Sand Picture Frames: Aly’s Inspiration

After the great upcycling projects I have seen in class, I feel the bar was raised. Now I really want to come up with a very cool project, but at the time I am finding it hard to chose between various inspirations. Like most of us, I came across products that I wanted to buy and didn’t because I thought I can make them myself. Or even watched a DIY video online and wanted to make something like it. However I understand that this class is not about replicating a product you want.

I visited Denver’s Art museum last year and out of all the art pieces in the museum I was really inspired by a sand picture frame I saw in the museum shop. As you can see below a sand picture is a frame that houses a special fluid with air and fine sand particles. The frame is oriented so that the sand particles are held by the air and slowly falls between air gaps by gravity (same idea as a sand clock but in fluid on a 2D level).

Ideas I have to add to the sand picture frame:

• Having stoppers in the middle so the sand can accumulate and form a certain or random shape instead of just falling on the base
• Making this sand picture 3D (from a frame to an aquarium)
• Adding other fluids like oil or ink to the sand picture
• Adding other lightweight particles that can flow with the sand (hydrophobic sand?)
• Incorporating something like Waterful Ring Toss to create a turbulent environment in the sand picture. That will be fun to watch
• Changing the frame
• Add an interactive background to it
• Add lighting effects

I am still not very sure about the feasibility of the project but I would love some to read some feedback.

I will have to experiment with how this works first and then decide on the project, but will have to take action fast. Please let me know if you have encountered one of these sand pictures before and know how they are done or what’s the fluid inside it because I am sure its not water. I will be posting my updates in the comments section

Image credits:

• (https://www.flickr.com/photos/things_i_adore/2177755736)
• (http://www.explosionluck.com/products/moving-sand-art-picture-pacific-in-deep-sea-series)
• (http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/deep-sea-sand-art?country=US&gclid=Cj0KEQiAxrW2BRCFidKbqKyq1YEBEiQAnMDWxnBp8PMWGlFjf3MCp39XcBfOK0KaQo8L7HLmy7eQd8QaAtxW8P8HAQ)
• (https://www.tumblr.com/search/waterful%20ring%20toss)