See Plastic
For this project, all seven of my models are about understanding plastic and habitat along an urban waterfront. These models take the form of functional objects and structures for people to be near the water and for pollinators to find a home in an urban environment, small objects that facilitate inquiry into the presence of plastic, and a bird kite (modeled after a killdeer) made from a black plastic bag, which exhibits the close ties between bodies, plastic, and the flows of air and water.
MODEL 1 / Plastic Inquiry 01: CORE
The first model I created was two small parts that are separate, but can fit together to make a cylindrical mold. This was inspired by a part of a project I am working on that includes citizen science practice around soil sampling and testing. I really wanted to use this mold to make my own speculative soil cores of what might be found on site.
When I 3D printed this model, I knew it potentially would not work because I had not figured out a way to keep the two parts together. I also do not own any clamps, so this was not an option. Unfortunately, it turned out that I could not get a good enough seal on the printed parts with tape and rubber bands alone, so when I poured in the bioplastic liquid that I was planning to use to bind all of the ingredients in the core together (soil, polystyrene foam, and wood clippings), it leaked out the sides.
The modeling process for the soil core included a boolean of cylinder and rectangle solids, filleting edges, and developing text to boolean into the side of the mold. All parts of the process were relatively new to me. I spent a lot of time figuring out what I could fillet and what would look good. I spent most of my time figuring out how to fit the text along the object I created. To do this, I found a couple tutorials that helped me create a flat curve from the object I wanted my text projected onto, and then once I set the text on that flat surface, I ultimately use the command: flow along surface to achieve the fit I want. There were some frustrations around picking just the right settings to make the command run, but when it did, it was quite smooth!
I am really happy with how this model turned out, especially because it set up me up for another model in the plastic inquiry collection: the quadrat.
Process work
MODEL 2 / Plastic Inquiry 02: QUADRAT
This model follows the theme of the first, I wanted to make a model of a simple quadrat that could be used by citizen scientists to observe plastic floating in the water. A quadrat is a tool used for ecological research that is laid out on a surface and everything within it is identified and quantified. This quadrat is a 12x12 in square made of 1/2" PVC pipe. the model is measured to real dimensions of PVC tubing. I picked this simple material because I wanted to test and show something that is cheap and simple to construct and that anyone could make. I also included a burlap label, where I used similar techniques to the first model to place and make the word cutouts. If this idea was put into reality, I would imagine that the burlap label would also include a QR code for data from the quadrat to be collected and stored. I also would envision this quadrat to have a GPS tracker attached (maybe a little more high-tech than the at-home scientist I originally aimed to engage with this model). The tool I relied on the most for this model was the rail sweep command.
Quadrat process work
MODEL 3 / Garbage Bag Bird
My goal with this model was to create a kite that looked like a killdeer bird and was made of a material that looked like a garbage bag. This drives home the idea of entanglement among all things on earth that is a part of my realm of study and work. This model is deceptively simple looking. It was tricky and also really fun AND the most inventive model I got to make. The frame for the kite, as well as the ribbons and the string, are all constructed using rail sweeps. The bird itself was an original design, which I then lifted and undulated using the patch command. While it is difficult to show here, the purposed of making the bird’s flat body undulate was to show how it might catch the wind when it is up in the air. The patch command was the third of a few other commands I tried to get the effect I was after. The first commands I tried included the cage edit command as well as creating a planar surface and rebuilding with more control points. Both of these first commands I tried not only made the undulation look unnatural and not billowy, but they also lifted the edges of the model, which I wanted to keep intact.
Garbage Bag Bird Process Work
MODEL 4: Pollinator Box
The idea for a pollinator box came out of a discussion with my partner, who does work studying and identifying bees. Many bees nest in dead plant stems, which are less abundant in urban areas. Because of this, there is a need for similar forms in cities that bees can make their homes in. While pollinator boxes or “bee hotels” are now much better understood and gaining popularity, not all of them are functional. Bee boxes have particular requirements for height off the ground, hole size, how it is attached to the ground (i.e. not swinging) and ease of cleaning. Many boxes we see or buy at the store are lacking one or more of these qualities. This model presents a low-tech and effective way to both provide pollinator habitat and test different hole sizes and configurations. I present two here, but they could be stacked infinitely (and have cutouts in the top and bottom for a snug hold together). These boxes are staked into the ground through a hole in one corner and have removable acrylic backs that allow for easy cleaning through the holes at the end of the year.
To make the pollinator boxes, I relied primarily on simple solid shapes and the boolean union function. I also used the planar surface and cap tools. It took some time to figure out how the post and the acrylic would fit into the design, but I think if this were made real right now, it would work well! The boxes are the correct dimensions (6 x 6 in) and have holes that span the maximum and minimum range needed. They also can be staked in adjacent to the ground because the goal is to match the height of real dead plant stems, which vary.
Process work
MODEL 5: Floating Dock + Kayak Launch
The last three models of this series are less about plastic than the structures I propose on which they can be studied. The first of these is a floating dock in an inlet. This dock is what I anticipate the quadrats (model 2) will be tossed off of for people to explore how plastic floats. to make this model, I used many tools, including the loft command, boolean union, and making a planar surface. Not only did I have to make the objects to come together in the model (the in the subsequent two), but I had to find ways for them to be configured in space for effective human experience of place and material consistency.
Overall, I am pleased with how it turned out. That said, I turned the sun on a bit too bright in the render, the center of the docks (supposed to be a metal grate) does not read well at a distance, and I forgot to add lines between the poles on the docks to complete the fence that will go around it, so that may look confusing if you do not already know why it is there. Also, in this models and others, it is difficult to make topography read well if it is not rendered, which I failed to make in this model. I wished I had developed a ground plane behind the boardwalk in the image. Also, the big gray patch is meant to illustrate a small change in grade (ADA compliant) for a kayak launch into the water.
Process work
MODEL 6: Fishing Pier and Fish Cleaning Table
This model is of a fishing pier and fish cleaning table not far from the floating docks. The experience of plastic here is to provide a place for fishermxn to work with scientists to dissect fish guts and look for microplastics. Fishing is not common in this neighborhood because of the lack of opportunities to do so. Creating a piece of infrastructure such as this supports both hobbies, sustenance, and a citizen science-based research agenda. I used similar tools to the ones I did for the floating dock. I incorporated glass material into this model to make a structure for all the found plastic to be deposited into and displayed. I also tried to make topography first with the patch method and then with a series of lofts. If I were to add in entourage, such as images of people and trees, I would not be worried about the seams and openings, but here, I think it looks messy. It was difficult trying to develop contours that were imaginative and also fit within the constraints of the design intent.
Process work
MODEL 7: Soil Sampling Deck
This final model is a deck that will be the home base for wetland soil sampling. It includes a deck, lab tables, a stepped bench, and a heavy glass repository for plastic pieces found in soil. Like the previous two models, the materials are consistent (weather/Cor-ten steel, light wood, and stainless steel countertops). This was my first of the three large-scale models and I like how it turned out. I put a lot of detail work into the wood slats that make up the deck, which I made using extrusions and the trim command. I also used the array tool to make both the deck and the weathering steel accents on the benches. A goal with this model was the create topography that led people down toward the deck. I used a few different methods and settled on the patch tool. I am still getting used to controlling how and where the topography goes, but I think it’s effective when it’s shaded. The line work alone does not convey topography well.
Process work
