On Friday I welded a two metal plates and a nut and bolt to the end of a pipe to which I could attach the smaller blue canister. This was because I was apprehensive as to whether all the gas had been removed from the canister (You could hear a certain something when you held it to your ear, could still smell some residue) and drilling a hole in to the bottom would thus prove quite dangerous (boom!). I am really pleased with the welding, however- Im certain it will attach well to the canister with araldite (a really strong glue used for metal).

Today I returned to the metal workshop to make some progress on my piece. Today I focused on the smaller canister and making sure that was secured somehow on to the other two. To begin, with I sawed off the gas outlet so that the pipe could fit snugly over the top. Then I drilled a hole in the pipe and welded a bolt above the hole so that I could use a screw to keep the pipe in place. This would make sure the pipe would stay strongly fixed on to the canister whilst at the same time able to be taken apart and transported easily.

Progress is slow because it has proved a fiddly process with multiple steps, techniques and machines so far- but I am really happy with the progress I have made and the new skills I have learnt. I would say I am now fairly confident with welding and using the angle grinder as well as the drill, metal bender and cutter. (Those aren’t the technical names of the machines I’m sure- their proper names have escaped me!)

Today I went in to the metal workshop to connect my canisters together.

I found that some of the canisters were still, in fact, full of gas- so I had to purge them (which took a couple of hours in itself!). To so so, I drilled a hole in the bottom of the canisters and filled them with water, which forced the gas out.

Next I cut some spare pipes to the lengths that I wanted them before bending them and welding them on to some threads which would then screw on to the canisters. I used threads so that the piece will become an amalgam of lots of separate parts which can be easily assembled and transportable.

I learnt how to weld and reminded myself how to use the angle grinder and metal bender. A very fulfilling and satisfying process. I love seeing the sculpture come together bit by bit, even if it is quite lengthly!

After researching the work of Fischli & Weiss, today I tried out different arrangements using the empty gas canisters. As there is limited access to the metal workshops, in the meantime I may use cable ties or ropes to attach them- however I need to explore further means of doing so.

Thoughts on Sam Burns Find: I found some old gas and helium canisters and some gates in Sam Burns. I’m not sure at this point whether these will work together as one or whether they’ll be kept separate. I like the uncertainty and danger the gas canisters connote and the menacing look of the iron gates, with their pointed tops and odd, zig zag shape.

I went to Sam Burns (scrap yard) to gather some inspiration for my work this Semester. Walking through the site I noticed gates and griddles, implements and objects used to constrain and divide. I couldn’t help but think of the current regulations imposed on the public by the government, stressing for isolation and separation.

Certainly, I find the idea of SEPARATION really interesting- particularly how we separate ourselves and divide space and the concurrent mental affects of such actions.

The theme of containment of space and of people’s actions with no effect/success I also find interesting. It is both humorous and frustrating. Despite best efforts (although this is certainly questionable) of the government at the moment, certain groups in society are disregarding regulations and progress seems to be back-tracking, much to the despair of those diligently following them.

THE ATTEMPT AT CONTAINMENT WITH NO SUCCESS could also therefore be something I look at this semester…