Crystals and Crystallization Reading

14 December 2019 History, nature, nhm, existing documentation, synthetic growth, my direction - dendrites? internship bookmarks on crystal reading Crystal & gem / written by Dr R.F.Symes and Dr R.R.Harding. https://sciencing.com/create-synthetic-rubies-6788778.html http://www.madehow.com/Volume-4/Synthetic-Ruby.html https://www.gemsociety.org/article/understanding-gem-synthetics-treatments-imitations-part-4-synthetic-gemstone-guide/ Crystal growers make use of certain fundamental aspects of natural laws; these laws govern the states of matter and the interactions of… Continue reading Crystals and Crystallization Reading

Natural Crystal Formations

10 December 2019 Dead Sea, Jordan Valley High salinity levels combined with no outlets for water leave the dead sea with transient salt formations, their shapes depending on the kinds of minerals in the water and environmental factors. Photo: https://www.amusingplanet.com/2012/09/strange-salt-formations-in-dead-sea.html Delicate, slow accumulation, transient Naica Caves, Chihuahua, Mexico Enormous crystals of the mineral gypsum (hydrated… Continue reading Natural Crystal Formations

Cauliflower/Fern Crystals

10 December 2019 This science experiment is the first I have come across, depicting the mechanism of formation of cauliflower/fern shaped salt crystals. It uses ammonia and water combined with a colloidal bluing suspension, to cause capillarity, evaporation and crystal deposition, in shapes closest to my salt crystals. (I'm not sure exposing kids to ammonia… Continue reading Cauliflower/Fern Crystals

Potential Applications: combining materials and forms

07 December 2019 Submerging electroformed plastic drawing in copper sulphate solution - to crop crystals at strategic points 2. Suspending my electroformed plastic drawing over salt vinegar solution, introducing wood sticks with wound copper sheets between the copper and salt solution for absorption and deposition of crystals near surface of copper drawing.. 3. Hollow Brass… Continue reading Potential Applications: combining materials and forms

Experiment: scaling up, narrowing down

04 December 2019 I was glad that I got to speak with Annie about the Salt crystals, since she suggested some exciting ideas I could try with my discovery. Can I somehow remove crystals from the wooden sticks and place them elsewhere?Look at Salt Bride: A bio Engineered wedding dress from crystallization of salt from… Continue reading Experiment: scaling up, narrowing down

Crystal Precedents: other materials, properties and narratives

08 December 2019 BISMUTH: At the RCA Fete, I was intriguied by Sara Chyan's holographic Bismuth jewellery, which was based on the concepts of melting and crystallization, and further oxidation of bismuth metal, the processes giving it geometric shapes and holographic colours respectively. This video helped me visualize the process in detail. I think that… Continue reading Crystal Precedents: other materials, properties and narratives

Embodied Thought: Idea for a final piece

06 December 2019 I have been slow at looking at potential applications and precedents for my experiments so far, but my current state of mind willed an idea based on the concept of wedding bands as 'cuffs' forcefully bonding two people in an agreement, and the effect of age, wear, time and experience on this… Continue reading Embodied Thought: Idea for a final piece

Unexplained, organic and beautiful

29 November 2019 I left some work in the studio last night, and today's gorgeous sun streamed through the base room window to transform my crystals and electroplated objects in unique ways.. Todayday and a half ago.. TodayDay and a half ago TodayDay and a half ago TodayDay and a half ago Today2 days agoEffect… Continue reading Unexplained, organic and beautiful

Growing Crystals – II

26 November 2019 17. I wanted to try growing crystals from Copper Sulphate (I was already using this as my electroforming solution). For this, I dipped a wooden stick wrapped with copper (previously used as anode) in Copper Sulphate + water solution After 24 hours 18. Next I tried the same (17) with vinegar instead… Continue reading Growing Crystals – II

Electroforming

26 November 2019 Electroplating Impatient to start plating with copper, but without graphite paint to coat my plastic drawings, I started to coat some metal objects through my makeshift electroplating/electroforming setup. Objects coated with copper Observations: Tin bucket had low adhesion, but Dipped long enough gave a rough rust-like copper coatWire mesh took longer to… Continue reading Electroforming