Grad Show Setup

Assess Wk2 - Assessment Setup

Assess Wk1 - Another 13.5 hours on the Plinths...

I went to Bunnings and got some more braces for the front of the plinths, also some strips to cover the exposed particle board and the screw holes on the top.

After 13.5 hours... a total of 28.5 hours here are my plinths:

Completed plinths in approx. arrangement for assessment.

Assess Wk1 - 15 hours = blisters, swelling, bruising.

Basic plinth structure.

I've successfully built my plinths.  I think they still need one more brace on the front so I'll go to Bunnings again this morning to get those extra bits.

Bruised, swollen and callused.

I was working on them from 1:30pm - 4:30am.  My right hand is very swolen, I have a couple blisters on that hand and it's really bruised.  I likely need medical attention for it.

Worst part of the process, other than the hand... realising after puting together frame 5 that the last four had been constructed with the left and right side panels on the wrong side... thus requiring deconstruction... Melamine particle board chips very easily when being unscrewed.  They don't look near as neat as they did.  :(  Oh well.

Assess Wk1 - New picture of both my Mandelboxes

Left: White, Strong and Flexible. Right: Sandstone.

Assess Wk1 - 'Silhouette' on YouTube

So, I've finally got an edit I'm reasonably happy with...  I think this is it...

Break Wk3 - 5 Year Career Plan

That was an interesting experience.  I've written my 5 year plan.  It clarified that I still really don't know what I want.  I'm sure that will eventually crystalise.

Break Wk3 - I'm going mental! The Birds! The Birds!

Just a quick note to highlight that my schedule at the moment is mental and as a result, I'm going mental.  I'm finally back to the bird transition.  It's nice working in Nuke.  But with 32 frames, all offset and mirrored to produced different shapes and with 52 feathers... this final sequence it doing my head in.  Argh!

Break Wk3 - 6 minute length

A quick note that I asked Alistair and Lucien today about the 6 minute length... I was concerned that it was to long for ARC.

They both advised that it wasn't too long and they agreed that the 2min 30second lead-up/tension was good.

Break Wk3 - Met Alistair re new version of Sound.

The new version of my sound is ready for Alistair's opinion.

I've normalised the base sounds, re-recorded the spacial movement and in the end had to replace what I call the 'clash' sounds... I ended up using my voice. :)  I'm pretty happy with the result, though I do feel that it's still missing something.

...

Thus, I met with Alistair today.  He said he liked it but if I had more time, he had a few changes worth looking into:

1. a) high harmonics, b) Evolve  , c) should be consistent throughout, not off and on.

2. Active sound - change over time, show progression.

3. Add some panning, nothing too drastic

4. 3D Sound

I can't do anything about these suggestions yet...  Will definitely do it later though.

Break Wk3 - Catalog DVD Render uploaded to Vimeo

In preparation for the Catalog DVD, I've finished my latest render and uploaded it to Vimeo.

Break Wk3 - Recolour/Reformat/Tweak Multi-screen Render

Worked out the kinks with my single-screen render and adjusted the colouring to make the distance parts pop a bit better.  I attached the sound and now it's ready for uploading and getting the opinion from others.

Break Wk3 - Grad Show AV Requirements

Chris has asked for our requirements from an AV requirement perspective.  My e-mail:

I'd require the 5 iMacs on plinths (still organising plinths... I hope), with associated power... minimum 1 keyboard and mouse for setup...  iMacs will communicate with each other via a wireless connection with each other.  An additional plinth will sit nearby to display my two objects.  I'd prefer to have sound coming from the installation but if headphones are needed then that's fine... Otherwise, I'd like to connect my 2.1 speaker setup, thus meaning 6 power points.

From a location perspective, if it out in the open, I'd like it to be in a corner, not facing a light source (ie, window) so that I avoid glare.

If you require more info or to discuss further, please advise.

The response:

We are going to to have to be creative, as I don't think we have 5 iMacs. I understand we have 13 for the entire show! Can you outline a possible alternative?

We will get your work installed and looking impressive, somehow.

The logistics of moving from 5 to 3 seems impossible in my head.  Apparently I need a backup though... I don't know.

Chris said to have a look at the spot he thinks will work for me... I've taken a photo of it:

Wk13 - Online Profiles/Identities

I've tidied up and updated my various online profiles... Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Google, etc. Not finished yet but getting there.

Wk13 - Artist Statement

I submitted my 3 copies of my Artist Statement today.

My Artist Statement:

‘Tglad’s Formula” – Terence Craig

Tglad is the father of the ‘Mandelbox’, an exciting 3D formula-based object which eluded mathematicians and computer scientists for 30 years.

I create video that explores scale and texture.  I have been inspired by the Mandelbox.  This is also my first experience-based video installation and the first work I’ve produced which crosses from the computer into the physical world, in the form of an accompanying sculpture.

The Mandelbox is based on a 3D fractal formula.  In simple terms, a fractal is a recursive (self referencing) mathematical equation that produces shapes, built by parts that are similar with itself at an infinite scale.  Tom Lowe (Tglad) discovered this particular fractal formula in 2010.  The name Mandelbox is derived from the name of the man who developed the 2D formulas in 1979, Benoît Mandelbrot.

By changing the numbers that the formula needs, you can produce your own forms.  The aim for my work entitled, ‘Tglad’s Formula”, was to investigate this area of fractal geometry and find a form that is both visually interesting to experience as a fly-thru and is also capable of being realised in physical form using 3D printing.  Unfortunately, these two concepts are mutually exclusive.  The more interesting Mandelbox forms are far from solid, yet to produce something physical using 3D printing techniques, it needs to be in one piece.

Due to its complex nature, theoretically, the Mandelbox cannot be realised in physical form.  Balancing and compromising on form and fly-through requirements has been difficult but rewarding.  The five screens produce an immersive experience and the physical objects reinforce the scale, complexity and beauty of such fractal-based forms.

---

Wk13 - Test 5 screen setup

JP helped me organise 5 screens to confirm whether a 5-screen installation will work.  Ty helped me with setup.

I set up a shared wireless network and had all 5 running from the same machine's network.  Worked a treat.  No lag on playback.

Very happy.

Wk13 - Met with Alistair re: Audio/LFO's

I've been working on sound for the Mandelbox for the last couple days.  The base sounds are only LFO's... It seems though that it is always too quiet despite what I do... I'm not sure what was going on.

I met with Alistair and he thinks that either the speaker thingy isn't centred or more likely that the base sounds needed to be normalised... something I forgot to do.

Wk13 - Working on the multi-screen render

I came up with a better version of the calculations for the single screen render.  Been working on it for a couple days now.

Calculations for single screen version.

Because the fractal appears differently depending on the angle you view it, stitching the five angles together is proving difficult.  I've done relatively well with it though.

Node Graph for my single-screen render.

The merge continually changes but because it is projected onto the back of a sphere, the resize isn't noticeable.

The stitched together version of the 5 screens.

Stitched screens projected onto a sphere.

Wk13 - Honours Proposal Prepared & Submitted

Finished the honours proposal and showed it to Martyn.  He happily signed it.  :)

Wk13 - Decision time - Flower + Bird = Flird.

Looking back, I've enjoyed playing and experimenting with various cameras and perspectives but there comes a time when you much decide what you're going to submit... thus after the whole fishbowl incident, I've decided to go with the footage I already have of the flower since it's interesting and with limited success, I'm going to attach the birds to it... Cross fingers.