Understanding by experimenting

Creative experiments with tools, materials and meaning

3D scanning in the dark

Lisa is holding an iPad with 3d scanner in a dark room, a low glow on her face, on the wall is a projection of a human back and arms

My experimentation with infrared scanners in the dark with human subjects has opened a whole other experiential aspect of creating art.

LiDAR technology requires even lighting to best capture volume, by capturing in the dark I have leveled the lighting - by removing it.

We are in the dark together and your 3D scans are interactive creating space for interpretation and meaning making as we compose in 360.

Creating portraits with abstraction and anonymity that photography often does not offer, lowers the stakes to view our bodies as vessels, landscapes, and more.

3d scanning in the act of remembering

Screen capture of a 3d model depicting a woman with shaved head wearing a scarf kneeling and crushing herbs

In this experiment I invite you to hold an object connected to the memory of a loved one as you are 3d scanned.

Together we compose a piece of art that captures the sensory experience and meaning of that memory for you.

Self illuminating portraits

Inspired by the challenge of illuminating a portrait without having to plug it in, change batteries, or charge with a cable…I copied a technique I have observed other visual artists use to illuminate the back of a printed portrait.

Sculpting in impossible materials

Sculpture of a woman's chest made of pink salt and coral lit from within and tiny ocean peals on the surface

My experiments with generative artificial intelligence involve exploring what materials are meaningful and collecting photographs and stories of those materials. Could be a favorite stone, fabric, metal, coral.

Maintaining my starting point of 3d scanning a human body this experimentation with materials frees up our imaginations to render sculpture that impossible, beyond budget or beyond my current skill set, while staying true to the volume and shape of the body captured.

Inter-generational game play with quilts

I’m experimenting with treasured hand made quilts as inter-generational puzzles that can be played together.

How can a puzzle of a familiar family quilt bring people together to notice color and texture and to just have fun?

How can computer vision and human collaboration trace a quilt’s seams and patterns to reveal and perhaps pass along the quilt makers process?

3d printing in jewlery metals

Liquid silver metal sculpture of a woman laying down. Sculpture is on a mirror the reflection completing the form

Experiments with 3d printing sculpture in metals usually reserved for medical or mechanical applications, such as stainless steel, comes from my desire to go beyond the default plastic filament printers into fine art and jewelry quality sculpture.

Here is an example of a nickel plated stainless steel sculpture which has both reflective and conductive qualities.

Dying liquid resin

Close up of 3d resin printer with UV light harding a layer in the vat

Experimenting with custom dyes in liquid resin required I use my own 3d printers. Using custom dye goes against the manufacture warrantee and a commercial 3d printer is not going to allow it, they won’t/can’t take a risk around the unknown.

This experiment led to a layering quality of different hues that brought out the glass art illusion I was aiming for.