Electromagnetic Siliceous Formations

The newest iteration of E.S.F. The pieces are colored with black copper oxide, transitioning from dark blue to white with various copper wire inclusions and set in a custom display case. All formations were created using a microwave.

Thermal Breath

Takwin is a concept of medieval Islamic alchemy referring to the metaphysical and material process of generating vegetable, animal/human, or mineral life. The later work of Paracelsus expressed the idea that metals and minerals are living substances grown within the earth that experience growth and death. This is a quick test animation of obsidian inflating/deflating inside of a cage, its movement reminiscent of lungs. I'm thinking about a more compelling video shot through a window in the kiln, alluding to the ideas of artificial life (homunculus), mineral life (prima materia), and the essential element of heat in alchemical processes.

Electromagnetic Siliceous Formations

Recent experiments Ive been doing with various types of glass in a microwave. These tests began as an investigation into the possible physical byproducts produced by ball lightning, a phenomenon where witnesses describe spontaneously appearing mobile orbs of electric light. Some reports claim serious damage induced by ball lighting, from breaking through windows and doors to violent explosions. One attempt at explaining this phenomenon involves a self contained electric field close to the region of microwaves.

Cyanoacrylate Cultures

Some recent experiments made by adding super glue to water/ water to super glue with various additives. Thinking about the difference between growth and life...synthesized organisms...

Conducting Chaos, screen shots

Screen shots from "Conducting Chaos," shot last week with the help of Ben Hirt. Editing in progress...

Conducting Chaos, shot with polarized light

In looking into the mechanics of LCDs, I discovered an exciting parallel to what I was doing by shooting this video in polarized light. My hope for this video is to allude to the torch breaking the glass from behind the screen, or "inside" an lcd monitor (which it will be displayed on). By having the glass literally between two sheets of polarized film as I heat it, I am figuratively placing myself inside the layout of the LCD, where the tempered glass stands in for the liquid crystal, and the torch for the voltage.

New work in progress, "Conducting Chaos." In this work I am applying a torch directly to 12” x 8” sheets of tempered glass. The way in which the heat is applied greatly influences the break pattern of the glass; however, there remains an equal amount of unpredictability and randomness. I am interested in this balance between the human hand influencing the material, and the ultimate reactions made by the material itself. I hope to show how something more tangible can emerge from a molecular system that is largely disorganized.