AmeliaHall

Monday, December 8, 2025

Fluxus Box

Would you like one?
Cardboard, brown craft paper, modge podge, origami paper, air dry clay, felt, acrylic paint, tissue paper, dirt, string
12inches tall, 14inch circumference

With this sculpture I aimed to convey themes of communication in its best form, story telling. The spiral shape of the box allows the viewer to go through the levels of the story and conversational elements. We begin with the fortune cookies which are notably a good conversation starter. As you continue through the box you encounter a star headed figure, a group of tea bags — to continue the story over — a bag of stars, and a final container holding a small fish skeleton representing finished snacks and a concluded story. An offering of tea or a cookie not only shows respect and friendship but also starts an on going conversation between two people that I find fascinating. Emulated through themes of Japanese culture, this box has a theme of stars which are found in a star festival called Tanabata. This festival celebrates Orihime, the Weaver Girl and Hikoboshi, the Cowherd, lovers who were separated by the milky way.

Fluxus Box Research

Article: What is Fluxus?
https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-fluxus-movement-art-museums-galleries

Fluxkit, 1964/65. Fluxus edition, assembled by George Maciunas
https://foundations3ddesign.blogspot.com/search/label/Fluxus%20Box%20Artists

Movie inspiration: Kubo and the Two Strings and Isle of the Dogs.

I wanted to take from the color scheme and textural elements of these movies. both movies are stop motion animation with elements of clay and paper which i chose to be prevalent in my box. As well as this I also took inspiration from the Japanese folklore and story telling of each.

Speaker Events

Mai Ueda tea ceremony

Professor Holios talk

Sunday, December 7, 2025

Secret Lives of Color

Color: puce
The Flea Queen
cardboard, wire, tissue paper, brown craft paper, hot glue, yarn, acrylic paint

The color puce arose out of early 18th century France where Marie Antoinette wore her famously dark red purple colors dress. Puce refers to the under belly of a flea, harboring the same color as the queen's dress. It later became a fashion statement and then a way to shame Antoinette. I chose to make her gown, representing some of the fashion themes form 1700s France. The small round dots places on her arms, hair, neck, and under her dress represent the fleas the color came from. She is covered in these seemingly foul bugs as Marie Antoinette was disliked by the public for the majority of her royal position.

Color: Absinthe
A Worrisome Wobble
acrylic paint on cardboard, wire

Absinthe was originally a strongly alcoholic drink coming out of the late 18th century by a French doctor. Many strange tales were founded around the beverage but its most common symptom was disorientation and hallucinations, which i chose to represent through a green monochrome street with a lot of movement to emulate the uncertainty and disorientation this drink gives it's taster.

Experimental Sculpture

Bloom, Sun, Rain

Rain
wood, balsa wood, yarn, string, hot glue, acrylic paint

Sun
wood, wire, watercolor paper, tissue paper, modge podge, paint

Bloom
wood, tree branch, wire, tissue paper, modge podge, paint

Throughout these works i wanted to focus on lines that lead the viewers eye so I used materials like tall thin wooden sticks, wire, and paper to create negative space, movement, and leading lines to focal points. I also want the viewer to see the shadow of these pieces and the lines/ negative space those create as a part of the art as well. There were many times throughout the process where a piece wasn't supported or standing the way i wanted it to, in order to combat this i used wire which is able to bend into the shapes i want as well as support small structures like the red ball in the center of Sun. I want to keep exploring with abstract themes, there is something methodic about looking for materials that inspire you first and then building a more solid idea and further, piece of art out of them.