Elyse Shapiro Studio Progress Mar 26- Apr 1

Studio Progress Update for Week of March 26^th- April 1^st

This week in the studio, I spent the majority of my time creating the lighting fixture structure by altering the shape of the metal. In the cold shop, I first took 6 foot aluminum poling and morphed it into the shape of a circle, varying the curve to match the diameter of the different stencil lengths.

After I had altered the metal to the proper circumferences, I sawed off the excess poling and prepared to weld the aluminum together.

After welding, I needed to make the metal appear as if there were no weld. To do this, I ground down the joint and proceeded to sand the area down to level. In order to make the metal appear uniform throughout, I then also sanded down the remaining surface area of the metal to match the welded area. When I had finished, the metal appeared as such:

I also spent time cutting down the polycarbonate to its proper size and sanding the piece of polycarbonate the would serve as the top for the first two lighting fixtures. This began to be problematic as I hoped to connect them to the metal using rivets. During the bending process of the metal, the gap for which the polycarbonate would be placed had been smashed. This required me to use a hand drill and increase the size of the gap by removing excess aluminum.

In-studio hours:

· Monday- Bent 6 foot aluminum poling for lighting fixture 1 and 2 12AM-4PM (4 hours)

· Tuesday- bent aluminum for lighting fixture 3 and began to cut polycarbonate to fit stencil requirements8:30AM- 4:30PM (8 hours)

· Wednesday- Sanded the polycarbonate and cut to fit exact size, hand-sawed all excess aluminum and prepare to weld 4PM- 10PM (6 hours)

· Thursday- Welded aluminum and began to increase size of gap in aluminum by drilling 1PM- 7 PM (6 hours)

· Friday- Begin to grind down and sand metal for aluminum structure 1 PM- 1 AM (12 hours)

· Saturday- Finish treatement of material and begin to execute full construction of final pieces (3 hours)

· Total: 39 hours

Elyse Shapiro Studio Progress Mar 12-19

Studio Progress Update for Week of March 12^th- 19^th

In the studio this week, I began to collect all of the materials necessary for my to execute the actual structure for my imagery. I have decided that rather than using ZAP-A-GAP as in the past, I will hand drill holes into the polycarbonate and insert rivets at a rate of one rivet per 2 inch gap. This will ensure the polycarbonate does not crack and still doesn’t create a cloudy or foggy clear adhesive give away. These rivets do not bother my in my stencil cut designs and I think they even serve to make the pieces look more industrial and relative to Detroit. Also this week, I organized the vellum and stencils for lighting fixtures 1 and 2. Upon comparing the pieces’ imagery, I am currently working to choose an appropriate size and image source for the third and final lighting fixture. My ideas thus far revolve around themost significant abandoned building known throughout Detroit. Examples of these include Central Station, theaters, hotels, office buildings, schools, and miscellaneous churches and executive buildings. In the upcoming week I will complete the image and begin to cut the stencil at a

very eager rate. Time is running out!

Examples of buildings of inspiration within Detroit that may be encompassed within my last stencil cut:

Redo of sketch for structure, including rivet placement for construction:

In-studio hours, week 10:

Monday- Create proper size and structure for piece 3 (3 hours)

Tuesday- Work on idea for lighting fixture 3, research significant abandoned buildings in Detroit (7 hours)

Wednesday- Bend metal in cold metal shop for lighting fixture 2 (4 hours)

Thursday- Research best places in Detroit to make a trip to on Monday. (4 hours)

Total: 18 hours

Elyse Shapiro Studio Progress Feb 20- 26

Studio Progress Update for Week of February 20th to 26th

This week in the studio, I spent the majority of the week slaving over my cutting pad with an X-ACTO blade at hand. I spent a great deal of time developing different textures for the various graffiti pieces found throughout the Detroit area and compiled together to form a fictional, all encompassing building. After countless hours in the studio, I decided the stencil was finally complete, but that required me to strongly alter the initial “stamp” image. The “stamp” imagery that is intended to be printed on vellum had a lot of extraneous details that had the potential to be disturbing to the viewer. I am eager to finally get the vellum printed for the second lighting fixture and apply the two layers together to see their cohesiveness.

