COLLABORATION WITH ALEXANDER STEWART PART 1 / 2006

CNC-fabricated Medex
3 16" x 16" panels

This piece grew out of a series of conversations between myself and frequent collaborator Alexander Stewart. We set out to take advantage of the promise of CNC (computer numerical control) technology. What are the conceptual ramifications of duplicating an object with 100% accuracy?

Such duplication has a rich technical history, going back to print- and mold-making. In this case, instead of copying over an original artwork, we chose a lowly functional object: the municipal water main cover. This item is widely reproduced, highly recognizable and constantly abused by the elements. Though each is (presumably) a cast from the same original form, individual covers accumulate unique marks, dents and cracks over time.

Once armed with a wide selection of main-cover photographs, we evolved standardized computer process by which the character of each surface was transferred to a low relief panel.