I’ve been inspired by all native tribes from around the world but growing up here in New Mexico I have a more intimate relationship with people from the New Mexico and surrounding areas. Maybe more impressive are the vintage designs and crafts acquired by the museums around New Mexico. I recently visited and installed a project at the Gutierrez Hubbell House in the south valley here in Albuqerque. This is an old home and trading post made entirely of adobe brick, something I’m interested in and reasearching presently for Architecture. A black and white picture caught my eye as it had baskets hanging up for trade back in the late 1800’s. This gave me the idea of making my own basket with my own design and making it out of clay with the 3D printer. I’ll be incorporating a “Crane” theme as part of the design as I’m also incorporating this same theme into an architectural design for my final project in Architecture Studio class.
Deliverables: I will be making a max of 3 baskets as a set with a crane theme. Each basket will differ slightly showcasing different designs of a specific weave and/or design within the weave. All baskets will be made by a 3D clay printer but perhaps with slightly different clay types if capable.
Timeline: Begining today, Nov 3rd 2023 – Nov 10th, will begin the design process including some research into what weaves are available, the size and shapes of the baskets, and the design of the cranes within the weave. This will include drawings or simple design sketches to have the design start becoming a reality.
Starting Nov 10-17th, keep designing the baskets and pick out the final designs to use. Start the computational process and get familiar with the 3D clay machines and the clay being used and some tests if ready.
Nov 17-24 begin the final phase, finalize all designs and start the coding process for the final produce. Make tests as long as time permits within the thanksgiving week.
Nov 24th till presentation day on Dec 12th, refine and get any details worked out. These last couple weeks will give me time to generate many tests and iterations if necessary to get to the final result. I believe I’ll need this time as 3D printing can have some hiccups along the way of which I should have plenty of time to iron those issues out. Also the clay will need time to be fired as part of the final process.
The inspiration behind this project is the age, wisdom and craft of the vintage rugs and baskets before these works became art collections of the world. Mary Long is one of these great weavers with work showcaseing her sandpainting weaves or rugs. I will also include a website to a gallery the hold and trades vintage and modern works from tribes around the U.S. as most of the artists are unknown due to the age. Malouf on the Plaza in Santa Fe, New Mexico has extensive work dating back 2-3 hundred years from the Navaho Nation along with tribes from Mexico and surrounding areas within the U.S. The link included takes you to their website showcasing some of these vintage rugs and there designs.