Student Art Projects

I've slowly but steadily been working on these tape shoes. The object of the project was to gain a new understanding of 3D materials and conceptualizing space from 2D planes of tape. Height: 2.5 in, Depth: 12.25 in, Width: 4.75 in Here are some in process photos: Here are some studio shots I got of the finished product:

Easing the Pain  "Anesthetics like novocaine or cocaine either block the body's ability to send high-frequency pain signals to the brain or will not allow sodium to flow into the nerve cell. Some drugs manage to confuse the signals given at different stages of the pain message. Naturally occurring opiates called endorphins occupy the receptor sites so that they can't receive the neural transmitter's message of pain. Cocaine interferes with the neural transmitters in just this way."   - Diane Ackerman, A Natural History of the Senses      This reading sprung and idea in my mind about coping mechanisms. There are many people who use drugs to numb their pain, and it doesn't ever solve their problems. Pain has internal and psychological connotations as well as physical manifestations and reactions. The use of cocaine to numb the pain process or continuously rejecting pain by breathing, ingesting, performing tasks that manufacture those endorphins are ...

This is A Touch. "Research suggests that, though there are four main types of receptors, there are many others along a wide spectrum of response. After all, our palette of feelings through touch is more elaborate than just hot, cold, pain and pressure. Many touch receptors combine to produce what we call a twinge. Consider all the varieties of pain, irritation, abrasion, bruising, tingling, brushing, scratching, banging, fumbling, kissing, nudging." - Diane Ackerman, A Natural History of the Senses      After reading this engaging speculation by Ackerman, I decided to represent how I felt and thought about touch. I wanted to know how far I could stretch the extremes of touch; but I couldn't do that on myself, in fear of inflicting pain. Pain is its own sensory monster which Ackerman tackles in later sections of the chapter. For my demonstration and study of these sensations, I asked myself, "what have I always wanted to feel, but realistically had the intol...