Jackson Hall Design: Map Relief - 3-D Materials and Concepts

Map Relief Front View; Foam Board, Black and White Ink, Paper, Glue; Approx. 2' x 2' x 3"

In Process Photo

In Process; Foam Board, White Ink, Black Ink, Glue; Approx. 2' x 2' x 3"

Sketches and Designs

Various Angles and Detail Photos

Map Relief Front View; Foam Board, Black and White Ink, Paper, Glue; Approx. 2' x 2' x 3"

Map Relief Right Quarter View; Foam Board, Black and White Ink, Paper, Glue; Approx. 2' x 2' x 3"

Map Relief Left Quarter View; Foam Board, Black and White Ink, Paper, Glue; Approx. 2' x 2' x 3"

Map Relief Center Detail; Foam Board, Black and White Ink, Paper, Glue; Approx. 2' x 2' x 3"

Map Relief Detail; Foam Board, Black and White Ink, Paper, Glue; Approx. 2' x 2' x 3"

Artist Statement

I chose to map the conflict between order and chaos and how there cannot be one without the other. My idea began when I drew a map showing the conflict between man-made and natural objects. I liked the idea, however I wanted the final concept to be more general and less representational. Therefore, I chose to simplify the two conflicting forces to chaos (nature) and order (man-made). With the color, I originally wanted to convey the message of man-made objects covering or consuming nature - the original drawing shows a conventional map of nature with man-made materials added later on top of the existing landscape. The black (man-made) would overlap and cover the white and pure nature. As my concept progressed, I envisioned a circle with order and geometric designs fading gradually into a state of chaos. In the final product this would end up being a chaotic center gradually becoming more ordered to the outer boundary. The representation of order is on the outside of the circle because order always attempts to disguise or hide chaos - this goes back to my first idea of order of human objects replacing the chaotic essence of nature.

In the final solution, I represent the idea of order with the geometric and more graphic edge of the circle. These shapes and figures are very much controllable and are also clean and neat in color. The center represents a raw chaos that is hard to control - thus I chose to use ink splatters to convey this chaos because the ink is sporadic and random. I did purposefully mimic some of the ink designs after outer space designs, as space often appears chaotic and random. Also, the designs continue the loose and gestural visuals that convey chaos. The torn paper also displays the wild nature of chaos and also the opposite of order and neatness. The squares and triangles serve as a bridge between the two conflicting forces and show how often in life there is not just one or the other. There must be order to know what chaos is truly. The shapes are very organized but the color is wild and crazy - outside the borders. Besides aiding the concept, the shapes also move the viewer's eye to the center of the piece. Finally, the construction method I chose for this piece was "egg crating" with the semi-circles on the edge fitting into grooves made into the primary circle's edge.