In the summer of 2024, I took a digital fabrication class that allowed me to experiment with using digital tools and machines to create artistic objects.
Shoe Nest
The final project for this course was to design and fabricate a chair you can sit on without any adhesive or nails. Click on an image to enlarge.
Faces of a Tree
I was assigned to create a self portrait and decided to create an metaphorical reflection of myself. The object is modeled after the largest Post Oak tree on UNT’s main campus which will be removed for a new science building in 2024. Within the outlines of the tree canopies are human silhouettes. The base represents the personification of the tree and it’s soul/spirit. Many Indigenous cultures view trees as beings like ourselves, and when one dies (especially when it is healthy and cut down for a building) it is a tragic loss.
My goal for this piece is to inspire others to see past their default perception of nature and look deeper into the life, love, and energy that trees and other natural objects (beings) possess.
I wanted to show myself reflected in this tree, and at the same time touch on the impact we (humanity) have on nature. I want us to face the choices we make for our local environment.
Desk Scrap Bookshelf
I made a bookshelf from scrap wood I had. The design on the side represents birch trees.
3D Printed Arm Bands
Prompted to create a 3D printed wearable object, I designed these arm bands inspired by the tree species Ginkgo biloba. The colored strings symbolize the life we have within us and our ability to connect with and cultivate life around us. The delicate look yet physical strength of the string represents the duality of fragility and resilience in ecological cycles.
Savannah Thomas 