Specifications and Constraints

The goal of my project is to produce an artifact inspired by yard art and the jagged, rusted aesthetic like the “Diesel Punk” like what can be found in the Mad Max movies. Counterintuitively, I plan to cast this aesthetic onto a sort of jagged tree which will serve as a bird feeder and bird bath, slowly rotating in my yard, partly just to see if nature will come to enjoy a juxtaposing, eye-catching, rough aesthetic over time.

5 Project Specifications:

Aesthetic Specifications:

1. The preparation of all exposed metal on my final artifact shall be prepared for a natural progression of rust accumulation. This means that I will not accelerate the process, but I will also remove any existing treatment or finishes across exposed surfaces of the final piece. This will gradually produce a uniform and natural rust aesthetic. This may feature different progressions among different steel alloys, but I view this as natural.
2. The artifact must demonstrate straight lines and bent angles. Metalwork will include bends for structural purposes, but the aesthetic will avoid sinuous lines in an effort to elicit a natural response of interest or impression of contrast.

Functional Specifications:

1. A wind resistance shall be inherent in the design of the final artifact such that the installation will withstand 100-year winds of the local area in Shasta County, California. Longevity is central to the theme of the project, as is the utility of “yard art,” so the design must be mobile yet robust against year-round conditions.
2. The artifact shall perform unpowered uniaxial rotation, providing an interactive feature to the viewer while not requiring power supply or maintenance.
3. Each extremity of the structure shall support an idle weight of 7 pounds for the purpose of housing features interactive to nature. This will facilitate food and water vessels, perching, or climbing. Yes, this is squirrel-friendly yard art!

5 Project Constraints:

1. The primary project constraint is time. While working a typical 10-hour day with an hour of commute time, plus attending to two classes, time is very limited. As a result, this project must be balanced between design and execution as far as time commitment. I am at a project that is well-planned, but free form in fabrication. This way, I can shoot for a specific goal while using metalworking skills to get me there as I go.
2. A close second constraint is resources. Attending CU Boulder in person affords many resources, but as a remote student having recently moved to a rural area, I lack fabrication resources from the University as well as connections with friends and family. My key resources include one good friend’s metal supply, my own small garage, and a maintenance shop where I work that I may use on occasion (while clearly labeling my work is not to be repurposed or cut down).
3. One skill resource I have found more difficult to overcome than anticipated is making proper use of the welding equipment at hand. While I am experienced at MIG and TIG welding, I can only use stick welding which is a new skill to me. The result was a lot of practice welding before commitment to the actual artifact.
4. Money and materials are a constraint that have pushed my resourcefulness in an interesting way. Between good deals at scrapyards and surprising pieces of material from my workplace, I find myself with a peculiar supply that is more constraint than inspiration (as of yet).
5. The last constraint I have felt more heavily than expected: inspiration and ideas. I began with a fabrication concept as opposed to an aesthetic concept and have therefore wavered in the direction this project pursues. I struggle to operate with free form, but it is just the right challenge for me in this course.

Sources:

Potos: Myself, March 2025

Alexander., K. M. “Mad Max: Fury Road and the Art of Worldbuilding.” K. M. Alexander, 12 Jan. 2016, kmalexander.com/2015/06/24/mad-max-fury-road-and-the-art-of-worldbuilding/.