GRADUATE SEMINAR ASSIGNMENT

Performance Art

From 4th to 22th of November, Patrick Dougherty was at ETSU to build an sculpture by bending sticks. The Sculpture consists of a number of chambers which are connected to each other with small corridors. 

lots of volunteers helped to build the project. I worked there for four days. The first day was sorting the sticks by size and the other days were bending the sticks together to make woven walls of wood. 

It has been a lovely experience for me. The smell of wood and bending them makes me feel I am part of nature.

The finished project

The finished project

Patrick Dougherty

Me in a cold morning of November working between the woods

The reaction of the audiences who were crossing the project were different. Some people just continue their path and did not even look at the piece. Some who were driving a car, were trying to see as much as they can while passing. Some even stop their vehicle for some moments to look more carefully. Most pedestrians were coming closer to say hello and asking what was going on and what we were trying to make. 

GRADUATE SEMINAR ASSIGNMENT

My Halloween Costume

I used Origami pumpkins to make this costume

We were invited to Prof.Hounshell Halloween_Bonfire party. We were supposed to make our costumes based on our concentration in art. Unfortunately like other international students, I didn't have access to car to go every where and find my required items. So I decided to use the most accessible material: Paper. 

As my concentration, I'm really interested in hand made art and origami fulfills this goal, so I decorate my dress with origami pumpkins.

Going to this party made me find out there exists so many similarities between different cultures. In Iran, there is some thing like bonfire party on the last Tuesday of the year; but it's not one huge fire, people make a number of small ones and family members and neighbors gather around fire and have fun. Also children wear some wired cloths in order to not being identified, go to neighbors' houses and being welcomed with candies and nuts.