Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Day 8, first signs of deterioration






After all the rain, there were significant changes in the large cube.  The others seemed to in be intact so far, except for one that looked weak from the beginning. I also found a nice crack in a seemingly strong one.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Day 5



















The opening for Bilateral Engagement was last night.  Thanks to all who came to the opening! We had a great turn out.

I took off the last of the flasks yesterday and the cubes were even squarer than the first group. Instead of taking off opposite right angles of the box, I took off each side individually so that the plywood boards wouldn't pull the corners off.  Also, I guess the water helped make clean flat walls. I thought it would do the opposite. We have had 4 days of faint, light, consistent rain. The cubes were a little soft on the top, but overall still strong and didn't seem vulnerable to the rain.  The details were hard to see at the opening because it was pretty dark out, so the focus was on the installation as a whole.


Thursday, October 15, 2009

Earthcubes intact!

I took off11 flasks yesterday around 11 and it has been raining since 3 pm. I had heard that it would rain on thursday and friday, and I wasnt sure how it would affect the cubes whether in the flasks or already out. I went down to check on them today, and they seem to be fine. Some of the corners crumbled when I took off the molds, but most of them are square. These details make each cube unique! They don't seem to be affected by the rain- and most are covered by large trees. I will post pictures later.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Day 3 of Earthcubes. Finally!




Well, after 4 days of waiting, Peter finally came with the second round of dirt. He brought 4 more tons, which throughout the day I was alternatingly wondering if it was too much or too little. Deanna came to help me and we filled 9 more cubes and finished the big one. We ended up having just enough dirt (with a little more than I expected to put in the 4'x4'x4' cube- I am hoping it works!).  There is now 8 tons of dirt formed like cubes in the courtyard of the Art Museum of the Americas on Constitution Ave. The show opens on Friday at 6:30 pm.  Weather report says rain for Friday. Cross your fingers!

We had some interesting passersby, most wanting to know where landmarks were: tourists for the Lincoln Memorial, some people wanting to know where Constitution Hall was, and a protestor who needed the way to the White House (you can practically see the White House from my site). A handful also were curious about my project.  I realized I have not explained here what the project is about, so here is an explanation.

Earthcubes reference the manipulation of natural habitats and natural material into manmade forms and ideas.  Materials are constantly being moved and reformed only to ultimately return to the source from where they came.  The cubes' evident vulnerability comments on the need to make public things permanent and withstanding of the weather and natural phenomena.  I have entitled this installation "Earthcube Colony," and being at the Art Museum of the Americas, it has taken on a political implication.  The dirt will eventually degrade and erode and return to the earth.  The project is ongoing will be completed when the cubes are gone. I will continue documenting the cubes and posting pictures here.





Wednesday, October 7, 2009

day 2




Today we finished 9 cubes. 4 were done yesterday. I decided that I need to keep the flasks on as long as possible while the dirt cures, so I will make more boxes tomorrow.  there was another dirt delivery today, but unfortunately we couldn't keep it because it was the wrong dirt- dark gray. I will get more tomorrow. I tested a little cube, but it wasn't ready.  here are some photos of a finished cube and some clay. 

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Day 1 of Earthcubes






I began the Earthcube installation today at Art Museum of the Americas.  It is by far the largest project I have ever worked on. But only by size, and not by time.  I realized that it has been quite some time since I did such a physical project, and its nice to be involved with a new one.  Peter, the dirt deliverer and expert, said that the dirt he has was dusty and unpackable.  I told him that I would take it anyway, and see how it worked out.  The dirt he brought is orange and there are many large chunks of clay, which when you break them open there are beautiful specks of black, blue and sometimes yellow clay.  I think it should pack, but I am hoping for some rain.  Here are some photos from day 1.