in the beginning I had the idea of making music felt rather than heard. I figured vibrations could be felt but also seen. from the bowls vibrations can be felt, but I don't want to create singing bowls in the end. metal seems to be a good conductor for vibrations, but I was also wondering about more soft materials, like wobbly pudding.

last term I made a sound sculpture out of metal rings accompanying my wax dream sculptures. since the big sculpture is hollow on the inside it body resonates quite well. I wonder how it would sound if there was an instrument hidden on the inside.

moving snail homes on different grounds, trying to rebuilt them with rice paper, super fragile, translucence

I learned how to shape round shapes from copper and aluminium now but I think the folding would give me access to more variable shapes, so I want to learn metal folding. the heating process would be the same.

the snail houses could be moved inside the shapes, creating sound.

the metal bowls remember me of the glass harmonica, maybe a similar instrument could also be built from metal.

04/09/2023

Last week I experimented with different materials on different surfaces. I also tried my collection of abandoned snail homes. Each of them makes a slightly different sound when moved.

I am thinking of rebuilding snail homes to create more sound (making them bigger).

So far I think metal creates a lot of sound (it won‘t be similar to the snail houses, but maybe still worth a try), ceramics (also different sound), I found dried rice paper (or different starch) works well and I can make shapes when it‘s wet and it also makes a lovely screeching sound when moved on glass.

I also like the idea of making an orchestra out of actual abandoned snail homes, so I‘ll keep looking for them to expand my collection.

I’m also still thinking about how music can be felt rather than heard. I did not abandon this idea yet, but I was working more on the moving idea. I also came across this super beautiful instrument: a glass harmonica. I don’t know if it will relate to anything I will be doing but I wanted to share it here.

14/09/2023

25/09/2023

17/09/2023
trying to rebuilt the snail homes with rice paper, super fragile, translucence

01.10.2023
last week I prepared some metal discs and talked to the instructor about how I can make metal boxes that have lids. I will continue on making them on monday. I might want to connect the music I am creating right now from image and sound station with the boxes. The boxes becoming an archive of sounds of memories and dreams. I still don't know how they are going to play sound in the end, there might be a lot of scary complicated electronics involved.

the rings I welded last year. I used their sounds in the track for image and sound station

09/10/2023
made my first metal box last week. I am working on more. trying to find out how to create different shapes without breaking the metal now.

the machine I am using and the moulds

12/10/2023
midterm presentation
I had a lot of failed attempts on shaping a new box in a different shape. the metal kept breaking as the force was to much at the thinner part of the mould (the smaller the surface the more force applies).
For the presentation I improvised a cave under the table (I definitely want to work on creating a better environment for end term). My process is copied and drawn into a long booklet.

04/11/2023
first trials on embossing this week. working on drawings to emboss. found two big empty canisters of soy oil, hope I can use the metal to make more boxes. I am most likely going to remove the print if possible.
talked and planned a lot with mariana.

12/11/2023
experimented with glazings for ceramic boxes. wrote a first letter of memories to mariana and received one from her. then I spent most of my week sleeping and being sick. worked on transforming mariana's letter. no metal work this week. but feeling very excited for next week.

17/11/2023
second letter I censored for mariana. I spinned a new metal box this week, it will be my tryout for embossing. I will fill it with wax so it keeps shape and start the embossing next week, when metal station is open again.

Dear Laura,

I hope.
A good week.
You were all your body and mind.
Feel stronger.
I feel how this november has been feeling so light and soft waves.
Every day is a home.
The brown and yellow leaves building my path.
A core memory.
Something was started.
I remember how children were born and time.
I was giving.
I didn't think I would be able to but I was.
My mom calling my godmother eventually.
Release everything to be okay.
I still think about every love.

Mariana

Dear Mariana,
Its winter and i am my memory reliable
far away a dream i know it details
She the sun is shining trough the windows in my parents bedroom
My dad a long paint in bright colours
My mom asks me if i want to give something silken 4 snowman
Fabric bright dont want to be burried in soil
I believe it would be a gift that belongs to me
To my sister i give the day its ok the way things are.
Laura

Dear Mariana
Its november but there are still strawberries growing warmth like spring
I wonder far away the end they are all going to be memories
But now the shining year another one
In my very first year the sun kept moved to my first shared own home that felt very free.
Walking up hills change colours
I made a new friend
We explore all together.
We all lived a friendship started
The autumn sun can almost grasp what kind of clouds im wearing
Sitting on the terrace nights were i felt i belong
I remember one of us knew well what was going on having so much in each others kitchens
Crossing the bridge would still feel light
I did know how better times came back in different places that felt beautiful
I am this time the past and to be here.
I want to hug my friends i am having here.

Love laura

I still talk to time it still feels good aound them

my letters that mariana transformed for me:
feels very healing to do this

I'm also working on this weaving at the moment. It helps me to have moments during the day in which I am not distracted. Maybe it is less about the weaving and the end product itself but more about the act of keeping my hands busy in routine movements while allowing my mind float away into memories, that I can later put into letters. I don't really think about shape and patterns, letting my hands guide me.

The weaving consists of wool I spun with mariana and traditional crafts club last year and yarn my mother kept for years to knit a sweater she never finished. The improvised loom is a shelf the family of a childhood friend gifted me when I moved for the first time.

Dear Laura,
In the peace I felt my own dream
when I was my old house.
Around this time I chose the life for me.
All we had in this were today.
I grow, and I have every autumn, like I belong in my choices.
and my Mariana of 17 is very happy.
Love, Mariana

24/11/2023
new letter from mariana. filled my box with wax and tried embossing on it. It was a bit difficult since I am just learning how to emboss in general and doing it on a round surface seems to be harder than I thought. I am working on a copper box as well. as well as thinking about ways to present.

Dear Mariana,
I am the beginning of 6 o clock daylight fully dressed in dancing against the wind waiting to skip the sidewalk .
I want to show up like so
A new and eventually 10 minutes wounds while im this bright white calm piano piece
Now my healed mark left send many hugs always safe.
Love Laura

01/12/2023
it's the last letter (for now). in order to have time to prepare for the presentation. but I believe the letter writing and friendship will continue after.

I took a lot of notes of questions I had for myself regarding the presentation. we still haven't answered all of them but it helps seeing them on paper.

I took some time in metal station this week to finish the last box. made some drawings on tiles that illustrate the rewritten letters. fotos of them are coming on monday.

Dear Laura,
hope is my first memory being in my house.
it was winter holding me in her arms and I see for the first time sheeps they are many
I think now it's for them I go there every summer with love
Mariana

idea of putting everything that shouldn't be touched by the audience in a vitrine like shelf/table. things to be touched can rest on top. (but then only one side of the letters can be seen..)

Dear Mariana,
during the past years the mountains described a memory that is so far away.
Like a dream i know for sure it almost took the earliest morning coming home
She didnt seemed to be a garden
Shes fine inside the sun casting that place for many people
The danger is gone in the first tiny hug
I get a call from my brother he tells me i havent to feel i cannotnmiss her, because I see her in many memories
That day Simi accompanying me to the village
One of my friends know there are 200m where our lifes sometimes trew a need for me to talk about ir wirh lots of love
Laura

10/12/2023
preparing the exhibition. we are building a table with a translucent surface to display the letters and to make them float in the room. our tiles hopefully went into the oven on friday and will be done on monday. we printed the transcriptions of the letters on the tile book.