Museum Artifact Case

From the jungles of Peru, archeologists Monica Clendenin, Joylyn Waegerle, and Beth Lowder brought back three prized artifacts. Ms. Clendenin's discovery was of a ritual martini glass, Ms Waegerle taht of an ancient clutch wallet, and Ms. Lowder an authentic ear phone listening device preserved in its own container. These valuable artifacts will be exhibited in the UNCG museum, encased in a contemporary museum case design by Eileen Carroll.

Three cases are joined together in a leaf pattern symbolizing the jungles of Peru where these precious exhibits were found. The leaf shaped cases are angled towards the viewer, drawing the observer into the space to experience the reality of the reality of the environment.

The entire case stands 60" tall from the floor with each leaf case sized at 20" wide by 15" deep with a glass exposure of 12" high. The base of the cases grow organically outward from an elliptical stand, 26" wide by 20" deep, with a dramatic angle widening up to 50" as it greets the glass exposure of the case.


The exterior color of the case is deep brown with a lighter beige hue interior. The martini glass located is located in the left case on its own stand, protecting the delicate quality of the artifact. The clutch wallet sits in the right case on a stand enabling the clutch artifact to be fully opened for the viewer. Both the martini glass, and the clutch artifact stand 9" tall. The ear pone devices within it own container is on a 2" raised platform, and opened for the view to see the artifact in its natural state, totally 6" tall.

The vibration proof case is of a sturdy constructed aluminum extrusion frame. The exterior of the case is of power-coated metal enamel, and laminated safety glazing. The interior of the case is illuminated with light diffusers of low-voltage halogen, hidden within the top portion of the interior glass case. The interior environment for the artifacts are protected with humidity controlled settings. The world authority in high tech museum case construction, Relicase, located in Shuangliu China, fabricated the uniquely designed case structure.

The design process of the museum case was a challenge, with the criteria to show drama and unity of the exhibit, which will highlight the artifacts without distraction. Ms. Carroll looked to nature for the inspiration of the design to give an identity to the exhibit as a whole. The initial process started with the interview of the archeologists Ms. Clendenin, Ms. Waegerle, and Ms. Lower, to understand the identity of the artifacts themselves. During the interview, Ms. Carroll envisioned the basic concept, and created sketches to covey her design. The second interview with the archeologist Ms. Carroll created a mock up of the design with some color choses, materials and possible vendors for the fabrication of the case. The final presentations for the archeologists showed a finish board with a perspective illustration drawing of the design with detailed dimension specifications of the case itself.

Stoel's Studio - Shaping Design

This week in Stoel's Studio the glued up boards are shaped into the design.

The design calls for long sweeping curves to the edges. Measuring an inch down on each corner I draw my desired curve with a flexible board pressed against the vise set up at the measured corner.

Then I draw a line against the board.

After my line is drawn, I cut the out the design on the bandsaw.

After the bandsaw cut, I sand down the rough edges until it is smooth. The finished piece with the desired curves is to the side to my design.

Building the GHM Model

Building the GHM Model would be a disaster without instructions. Luckily we have a key. Etched into all the pieces is a number which corresponds to a printed out image and description.

Stoel's Studio - Gluing up Boards

Gluing up Boards -

Starting my final design project in Stoel's Studio began with my visit to the wood store. When you purchase raw wood for your project, the cost is estimated by board feet. 12 inches wide by 12 inches long by 1 inch thick is 1 board foot. The wood comes in standard sizes with a quarter increments, and varies in lengths and widths. For my project I am using 4/4, which is nominally an inch thick. For my design I estimated my need to be 30 bf.

I bought some beautiful soft maple with a little curl to it. I chose my pieces by matching the color of the wood, and the straightness of the boards. I purchased 12 ft lengths and 8" wide. To fit the pieces in my Saab convertible, I had the wood store cut my pieces into 4 ft lengths. Since they were charging me to cut several pieces, I had them plane them as well. I would still be charged the same, and this would save time in the shop.

With my pieces all planed, I went right to gluing up my boards. Gluing can be a messy process, so we lay down some paper to protect the work surface and the vise.

I arrange the pieces next to their closest color and pattern match, tighten them up in the vise to see how the finish piece would look, then I draw lines across the boards to line them up during the gluing process. I only need to add glue to one side, but I need to be liberal with the glue to ensure a complete seal. If I did this step correctly, the wood would break before the seal.