In-studio hours, week 7:

Monday- Cut stencil 2 10AM-3PM (5 hours)

Tuesday- Cut stencil 2 8:30AM- 4:30PM (8 hours)

Wednesday- Cut stencil 2 6PM- 10PM (4 hours)

Thursday- Cut stencil 2 and edit torn spots 1PM- 7 PM (6 hours)

Friday- Work on vellum for stencil 2 1 PM- 3 PM (2 hours)

Saturday- Work on and finish vellum for stencil 2 10AM- 4 PM (5 hours)

Total: 30 hours

Update

Been busy editing videos over break and for the last week.

The videos are coming along nicely.

Hours:

Monday 5

Tuesday 3

Wednesday 5

Thursday 2

Friday 7

Saturday 3

Sunday 3

Progress update

Just realized that I forgot to post my progress for last week, got a bit caught up in filming I guess.

So, here it is.

I filmed on-site (the indoor and outdoor footage) for Concertina last weekend and will be filming the band in the studio this weekend.

Here are some stills from the Concertina filming.

Hours for this week

Monday- 2

Tuesday-3

Thursday-5

Friday-4

Saturday-5

Sunday-1

Elyse Shapiro Studio Progress Feb 13-19

Studio Progress Update for Week of February 13th to 19th

This week in the studio, I completed the imagery by getting the inner layer printed onto vellum. This was then placed beneath the polycarbonate, stencil, and a layer of mylar. The image below was placed onto a light box, but the construction of the lamp are still in the works. This is also the imagery that I used in the design of my postcard image. Following the completion of this image, I began to design imagery for my next lighting fixture. I decided the new imagery would be largely revolved around the idea of graffiti in Detroit because the reaction to these images was so strong in my most recent review. I spent the majority of the day wednesday in Detroit walking around the east side and taking pictures of graffiti on various buildings. Then, I compiled the most interesting and, in my opinion, stencil-worthy graffiti tags onto a an imaginary building in Detroit. I used images of various windows I also spotted on my visit to ensure they looked realistic and native to Detroit. After completing my design, I printed and assembled it together, and have began to cut that into black paper.

In-studio hours, week 7:

Monday- Apply stencil and vellum and photograph for postcard, work on bending metal in the cold metals studio (4 hours)

Tuesday- Brainstorm ideas for future imagery, prepare first stencil cut for review (4 hours)

Wednesday- Go to Detroit to photograph graffiti on the east side of the city (6 hours)

Thursday- Cut stencil in studio (9 hours)

Total: 23 hours

Update, Filming This Weekend

So filming is set for this weekend for the indoor (house) and outdoor scenes in "Concertina".

Here are some of the completed accessories:

Concertina's cane (for outside)

Concertina's bracelet

I still have a few minor considerations for this weekend but the filming is all set to go.

The studio filming with the band will be next weekend in a studio on campus.

Hours for last week:

Monday- 2hrs

Tuesday-3hrs

Wednesday-2 hrs

Friday-4hrs

Hours for previous week (I see I forgot to post them)

Monday-5hrs

Tuesday-2hrs

Thursday-4hrs

Friday-3hrs

Sunday-2hrs

Update Monica Ross 2/13/2012

This week I got Sherri Smith in for voice acting. I'm making a master file to load in final sound and completed frames.I'm going to be building it up for the critique next week. I was away for the weekend and so I have to make up a lot of work this week. Last week I was in the studio for 3 hours on Monday,6 on Tuesday and Thursday. This is a mere 15 hours... The weekend really took a lot of time away.

I'm a little less worried about finishing my project. I've decided to take out a loan so I can get March off work.I'm sure I can complete the project with that extra time.

Elyse Shapiro Studio Progress Feb 6-12

Studio Progress Update for Week of February 6th to 12th

This week was very important to my project in terms of vision and structure. After going through a great slump with the progression of my IP project, I have made some major decisions that will alter the nature of my pieces due to the material. I am no longer utilizing textiles in my pieces, but rather have decided to focus on the the true passion behind this work- stencil cutting. By minimizing the materials I am working with, I have decided it will be more successful if it is less complicated. For my new lighting fixtures, I have decided to cut stencils of Detroit, but have narrowed my subject matter to the remaining infrastructure of Detroit today; this will allow the imagery to be more cohesive from piece to piece. I have also decided to cut color from my pieces. They will be cut into thick black paper, and have a layer of vellum printed beneath them. The vellum will serve as a distribution tool for the light source within, while providing more detailed information for the imagery when the light is turned on. Though there is no color in the pieces, I feel that the black and white imagery will be complementary to the imagery it is intending to portray.

