Duck Tape Form

This object was created using trips of rolled up duck tape. I want to create this using band-aids, and then have it worn as a broach. Other forms might be created using this method, the cones are held together by the sticky texture of the tape, band-aids also have a texture similar to this. This sticky adhesive could potentially being the connection mechanism, connecting the object to the body.

Fingerprint Portraits

DNA 11 is a design company that creates unique portraits, using fingerprints and DNA samples. No two people have the same fingerprint or DNA patterns, everyone’s portrait will be different.

To get one of your own fingerprint portraits you receive a print making kit that allows you to take your own fingerprint until you are satisfied, then you pick out the color of the ink and frame and send your print back to DNA 11. That’s all there is to it! Great idea, simple and cool.

I liked the images in their gallery where they had the portraits hanging over the beds, kind of like a new twist to his and her towels.

Fingerprint Neckpeice

These are waxes generated using a mold of my fingers and parts of my hand. I used alginate a mold making material typically used in dentistry. I used this mold making material because of its ability to capture detail. I wanted a clear representation of my fingerprints and the creases in my skin. These waxes will eventually be cast in to silver and bronze forms, then applied to the skin with a sticky adhesive.

Grant Proposal

This is my first Grant, any comments and suggestions would be useful:)



Tangible Therapeutic

Research Grant Proposal in fulfillment of Departmental Honors

Johanna Haydon


Introduction
In fulfillments for graduation with departmental honors I will create a cohesive body of work centered on the idea of comfort, relief and overall personal well-being. These objects will directly relate to these over arching themes and threw the objects themselves will aim to heal the wearer from whatever is burdening their mind and/or body. Whether it is worn for emotional, spiritual or physical reasons, I want my pieces to connect with the wearer on a level that will allow them to feel relief. Overall health is only achieved when a person's mind and body are sound.
I will use a variety of media and alternative materials that relate to the idea of health and well-being. As an interdisciplinary Crafts major I will incorporate what I have learned from my various classes to develop each jewelry piece thoroughly. Within several of the pieces I will be useing alternative materials that are used in medicinal practices such as Aloe Vera leaves. These alternative materials will be combined with traditional materials typically associated with body adornment, such as precious metals, thus blurring the lines of what jewelry is and can be. “Such materials are interesting for their own particular qualities, for the combinations in which they are used and for the degree of wit and skill employed in transforming the way we see such ordinary objects.”(Anderson)
Over the course of a year, I will be creating 8-10 pieces of art jewelry. Upon completion of these objects I will be required to organize and install my own show at an off campus location. Successful completion of the honors thesis project will ensure my graduation with departmental honors. Having a significant cohesive body of work to add to my portfolio will be a huge asset, if I decide to further my education at a graduate program. Along with educational benefits of a strong portfolio, this presentation of work will be a positive feature to my resume when applying for jobs with in the field.

Methods
I will be employing a wide variety of methods with in this body of work to achieve the varied outcomes associated with each individual piece. The construction of these pieces will require skills I have learned in my broad felid of study at Towson as an Interdisciplinary crafts major. I will draw on learned skills such as metal work, casting, mold making, enameling, alternative material study, printmaking, and stained glass. Along with these tangible skills I also have obtained knowledge with in the electronic field, I will uses programs such as Rhino 3D rendering, photo shop and illustrator, to
better express my ideas digitally. These processes will allow me to explore all the options and possibilities, behind the execution of this project. Because my pieces will be jewelry objects, and my primary field of study being with in metal work, they will all contain some type of metal, weather it is silver, copper, steel or gold. An example of this would be creating a metal infrastructure that alternative health objects could then be added too.
I will draw from my knowledge of metal working in combination with invaluable literary resources to create these objects. I will constantly be employing the knowledge found with in the Tim McCreight books, Complete Metalsmith (1994) and Practical Casting: a Studio Reference (2004), when creating cast fingerprints, to visually describe the relationship between comfort and the touch of another.
It is important to mention that the driving source behind the creating of these objects will be capturing the sense of well-being, all the materials used and design decisions will be made to reinforce this main idea. With this grant I will be able to fully express the need to fulfill and comfort, by creating these objects with materials that represent there underlying meaning.

Budget
Material Quantity Price Source

Oomoo Silicon Mold Making Kit 30Pints 1 Mold Making $28.00 Plaza Artist Material, York Road Towson, 9/18/08
Gold Leaf 1 Pack of 25 Sheets $34.00 www.lagoldleaf.com, 9/18/08
Silver Sheet 22gauge 1 6x4inch sheet $84.08 www.jatayu.com, 9/22/08
Silver Casting Grain 8oz. $176.00 www.armstrongtool.com, 9/18/08
Silver Wire 18gauge 10foot Coil $21.71 www.jatayu.com, 9/22/08
Bronze Casting Grain lb $20.00 www.armstrongtool.com, 9/18/08
Copper Sheet 22gauge 3 12x12inch sheets $42.00 www.armstrongtool.com, 9/18/08
Prizma Color Pencil set 1 48 pack $34.00 www.utrechtart.com, 9/18/08
Vellum Pad 1 50 sheet pad $15.00 Micheals Arts and Crafts, 9/18/08
Total: $454.00


Project Timeline
The Honors Thesis project is a 7 credit, two semester course. That will end in an exhibition of my work at an off campus lactation and a final 10-12 page thesis paper. I will be required to meet with my faculty mentor as well as an off campus committee member through out this project. I will make steady work progress throughout this time period, aiming to have the majority of my pieces completed in the fall semester, leaving final pieces and show organization for the spring semester. Below is a tentative timeline of this procedure.

