture

Four-Square (Walk Through) is a 4.3 metres (14 ft) high bronze sculpture. Hepworth intended the viewer to engage directly with the sculpture, to notice the surface details and the differences between the pieces: literally, to walk around and through the sculpture.

Figure for Landscape (1959-60): Bronze sculpture

Figure for Landscape 1959–60 is a large, hollow, asymmetrical sculpture in bronze. Renowned for her carving of stone and wood, Hepworth’s move into metal, initially wrought and then cast, afforded her a broader vocabulary of sculptural forms.

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Making a Maquette #2

I purchased some pliable aluminium wire from Amazon to try to mimic the metal I’d be using in real life to create my hypothetical sculpture and I found that this gave me the ability to create more scribble like shapes compared to the wool. I managed to make the maquette free standing as well

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Safety Equipment

Links to products;

Helmet - https://www.screwfix.com/p/jsp-evolite-skyworker-industrial-height-safety-helmet-white/8960f

Glasses - https://www.screwfix.com/p/site-origin-clear-lens-safety-specs/8553g

Ear Defenders - https://www.screwfix.com/p/3m-peltor-optime-iii-ear-defenders-35db-snr/13258

As I will be drilling brick there is a risk that some shrapnel may hit me in the face so it’s important that none gets in my eye. If it were to impair my vision I could easily fall or it could have lasting effects on my vision

I will be working from a reasonably high height to compose the top of my sculpture so it is important to take the proper safety precautions incase I lose my footing and fall therefor head protection must be worn.

Due to the close contact and level of noise caused by drilling the brick it will be important to wear appropriate ear protection to avoid damage to hearing.

Side note: I can pick all of these products up from my local Screwfix store avoiding any delivery costs.

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Scaffolding

I thought that scaffolding would be a far better option than a ladder for installing my artwork as there is a handrail all around me for safety and it allows me to use both my hands in the installation process. I went for the smallest option as I’d only need to reach heights of about 3 metres.

Link to product;

Extras: after reading a bit about the scaffolding on the toptower website I realised that a platform board does not come included in the price of the scaffolding so I will need to add that in. I will also need to buy stabilisers for the bottom of the scaffolding as it is relatively narrow in comparison to its height.

Side note: After looking around and comparing prices, this is still the cheapest and easiest option for scaffolding that I could find as it also comes with free delivery.

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Hammer Drill

Link to product; https://www.screwfix.com/p/dewalt-dch033-3kg-18v-2-x-4-0ah-li-ion-xr-brushless-cordless-sds-plus-drill/675fj

The hammer drill was my best option considering I am working with brick. The hammer motions make it far easier to penetrate brick than a regular twisting drill head.

Side note: I’m also able to pick this tool up from my local Screwfix saving on delivery costs.

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Hookeyes (Attaching Sculpture to Site)

After drilling holes in the archway I’ll need to insert these hookeyes to thread my metal through. I made sure the width of the eye was wide enough to fit the metal through.

Link to product;

Side note: I have Amazon prime, therefor any extra things I might need can be delivered to me the next day for free saving on delivery costs.

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Materials and Equipment to Make Sculpture

To make my 3D Scribbles I needed a non corrosive and pliable metal so I went for these stainless steel tube-like objects. I went for 20 of them as if need to join them and twist them around to make my structure so I’d need a lot more than I would if I was just displaying them straight. To join them all together I opted for the swivel gland and locknut option as it was the most subtle I could find but I could hopefully twist the structure in a way that hides the bits that join together.

Links to products;

Flexible Steel - https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/LFLS20slash10.html

Galvanised Locknut - https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/CO20LNG.html

Swivel Glands - https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/LFLGS20.html

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Hardened Maquette

This is the result of the homemade plaster hardening on the wool. It created a free standing sculpture which I incision being made with stainless steel and ten times the size to fit in my chosen site. I’m not too happy with the shape of this so I might cut it to make it fit the arch better… I think I’ll order some pliable metal and make another maquette.

Although it’s not the best shape - the tangled hardened wool is the exact idea I was going for except in large scale and blocking the arch of the castle.

