Hands Across the Void: Object 1

Above are part 1 of 2 deliverables that came from the "Hands Across the Void" project. As you can see it is basically record packaging, which is something I always wanted to make ever since I even knew what Graphic design was. Visually I was very set on creating a mood for this whole project; obviously I have my influences and for this project...Sunn O)))'s "Orakle" was a huge inspiration. The idea of a recording artist and a sculptor collaborating is fully realized in that gorgeous project. Everything is connected and created from within that collaboration...an idea I took further by literally making everything myself, with some generous technical assistance from Devin Weeks, Jamie Kimbourgh, Amy Fortunato, Cole Moss, and my entire Communication studio class.

The packaging utilizes minimalism as a key tool, as I wanted to showcase the sculptures in a very specific light. The imagery itself is created in a way that is to be seen as a homage to design in punk/black metal, but with a refined twist a la Stephen O'Malley of Sunn O))). This was done because the music (still to be recorded) that I made for this project pulls from black metal, shoegaze, and drone at least in essence and intention.

It should also be mentioned that the album "It all Falls Apart" by The Sight Below (Cover designed by Mike Cina) literally got me through the last stretch of this project...sonically and typographically (?!).

The Typeface used is Walbaum, a lovely 19th century German modern serif face with the contrast of Didot...but the legibility of less severe modern serif type.

Next I'll post some images from the publication that was made along side this piece.


Listening: SunnO)))-Orakle, The Sight Below-It All Falls Apart, The National-High Violet, Circa Survive-Blue Sky Noise, Wire-Pink Flag

The Typeface Karina (formerly known as Kenose)

More posts on this little lady soon. She is almost there.

Sculptures

This documents images from the process of a project entitled "Hands Across the Void", basically it is an expanded music package experience, akin to box sets and limited edition packaging that exists in the market now. My project is made with the macro-intention of expanding the experience people have with music via packaging, art, and written content. I created music for the piece that combines the preciousness of shoegaze and the zealous intensity of black metal. The song itself is entitled "The Black Yoke" and it reflects the micros-intentions of this project, along with two sculptures and a publication that is in the process of being designed.

The concept of the music/packaging/sculpture is the idea of the possibilty of a dead end/void at the end of one's life. The idea that there might not be a god or afterlife at all, and it is simply a permenent end. period. That being said, my project deals specifically with living with and in defiance of the normal approach to nihilism/fatalism. Basically, that in the face of the void, we create. We might have created religions, gods, or spirituality to deal with this immense possibility. My interpretation of this void was to create two sculptures that work in tandem to express this idea.

The first is the void itself. A "black hole sun", the opposite of the ever-giving source of energy the sun is. A dead sun, with it's rays dropping and sagging, the core of which is a black reflective surface basically showing that their is nothing beyond the void itself.

During my research of other religions and world views it came to my attention that tree's are an extremely common and important symbol within different perspectives. I decided that because the viewpoint presented in this project is indeed a worldview, that I would create something to represent it, sculpturly. I constructed a tree combining actual branches and man-made MDF panels with a flourescent light in the center as my altar. Everything was laquered Black. The combination the man-made objects and the natural is again referencing the idea of creation and acceptance of the possible void after we no longer physicallly exist. The idea of creating something and living regardless of an afterlife is very interesting to me, one that still holds subtle value and hope, which I wanted to express by including the banal object of the flourescent light.

Stay tuned to see it's inclusion in the packaging for the music. Thanks.


Listening: The National-"Afraid of Everyone", Watain-"Reaping Death", Khoma-"The Last Storm", Crystal Castles-"Celestica Ep", Stars-"Fixed", Alcest and Les Discrets...

Hands Across the Void-The Black Yoke (Music Packaging Project)

This here is a document of the process building up to my final junior project. It will involve, at least at this point, two simple yet sizable sculpture depicting "Void" and "The Tree of life". This among other images will be created to function as elements of a deluxe package for a band/project I created (for this project) called "Hands Across the Void". It will contain one long form song (10-20) minutes meant to express the inevitable "void" & bummer elements of life and then accepting & moving forward in the face of that.

For the time being, that song/album/recording is called "The Black Yoke"

cool thanks.

Things in my brain: The National, Alcest, Tiny Vipers, Cat Power, xerox machines, black epoxy resin, pending photo shoots.