prototype mockups

smoke hazard

flame

september 26th class time

We used class time this morning to perform small scale experiments with the materials we will use with the final balloon. We came across a new design for the balloon, inspired by flying faralitos from santa fe. We experimented with alum to make our tissue paper fire retardant, finding that we were successful. and we experimented with a big flame cotton ball candle which gives off huge flame, maybe too much but we will not know until we play with the construction of the balloon. We still have not started the construction of the balloon but plan to on wednesday!

flying faralitos

http://vimeo.com/8557013

cyanotype to rayopraph: a window of history

The two posts below are about a scientific process. The first is a cyanotype by Anna Atkins a botinist in the 19th century. She used the cyanotype to record and observe nature. The second is a rayograph by a surrealist artist named Man Ray. The difference between the two falls more in the artistic and social realm then a scientific because the photographic process, though it has been enhanced and motified, remains fundamentally the same. The mid !9th century perception of the cyanotype was mainly, but not only, functional. The photosensitive paper and objects placed on the paper serverd an objective purpose, to record something. Where as the point of a rayograph to juxtapose objects creating visually stimulating compositions. It is easy to assume that the later would not be recieved as niether art nor science in Anna's decade. Whereas I have viewed Anna's work in many art history and photo history classes, placing her in the genre of artist's because although her work was not meant as art it is still aesthetically and visually appealing. So this shows a change over time in the artistic and societal realms slowly accpeting this science based art form into popular imagery.

rayograph

cyanotype

how to make cyanotypes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDOtUUhQ6Tk&feature=related

candel

round
solid at room temperature
cylindrical cone
wick with 90 degree angle coming out:1/8 of an inch, from bend: 1/4 inch
curvy
angular
1.25''lx1.5''
green/white
wick is black
smooth
hard
breakable
metal on bottom (not centered)
possible came from China
dented top edge
opaque with some light coming through thin edges
its dry
contains crack
used
sweet and soapy smell
botton is flat
it stands
weighs less than a lb.