Project III, the plaster cube, was the most challenging piece among the art projects we had this semester. We poured plaster into foam boxes and let it cure. After I had my plaster block, with my mallet and chisel, I immediately chiseled off the corners and flat surfaces. We could leave no evidence that the plaster was once a square. Professor Lisa then assisted me with drilling a hole tilted at an angle into the center of the plaster. This was meant for us to work around and create depth and make the piece more interesting altogether. After chiseling the block and sat with the block for a while, following the grooves the chisel made when I knocked off chunks of plaster. Thinking the large indentations were interesting, I took my chisel and began After I had made progress with my plaster I then began to feel less and less inspired. Thoughts such as; my life goals, usefulness, artistic qualities, etc., began to seep into my mind. Professor Lisa then came over to look at my piece and told me it reminded her of a cave you would go to collect your thoughts. Thinking this was ironic with what I was going through, I decided to keep the theme and make it more personal for me. Although I decided to follow a cavern-like theme, I continued to allow the mallet and chisel guide my hand and how much plaster was taken off. I made deep indentations into the plaster representing the sinking feeling of my depression, anxiety, and stress. The drilled hole is in representation that there is light at the end of every tunnel, even in the darkest places. I then smoothed the surface of my plaster piece. This was the finishing process for me; me “eroding” down the negative thoughts and emotions I had while working on this piece. For the final touch, I placed my piece into a milk bath. I feel this can be represented as me feeling like a new person once the negativity is eroded away. The scars; however, will always remain as they do in the plaster piece once the milk settled into the cracks and crevices.
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