Plans:

The goal of my project is to produce an artifact inspired by yard art and the jagged, rusted aesthetic like the “Diesel Punk” like what can be found in the Mad Max movies. Counterintuitively, I plan to cast this aesthetic onto a sort of jagged tree which will serve as a bird feeder and bird bath, slowly rotating in my yard, partly just to see if nature will come to enjoy a juxtaposing, eye-catching, rough aesthetic over time.

One transition in my plans has been to put less emphasis on the gears, sprockets, and mechanisms of the steampunk aesthetic. I would like to focus more on the freeform creativity that can be found in genuine “yard art” or “junk art.” This partly works more in the direction of diesel punk or Mad Max because the aesthetic there is more chaotic and sort of cobbled together, creating a more unique and amorphous form factor. I like this idea because it is outside my typical comfort zone, plus I think it will mesh more with my application/environment of backyard wildlife.

 

 

 

For manufacturing, I plan to primarily make use of welding for my overall structure and surface finishing (or stripping) for a finish that will age and rust in an interesting way. I am not opposed to including materials or sections that will not rust, or do so uniformly, because I am ultimately seeking an unkept and aging appearance. One source of inspiration for this is the upcycled, partly rusted moose sculpture below by John Lopez Studio. I appreciate the manner in which this piece conveys age while including robustness and contrast in the form of shiny or painted surfaces.

 

Execution:

I see this modified and growing vision taking a more approachable form that will facilitate creativity rather than adding confines in the form of meshing gears or an implied function where I simply want a free rotation. My first goal is to establish a main axis or shaft on top of a very sturdy base. From there, I can add components based on creativity and inspiration in a manner that can be adjusted or embellished upon. I like the idea of this flexibility so that I can focus on creativity since this is an underdeveloped skill of mine.

 

 

Alternatives:

The most obvious and intriguing alternative that comes to mind is a piece with softer, flowing shapes that emphasize a natural aesthetic and attempt to blend in with a well-grown, outdoor environment. This partly came from inspiration through alternative pieces I have found, shown below. These may actually provide an interesting but fitting contrast to the rest of my assembly.

Sharp lines and angles, and their ability to draw attention, were the key inspiration for this project after our discussions in class. While I think this “opposite” aesthetic could be magnificent, it is not the pursuit of my final project. In part, I would want to have superior resources and materials in order to execute this aesthetic, but also, I want to cut complication back so that I can emphasize freedom and creativity. I think my concept sketch below could be a very interesting alternative design, nonetheless.

 

Sources:

Material Potos: Myself, March 2025

Alderman, Nicole. “Broken Tools Converted into Yard Art and Other Landscape Art Inspiration.” Broken Tools Converted into Yard Art and Other Landscape Art Inspiration (Art Forum at Permies), Apr. 2022, permies.com/t/38176/art/broken-tools-converted-yard-art.

“Broken Tools Converted into Yard Art and Other Landscape Art Inspiration.” Broken Tools Converted into Yard Art and Other Landscape Art Inspiration (Art Forum at Permies), permies.com/t/38176/art/broken-tools-converted-yard-art. Accessed 5 May 2025.

Heeger, Susan. “18 Tips for Decorating Your Garden.” This Old House, 28 Aug. 2024, www.thisoldhouse.com/gardening/21019414/18-tips-for-decorating-your-garden.