Tensegrity Saddle Sculpture
Tensegrity structures are kind of cool as the members below holds up the one above in tension, so the structure doesn't have a direct line of compression.
This Tensegrity structure uses saddle plates which were made from clay and kiln fired.
Layout
As can be seen in the photos: the top of the bottom saddle plates supports the bottom of ones above them with string. There are 3 layers and they don't touch each other.
The plates were made from ceramics which started off as being clay.
Making a Frame
The clay was shaped into saddle plates by moulding them on a saddle frame. The frame was made using 4 lengths of dowel joined together to make a 3D - 'W' as shown in the photo.
String is strung parallel to two of the dowel lengths to form a saddle shape.
As can be seen, if a string was placed across the top and bottom of the frame a tetrahedral would be formed.
Molding 4 Saddle Shapes
Clay was rolled out into a 1 cm thick sheet. It was rolled out using a length of 50 mm plastic pipe wiped with a length of pantyhose over it. The pantyhose stopped the clay from sticking to the pipe. The clay was molded on top of the saddle frame. When dry it was fired in a kiln, glazed and refired. Six saddle plates were made.
Fixing the Saddle Plates Together
Three saddle plates were secured in a row with a length of 1/8 inch steel rod being glued underneath. The row of 2 saddle plates were made in the same way. This pair were then suspended above the triplet with string. This was done by stringing the top saddle arms of the triplets to the bottom saddle legs of the twins. A single saddle plate was suspended above the twins is a similar way. String was also used to make the structure ridged.