Greeting Mirror
[Skills used: Carpentry, composite construction, metalwork]
Mirrors are inherently confrontational objects.
You often catch yourself by surprise, or see a version of you that does not match how you feel. The mirror can be the beginning of a great day, or an unhappy day.
Greeting Mirror is an object that allows you to greet yourself, and gives you the control to see yourself when you’re ready.
The concept of mirroring is imbued within the details of the object. The wood veneer is sequence matched and mirrored, providing a physical mirroring of the grain that can be touched. The dimensions of the mirror are 72 inches by 27 inches. In this way, the object manifests as the result of mirroring. There are two mirrored hinges, and the finish on the door handle allows it to mirror itself.
The connection of the mirror to the ground provides a continuity to the experience of greeting yourself. Your environment is extended through and beyond the mirror. By this, there is an expression of potential that is within the greeter.
The raw, unstained oak blends softly into your surroundings. The brushed aluminum hardware sits harmoniously with the natural material. To protect the object, the wood is treated with a hydrophobic nano-coating to repel moisture and dirt.
Process
Concept
Early on, the idea was that the mirror would have some kind of door. Really only the shape and type were explored.
72" x 27"
The dimensions and construction were planned out. The vertical dimension was found by measuring different people. The horizontal dimension was made by mirroring the first one.
Virtual Reality
Due to the fairly large size of the piece, virtual reality was used to better understand scale and form. Rough 3D models were created and placed in a virtual environment, so we could better understand how it would look in the end.
Making
I fabricated the piece on my bed. I planned the piece, and made the major cuts early one morning, when the workshop was empty. After that, I just spent a little time each week, sitting on my bed, glueing together the door, and applying the veneer.
