Dana Pomerantz's Blog

Egg Armor

danapomerantz — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 04:24:17 +0000

The Chair

danapomerantz — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 04:13:44 +0000

My chair, I can assure you, is very different from most chairs. I call it “The Criss Cross Chair”. This chair gets its name because of the “x” figure that it makes. There are two ways that this chair can be used. The first way it can be sat in looks more like a bench, because the seat part is shorter and the backrest is taller. When the chair is used this way, the person sitting in it will be sitting very upright, and it is less comfortable, with less of a seat to sit in. The second way it can be used is as a reclining chair that somewhat resembles an Adirondack lounge chair, or a beach chair. The person sitting in it this way will be more reclined, and will have much more of a seat to sit in. This is a very relaxed and carefree position, so that is why I think it could be used best at the beach. It is easy to switch between both sides of the chair, because you simply turn the chair so it is at the opposite angle it was before. I added armrests to the chair because anyone who is sitting at the beach would love some armrests. They add to the relaxed and laid back feel of the chair. Another great thing about the chair is that the armrests are present on both sides of the chair, so no matter which way you decide to use it, you will always have armrests.

Collaborative Paper Installation

danapomerantz — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 04:03:27 +0000

I enjoyed this project a lot because it was fun to collaborate my ideas with my partners. Together we came up with some really great ideas, and I believe that over all our project was a success. We worked with folded paper and black thread. Folding many small sheets of paper in the same unique system, we set up the folded objects on a big table and grouped them randomly. Using the black thread in a wave-like pattern throughout the installation created a strong contrast to the white, boxy figures on the table.

Individual Paper Modules

danapomerantz — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 03:57:30 +0000

For this assignment we were asked to create a number of paper sculptures out of index cards that we were given. With my index cards, I explored different textures and different ways of folding the paper, and which shapes came out of it. The challenge here was that these objects could not be representational, and they had to be sculptural, in other words very three dimensional. I enjoyed the way that a lot of my modules turned out because I discovered a fun new way to fold the cards that made a very interesting effect when I used these cards in collaboration with other modules.

Individual Project: The Word

danapomerantz — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:28:38 +0000

I ventured out to explore the line many times during the past couple of weeks. Each time I traveled along the line I discovered more patterns. The main idea of my project is that patterns can be found everywhere if you look around. I took many photographs of the patterns that I found in nature, public areas, streets, and buildings on the line.

Along with the photographs of the patterns I found, I thought it would be interesting if I took parts of these patterns to make my own unique patterns.

Exploring the Line

danapomerantz — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:02:34 +0000

Patterns are everywhere. You just have to open your eyes and look closer.

I began to notice patterns even before I starting walking on the line. I became aware of my surroundings as I was leaving my residence hall, noticing patterns everywhere I was walking:

Cool patterns I found in the mud:

Exploring the line using my word, pattern, was surprisingly a very interesting experience. Looking around, I noticed patterns everywhere. An old, rotting refrigerator was sitting in the ground. There were bullet-holes in it, most likely from a BB gun or something. The appearance of the holes in the refrigerator reminded me of bullet holes in human flesh. The rust surrounding the holes looked like blood, and it seemed to be dripping, as if from a wound. There were open rips in the metal, that also looked like wounds. I also noticed red scratches. I was fascinated by this, so I decided to draw what I saw, as well as take pictures.

Here is the drawing I made of what I saw:

Walking further along the line, I made some really interesting discoveries, such as in the leaves I saw covering the ground. I began by taking leaves and laying them out in a line across a fallen tree. I picked out the different types of leaves I saw, and layed them out. I then by chance, dug my foot into the ground, allowing me to see the layers of leaves underneath the top layer. These leaves were more rotten and decomposed, having being on the ground longer than the layers above it. I layed these leaves out on the tree as well, comparing the fresher fallen leaves, to the more dead leaves that had been buried underneath them. This was fascinating to me because I never realized that the dead leaves on the ground could look almost fresh and alive compared to the layers of leaves underneath that had been there much longer.

Interesting patterns that I found in leaves…

“Fresher” looking leaves from the top layer

Leaves from the layers underneath that were more decomposed and “dead” looking…

There were also some very interesting patterns in the tree bark. I liked the patterns in the way the bark was peeling off of the fallen trees, as shown here:

I also found different patterns in the bark on the trees:

The Word

danapomerantz — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:42:41 +0000

The Word: Pattern

As defined in dictionary.com:

–noun
1. a decorative design, as for wallpaper, china, or textile fabrics, etc.
2. decoration or ornament having such a design.
3. a natural or chance marking, configuration, or design: patterns of frost on the window.
4. a distinctive style, model, or form: a new pattern of army helmet.
5. a combination of qualities, acts, tendencies, etc., forming a consistent or characteristic arrangement: the behavior patterns of teenagers.

My definition of the word “pattern” is anything that repeats itself. I noticed this many times while I was walking a portion of the line this morning. I realized that many things repeat themselves, but in order to see this I had to look much closer at the world than I usually would. For example, the very ground beneath me was made up of a very intricate pattern on the sidewalk, as shown here:

I was very intrigued by the patterns I found in the bark of different trees I came across. Here is a pattern I found in a stump on the line:

The Line

danapomerantz — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:32:39 +0000

When I decided to explore the line, it was getting later in the day, closer to dusk. Trekking through the woods was difficult because of the hill, but peaceful at the same time because I went alone. Looking at the ground, all I saw was fallen, crumpled leaves and sticks. Occasionally a rock. Hiking the line at dusk was a completely different experience than hiking it during the morning or afternoon. There was a heightening sense of quietness, loneliness, as I moved further along into the forest. I became aware that even though I may have been walking alone, I certainly was not alone. I found myself thinking about all of the different creatures that inhabited the area around where I was walking. In a way, I felt like I was trespassing. Trespassing the property of the many animals and insects living there. I became very frustrated when I realized my camera ran out of battery. I kept on walking anyway. Soon after, I came across four deer walking across my path. I stopped short, heart racing. The deer did the same. Two of them were casually grazing at the ground, looking for food. The other two were standing perfectly still, staring into my eyes. This was an amazing experience for me, because it felt like the deer and I had a staring contest that lasted forever. I made a connection with the deer that could not be classified by sight, sound, or smell. I can only describe it as a feeling I got. A magical feeling that it was just me and the nature. I didn’t try to walk up to the deer, because I felt like that would be rude. I was already invading their space by being in the forest in the first place, what better would I do by walking up to them? The four deer continued on their way after it was established that I was not here to hurt any of them. After seeing the deer, I became determined to find other creatures in this huge forest. I didn’t, but the next time I go out there I hope to find more animals.

Exploration # 4

danapomerantz — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:53:16 +0000

As I wandered around behind the Harder Hall building, I became fascinated with collecting metal objects. There were many metal objects grouped in piles behind the building. Here are some examples of what I found…

Exploration # 2

danapomerantz — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:44:19 +0000

Experience Collection

A couple days ago I decided to take a random walk, wandering around aimlessly. I found myself behind the Harder Hall building, looking at the many metal objects piled up back there. As I made my way into Harder Hall, I noticed many students and grad students hard at work on their concentrations. I ended up talking to one of the grad students, Jessica. As she let me in her studio space, I observed many interesting things, such as her beautiful paintings of sheep mostly, her pig sculptures, and her arm and leg sculptures.