As I begin to work on my first piece, I have decided to take imagery I collected from photographing the Packard Plant in Detroit. As with my initial imagery, I have decided to fabricate the actual images to make them more rich and provide additional sides and views of the plant. Once compiled in photoshop, the imagery looked as follows:

Once compiled, I created this image using photoshop. The area that is orange is my guide when cutting the black paper. I printed the imagery and attached it, not following the lines but using them as an idea of where to begin.

Atop of the imagery as I was cutting it is the detailed stamp layer that will be printed on the vellum. Below, you can see the details that will be printed on the vellum and placed beneath the stencil cutting. This is important to me as I cut the stencil layer because I can see where the most pattern, detail, and grain lay.

After countless hours of cutting, the final image is completed. The image has a lot of additional details that were previously non-existent. The image is highly stylized but I think is quite compelling.

I am eager to see what the imagery looks like placed on top of one another, and am looking forward to better creating a more functional and industrial looking lamp. The metal will now be visible, and rather than getting messy with glue, I am interested in experimenting with sandwiching the two layers together between the polycarbonate and a mylar piece. Once screwed in, I hope the pieces will be secured and clean looking with no visible adhesive materials. Another decision I have made regarding the structure is to attempt to use nails/ studs/ rivets to secure the polycarbonate to itself, rather than zap-a-gap. This will make the pieces appear more industrial, but cleaner and more thoroughly put together. The studs will be placed periodically at a short distance and will be taken into consideration of where they lay within the stencil cutting.

In-studio hours, week 6:

Monday- Project reconstruction and idea sketching session (4 hours)

Tuesday- Go to Detroit to photograph closed schools on the east side, the packard plant, and other interesting abandoned buildings (7 hours)

Wednesday- Compile imagery for first lamp shade, develop stencil layer and stamp layer for vellum. Begin to cut stencil (8 hours)

Thursday- Cut stencil in studio (10 hours)

Friday- Cut stencil in studio (7 hours)

Saturday- Complete first stencil cut, remove old imagery from polycarbonate barrel, work on potentially creating old stencil cut into new imagery on black paper (6 hours)

Total: 42 hours

Update

I've been really focusing on costumes for this last week. The filming situation has changed a bit, I will still be filming in the location that I want but it will be either this weekend or next, waiting for the final say. So, the costumes for that shoot have to be ready by the weekend just in case.

The skirt for Concertina is done as soon as I finish a few more hems, it was a pile of strips last week, now it's a full skirt.

The shoes have been modified to match. I did this on my own machine because the shoe materials were quite heavy and I needed to be sure that the stitches would be even despite the highly resistant material (several layers of suede).

I have the base items for my other garments now too, they just need to be modified.

Monica Ross - Update 2/5

I am still scanning and editing my papers from this week, so nothing to show yet outside of this small bit.
Sherri is going to be voice acting for one of my leads. Still waiting to hear from Jan, we'll see.

I was in the studio from 8:30am - 4:00 pm on Tuesday and Thursday this week. As well as Monday from 11pm - 6am, and for a couple of hours this weekend after work. All together = 24 hours this week in the studio.

Next Sunday I'll post everything I scan tonight and tomorrow after I condense it all into video.

Progress Update

Clothes for concertina:

The wig for concertina has finally arrived

The skirt is completely patterned and the panels are partially cut out, I need to go buy more of the purple fabric and an "invisible zipper".

The shawl is nearly completely constructed as well, here it is in progress at my sewing machine

Hours

Monday 4 hours

Tuesday 3 hours

Wednesday 6 hours

Friday 5 hours

Sunday 6 hours

3 Week Update - Monica Ross

So. I was sick the first week, and worked mostly from home. 2 all-nighters. 13 hours each = 26 hours put into the first week.

Last week I came into the studio on Tuesday from 10:30 am - 4:00 pm, then 6:30 pm to 10 pm. Thursday from 9:00 am - 4:30 pm. Equals 16 hours for that week.

This week, I went into the studio from 9 am to 4:30 pm on Tuesday. From 8 pm - 7 am Wednesday (I'll be here until I go to work). Worked a bit at home on some frames. Slow working this week so far just because I trashed a scene that was really weak. 18.5 hours in studio this week so far.

