Production was completed at Washington State University's Spark Building in the Design Studio.
Here is the link to the project on the Spark's website!
This project was created for Fine Arts 363.
What it is:
The idea was to create a sculpture that not only emits light but casts a shadow.
The light box was created by cutting out a single sheet of wood with the laser cutter that bends
into the final shape. The four corners of the box were made using kerf cutting, which uses a
number of slots cut into the material, allowing it to bend. Essentially, you make the material
thinner so it can be flexed to follow a curve. One face of the box is not cut through, only etched.
This was done in order for the box to be closed with a notch in the center.
Process:
The design was inspired by a combination of lotus flowers, mandala patterns, and Japanese
lanterns. While creating the box, it was divided up into layers that had different parts of the
design that were designated to either be cut out or etched. There were four layers total: the
central floral design, the kerf bend, the border, and the outline of the box. The border as well as
the design on the face of the box where it closed with a notch were etch while everything else
was cut out.
After cutting out the box and removing bits that weren’t cut all the way out, it was soaked in
warm water for approximately 2 days in order to make the wood more pliable. Then once the
box was finally bent into the final box shape, it was tied to secure it so the wood would dry in
place correctly, and finally the ends were glued together at the notch.
Materials Used:
Adobe Illustrator
Baltic Birch
Laser cutter
