The form was then cut into six sections, the edges were sanded round and holes were drilled for the wire.
Sockeye
Project intent
This project was centered around students ability to tell a story using a moving display piece. The installation had to be made from wood and wound by hand. Students used cams, levers and cranks to create the movement of the scene.
Timeline
5 weeks, 03.2024-04.2024
Skills used
Wood working
Mechanism design
Concept Ideation
Inspiration
This project's direction was centered around the annual migration of sockeye salmon upstream from the oceans to lay eggs. This is symbolic of the growth within tradition as well as the resilience of a species.
Movement Ideation
The story I wanted to tell was that of a salmon swimming upstream. In order to have the character flow properly it would need to be in multiple pieces.
Prototyping
Drawing inspiration from fishing lures, I created a fish that, with the right mechanism, would sway from side to side.
Mechanics
A significant challenge faced in this project was designing a mechanism that would create the fluid movement of the fish. After experimenting with different ideas, the solution was a mechanism that transferred circular motion to lateral motion using a cam and lever.
The crank is spun using the handle knob, this knob hits the hollowed area of the "spoon" piece moving it as the crank rotates.
1.
2.
The pin acts as a pivot point allowing the "spoon" to slide back and forth.
3.
The two small dowels knock a piece back and forth as the "spoon" moves side to side. This rod is connected to the fish's head
Material Selection
- Softer wood, easier to sculpt the body
- Red color mimics the coloring of a salmon body
Green Poplar
- Only commonly available wood with green grain
- Perfect coloring for the salmon tail
- Strong hardwood, good for building the base
- Lighter color serves as a "blank canvas"
American Maple
Cedar
Using a glue-up of green poplar and red cedar, I was able to achieve salmon-like colors without using stains.
The pieces are connected by wiring and tung oil is applied as a finish.
Final Model
