Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Alginate step by step list

Alginate / Plaster Mold Step-by-step list

  1. Measure equal amounts of alginate and cold water to cover desired area.
  2. Go through the check list to be aware of each person’s responsibilities.
  3. Tear up cotton balls or gauze for the plaster jacket.
  4. Make sure you have 3 buckets ready : one for plaster, one for alginate, one for water (for the alginate mix)
  5. Add water to the alginate bucket. (remember that it is 1:1 ratio of water and alginate)
  6. Mix alginate by hand breaking up clumps, at this point the alginate starts to set very quickly approximately 4 minutes working time. (working time varies according to mixture)
  7. Apply the alginate to the mold area. You want to have at least a 1/4 inch thickness of alginate over the mold area. For added support you can embed torn cotton balls to the alginate.
  8. While waiting for the alginate to set, the helper should start mixing the plaster for the jacket. Plaster to water ratio is also roughly 1:1. Carefully hand-sift the plaster into the water until an island is formed in the center of the bucket. Mix the plaster with hand breaking clumps and checking consistency.
  9. When plaster is ready, dip the torn up cotton in the plaster and apply to alginate mold. Use mixed plaster to secure cotton and begin layering over alginate with plaster. The plaster jacket should be at least ½ inch.
  10. After the plaster has set, you are able to start casting. The Alginate mold has a working time of 40-50 minutes. (this time can vary greatly depending on factors like: how you keep the mold from drying and shrinking/humidity/temperature)

ppt. Artist work dealing with the subject "self"


Jaeman Shin (undergraduate work)


Joe Kewin (undergraduate work)


Willie Cole (iron burnt markings -> ancestral history -> tribal masks/markings)


Louise Bourgoise (timeline/clock of her life)


Kiki Smith "My blue lake" (her body as a terrain, flattened out like a map)


Damien Hirst



Tim Hawkinson (latex casted self floating around gallery,emoter)

Doho Suh (Uniforms he wore throughout his life)

Janine Antoni "Lick and Lather" (chocolate and soap)



Marc Quinn (casted using his own blood)


Thursday, March 3, 2011

Project 2

Project 2 - Self

Create a work using your “self” as the subject and material.

You should start this project by looking through your fifty things list to see if you can find a common thread or anything in particular that stands out from the rest.

During the technical demonstration for this project, you will learn different methods of making molds and casting objects using alginate, plaster, wax and silicone.

Alginate is a non-toxic semi-flexible mold-making material which allows you to take quick molds of skin texture and body parts. Due to the short working time and working process of alginate, for certain parts of the project, you will have to learn to work with a partner.

Although everyone will receive roughly 11/2 lbs. of alginate, depending on your project plan, most will need to order additional alginate.

http://www.smooth-on.com/Alja-Safe%3D-Acrob/c1358/index.html

$20 for 3 lbs.

Getting started:

Minimum 3 Sketches Due: First Work Day March 8th

Calculate roughly how much alginate you will need for your project.

Work hard and spend plenty of time experimenting with all the possible options.

Previous student work








student work



Nicole Marandola





Elizabeth Reid




Madeline Schraeder




Laura Cerrone




Vincenzo Merolla




Alison Malecot




Iouri Ouskov




Kerry Fields




Joseph McNulty



Arifa Awadallah




Michelle Davidson




Katie Tagarello


Laura Santiago