Progress is alright with my project. The scenes are coming out just fine. I wish that I had time to go and do more solidified linework. Also, at this rate, I don't know how scanning/editing/coloring is going to fit into my schedule. As well as writing a script and recording actors...
I'm starting to consider making this more of a trailer than the whole piece? Or making it a silent-no-dialog animation short(er)? I think reality of time and effort is setting in, and I am reluctantly realizing that something has to give if I want this to be a certain level of quality. If I make this a smaller project, I'll also have time to experiment and edit as I go... making this more the process I was hoping for.

A minute of animation is drawn out in scattered scenes. Scanning and editing is proving to be the most time consuming part of this process, which is why I want to get my lines right before I go through and take the time to scan all 500 ish frames. :c

Elyse Shapiro Studio Update for Jan 16-22

Studio Progress Update for Week of January 16th to January 22nd

Finished "Row of Occupancy" color for inner layer of lighting fixture 1. Design is intended to be placed behind and shine through original layer. When combined, the imagery looks as follows:

Up close of two layers "Row of Occupancy" and "Row of Abandonment" combined. The "Row of Occupancy" is intended to display the once- glamorous buildings in their holistic and ideal state. For example in the picture below, the building that is a victim of arson in the original design is back to its original infrastructure.

Below is an example of the "Row of Occupancy" without the "Row of Abandonment" on top of it. This shows the attention to detail I executed while creating the design on illustrator.

In-studio hours, week 3:

Monday- Printing test print for outer layer 1 of lamp. Printed first with dye, washed out, and then reprinted with textile paint. Need to continue running tests to find the most aesthetically pleasing design (4 hours)

Tuesday- Work on inner layer design for lighting fixture 1. Entitled "Row of Occupancy" is colored illustrator file to lay beneath the "Row of Abandonment" design printed fabric (6 hours)

Wednesday- Continue to work on "Row of Occupancy" (3 hours)

Thursday- Continue to work on "Row of Occupancy" and research lazy susan modem, in addition, met with Professor Rodemer to ask for tips (he has worked with kinetic art on countless occasions) (5 hours)

Friday- Finish "Row of Occupancy" design (3 hours)

Total: 21 hours

Update

This week I have been editing "Eggshells" and working on production needs for "Concertina".

All of the minor cast for Concertina has been officially cast, the editing for "eggshells has been largely smoothing out finer details that really need to be addressed and are quite time consuming as a whole (glare from fabric folds, unusual lighting, etc).

Purchases for "Concertina":

fabric for the skirt (faux batik)

base shoes to modify (will be detailed with the skirt fabric)

accessory for headband

Hours:

Monday 4 hours editing

Tuesday 2 hours shopping

1 hour casting

Wednesday 2 hours editing

Friday 3 hours editing

Sunday 4 hours editing

Studio Update Jan 8-15

Elyse Shapiro- Studio Update Week of January 8-15

This week in studio, I spent the majority of my time printing the outer layer of lighting fixture 1, also known as the “row of abandonment.” After putting so much work into the stencil and illustrator files, I have put the image onto two photoscreens and printed them with dye on white material. This was less successful than I would have liked due to the fact that some details are lost printing on material with threads so far from one another. To combat this problem I am going to attempt to print the same design with textile acrylic paints which do not absorb into, but sit on top of that material.

Another project/ piece I worked on this week in studio were the preview prints of the doily pattern that I have created (pictures above). I have tested the prints of this on a few different fabric types and colors. By contrasting the pattern on some and blending some on the others, I was able to see a good difference in thread count and color palate. I plan on printing the “row of abandonment” on the opposing side.

The new thing that I am creating is the inner lay

er of my first lighting fixture to stand behind the row of abandonment. This inner layer will be created on illustrator and from unique colors from Detroit. The second row has been entitled “row of occupancy” and resembles the homes in their once holistic state. The former glory of these buildings will only be seen when the light within the fixture is turned on.

In-studio hours, week 2:

Tuesday- In fibers studio, creating photo screens for screen printing and creating stencil for repeat in test doily print, 8:30-2:00 (4 ½ Hours)

Wednesday- Printing outer layer 1 with black on white material with dye, 4 PM- 8 PM (4 Hours). Work on layer 2 of lighting fixture on illustrator, 9 PM- 2 AM (4 Hours)

Thursday- All day in fibers studio printing large doily prints for experimental outer layer, 10 AM- 8 PM (10 Hours)

Total: 22 ½ hours