After I let the glue set for about an hour, I can move the set up to the side of the shop to free up space, and let it set overnight.

The next morning I take of the vises, the paper, and inspect my work. Looks pretty good to me.

A perspective of the Greensboro Historical Museum

Process work of the lobby at the Greensboro Historical Museum.

After developing the 3D model in CAD, a cut sheet template needs to be created for the lazer plotter to cut out the pieces for the model. To match up the pieces together into the model a key drawing is generated to show the numbered images with etched numbers on the pieces.

Rhino front elevation piece -

High Point - Going to Market

In Stoel's Studio we have been working on furniture design for GroovyStuff. GroovyStuff designs furniture from recycled teak wood. A rustic furniture style, pieces of the wood range from tree trunks, branches, roots, to old farm equipment, yokes and wagon wheels.

Our class took a field trip to the High Point Furniture Market to see GroovyStuff's showcased products. This image is a very interesting chair design made from teak wood branches, a trunk and roots.

This was my first time to the High Point Furniture Market, and quite an experience it was - I have never seen so much furniture at one time!

We visited an Italian furniture designer, Natuzzi, who specializes in contemporary sofa sectionals. Natuzzi developed the "Natuzzi Edition" for the American market, with stereo speakers in the head cushions, part of the sectional reclining like the "lazy boy," and a control console with cup holders between the sections.

                   

Their furniture was beautiful and the designs were creative, but what was most interesting about Natuzzi was their showroom. The architecture of the building emulated a large dark ocean liner cutting through the main street. Once aboard the interior showrooms were arranged as ship decks, with roped bridges to the opposite side. This design intrigued Natuzzi, associating the architecture with the shipping of his vast line across the oceans to the American market

                        Natuzzi Showroom, High Point NC

As a new visitor to the Furniture Market, I wanted to see it all, but that was absolutely impossible in one day. The exhausting search through all the various vendors led me to one final stop, where I found the most interesting use of a piece of furniture in the most unlikely space, a piano on a waterfall. You might not have believed it if I didn't have the pictures to show.

Stoel's Studio - Furniture Joinery

This week in Stoel's Studio we worked on prototypes furniture joints.

Floating Tenon -

A floating tenon joint is great for attaching furniture legs to table rails forming a sturdy base for your table top to mount.

The first step in working with wood is to generate a full size drawing of your piece. Mark the measurements on the piece of wood you want to cut, and put an 'X' on your waste section.

A dowel pin is a great butt joint

The finish piece forms a neat right angle joint

Biscuits -

Biscuit joints are used for table tops.

The Verrazano Beyond the Mist

Like all native New Yorkers, I'm a terrible tourist in my own town. I never went to the Statue of Liberty, skated at Rockefeller center, or gazed out on the view from the top of the World Trade Center, (with much sorrow, that last one is out), but I can tell you where to eat, where to shop, and where to stay. But as often as I cross the Verrazano from Jersey to Long Island to go home to visit mom, I'm still struck awe with the engineering might of New York's own Verrazano Bridge. I pull out the camera every time for that great shot over the bridge. This one by far is the best!

Happy Halloween

Both 2nd year studios joined with 1st year to design a light vessel made from vegtables and a can. My partners for this project were Monica from 1st year, and Rajee from Jonathan's 2nd year studio.

From a wide range of veggie choices, we used a white pumpkin for the base, an eggplant for the top, and some red cabbage to fill in gaps. Monica started to slice the eggplant vertically, leaving the top stem in tack, but allowing the bottom portion of the eggplant to be easily squeezed into the top portion of our circular cut out on the pumpkin's lid. Rajee and I worked on the pumpkin together. After cutting the top off the pumpkin we removed the pulp from its interior. Rajee brought a drill, and drilled several 3/8" dia holes to emit the light from the interior. Then using a larger drill bit, approximately an inch in dia, he created larger gaps, in which we rolled up red cabbage, and flared out of the exterior.

Our pumpkin was now ready to get up on its can platform and light it up. Monica represented our group and presented our light vessel and discussed our progress.

And wait there's more ...

Last Halloween, even though I didn't dress up, I was invited to a great pumpkin carving party. A family style party with kids dress up, and running around everywhere, testing out their costumes before the big day.

Here are a few of our exhibits -