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Equipment for Installation?

Sculpture: for the sculpture itself I was thinking of hypothetically using metal but it could easily erode and rust if it was exposed to the rain therefor I think a pliable stainless steel is probably the better option.

Method of Installation: I’m thinking I’ll have to somehow drill holes around the perimeter of the archway in which some sort of hook eye could be installed to feed the metal through to keep it upright and in position. I would also have to install hook eyes into the ground as well so the sculpture is secured from all angles.

Possible complications:

As the archway is made of brick I won’t be able to use a regular drill to drill holes for the hook eye fixtures. It’ll need to be a proper hammer drill.

As I’ll be drilling I’ll need to make sure proper safety equipment and clothing is used i.e protective glasses.

The sculpture will be installed and quite a high height (roughly 3 metres) and with the other equipment that will have to be handled I won’t be able to use a simple ladder as it could easily fall. I’ll need some sort of scaffolding for the installation.

Access to electricity? I’ll need to buy a cordless drill but apart from that it should be fine.

Road access? If I am to install scaffolding for the project I’ll need to make sure I have access to the road and car park outside the castle.

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Making a Maquette

Struggling quite a bit with putting my idea into reality… I don’t have access to metal or welding equipment to create a realistic version of what I’d like this sculpture to be like in real life but I used wool coated in a mixture made from equal parts water and flour to try and replicate the idea of ‘scribbles’ in 3D form…

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Initial Idea Sketch

The idea behind this quick sketch was to roughly show the idea of using some sort of material to create a scramble of 3D ‘scribbles’ to illustrate a tortured or abused mind. I thought this would look good in the archway of the castle. People could walk through one side of the tunnel and view the sculpture but are unable to exit through it perhaps giving the idea of feeling trapped?

I could see this being made with metal as it fits in with the idea of medieval swords and weapons

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Planning Permission Inverclyde

Attached below is a planning permission document that would need to be completed and submitted to Inverclyde council in order to plan and make changes to Newark Castle or the area around it.

https://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/assets/attach/8811/Full-Planning-Application-Form.pdf

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Artwork Relevance to Site

Below is an interesting document outlining the importance of the relevance of artwork when placed in a historical location.

The established architectural character and art work tradition of an area are essential considerations for the introduction of art works. Projects should be site specific and carefully integrated with the building structure and surrounding environment. Proposals should illustrate a comprehensive understanding of site considerations and the physical, social, historical, topographical and architectural context.

https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/24488/art-in-public-places

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Final Concept & Site

I’ve gone down the route of thinking about domestic abuse, in this case the idea was based off of the story of Lady Margaret Crawford who was abused both mentally and physically by her rich husband who owned Port Glasgow’s Newark Castle.

I want to consider the different types of abuse and how I can represent this through my work and display it in the castle as a tribute to Lady Margaret and everyone else who has fallen victim to abuse whether that be mental or physical.

I understand that if this were not a hypothetical artwork a great deal of planning permission would have to be granted to even hold an exhibition at Newark castle, never mind installing an artwork and I’ll need to look into this further. I may have to resort to installing my artwork in a place outside the castle grounds.

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Lady Margaret Crawford - Domestic Abuse

This article is written by Megan Gordon of Scottish Women’s Aid and reflects back on the abuse suffered by Lady Margaret Crawford and what has changed in the last 400 years for women who experience domestic abuse.

“Along with being shockingly violent, Patrick would berate Margaret and put her down, even in front of guests. He was unkind, spewing scornful rants at her – the mother of his sixteen children. He would lock her in her bedchamber, depriving her of contact with the outside world. He controlled what she ate and drank – “nothing bot half ane oat loaffe and some small drinke” each day.

This constant wearing someone down and the need to control everything from their eating to their public interactions is something we still see today. Indeed, women have told us for decades that this type of controlling abuse is the most difficult to recover from.”

This type of mental abuse and manipulation is where I am basing most of my ideas from when making my sculpture. I wanted to put across the idea of feeling trapped but also confused with thoughts and feelings being ‘scrambled’ together.