Date Description
09/08/08 First day of honors thesis. Rough draft Honors Thesis Proposal due.
09/08/08-09/27/08 Steady design sketches and material exploration
09/27/08 Research Grant Proposal due to Office of University Research
09/29/08 Finial draft Honors Thesis Proposal due to Jan Baum, faculty mentor.
10/02/08 1st meeting with off campus committee member.
10/14/08 Mid-semester. 2 Pieces in finial stages.
10/15/08 Final Draft Honors Thesis Proposal due to Honors College
11/25/08 2nd meeting with off campus committee member. Majority of pieces in completion stage.
12/22/08 End of Fall semester. Majority of pieces complete.
01/3/09-03/25/08 Photograph work, organize show, work on finial pieces and Honors Thesis paper.
04/15/09 Honors Thesis paper due to committee
04/25/09-05/05/09 Honors Thesis show.





Bibliography

Anderson, Patricia. Contemporary Jewellery in Australia and New Zealand. Sydney:Craftsman House, 1998

McCreight, Tim. Complete Metalsmith. Portland, Maine: Brynmorgen Press, 2004.

McCreight, Tim. Practical Casting, A Studio Reference. Cape Elizabeth, Maine: Brynmorgen Press, 1994.

Studio Space

My studio space at Towson. I work next to my awesome fellow seniors, who are constantly contributing to my creative development. Thanks guys!Pardon the mess:)
My section of the bulletin board with honors thesis sketchs.
Close up sketches of Aloe necklace.

Hilde De Decker

Jewelry made with plants? Jewelry made for plants to wear? Hilde De Decker places rings around growing plants, the rings shape the growth of the plants. The growth does not stop, the plant just grows around the metal band. No two plants will grow in the same way, even if she used the same metal harness on one type of plant every piece would be different.

Aloe Plant Necklace

One of the pieces I am in the process of creating is a neckpiece designed to house several pieces of live Aloe Vera plant. Aloe has been used in traditional medicine to aid in the healing and soothing of burns and abrasions. The gel, found with in the leaves of the plant, can be applied directly to the skin to obtain these benefits. The skin of the plant can be taken orally as a laxative. Today aloe can be found in medicines that help treat such conditions as diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, and osteoarthritis.

Aloe leaves are very elegant in shape with a rich color and intimate detail, tiny thorns and light green/yellow speckles. The shape of the plant will be echoed in sterling sliver hardware uniting the metal work and this natural material. I would like the piece to be aesthetically pleasing when worn on the body, but to also serve the purpose of healing. The aloe leaves will be able to be removed and used in the case of injury.

honros thesis proposal rough rough draft

Jewelry is worn for many different reason and often these reasons evolve and change. A piece that was bought purely for aesthetic reasons could grow to be a family heirloom. Its value then is enhanced by the loved ones who previously wore it.

For my honors thesis I will create objects of jewelry that are designed to help the wearer achieve over all wellness; to heal the wearer from whatever is burdening their mind and/or body. Whether it is worn for emotional, spiritual or physical reasons,I want my pieces to connect with the wearer on a level that will allow them to feel relief. Overall health is only achieved when a person's mind and body are sound.

When one is born into this world they are completely helpless. One relies solely on their parents for protection, nourishment and emotional care. All these things are provided for a new born baby, but what about when you're out on your own and you have left the safety net that your parents have provided. Once this natural transition has taken place one must focus on providing these things for themselves. I would like my jewelry to be part of this process of providing one with a feeling of comfort and well-being.

Within this body of work I will create jewelry objects out of alternative materials, relating to the theme of healing, comfort and overall wellness. I will use objects that are designed to help both physical and emotional needs. They will include objects used in different types of medical practices. I would like to use modern day main stream medicines that can be found at drug stores, and I will also combine them with the use of alternative medicines and other objects used for healing.

I would like some of these alternative materials to still be used for their original created purpose. I would like these objects to be worn for their aesthetic appeal along with the fact that in some way the wearer is benefited in the process of wearing the object. I want them to poses beauty while providing physical care.

Healing can be achieved in many different ways and can be felt by all the senses. Whether it's a familiar scent that reminds you of a warm cozy past memory, or the touch of another's skin upon your own. I would like this body of work to in some way stimulate the senses of the wearer in an effort to bring healing, comfort and a sense of well-being.