#2 of 11, 2mm cap bolts
It's all about your point of view
I woke up one morning in 2012 with an idea in my head about taking something and chopping it into dots and distributing the dots across multiple layers so that it all would come together only when you stood in the right spot. A few hours later, my laser cutter and I had proof of concept, and that idea has become the basis for a series of art pieces using what I call a "shattercloud."
The "Paradox Cloud" series uses my shattercloud technique to reflect on the fact that many people seem to think that some things can't both be true at the same time, even though there's no reason whatsoever that they can't. "Oh, they're so rich because they're really talented." "Oh, please, they just got lucky." Or, maybe you need to be talented and lucky to be a superstar. (And maybe also work your ass off, but there's only so much I can fit into one cloud.) So the Paradox Clouds are all about how two things can both be true in the same place at the same time, but some people can only see one.
The Paradox Clouds are currently available for purchase for $100 each.
Basically, the Paradox Clouds are made by imagining a box with some quantity of particles in it, and then erasing some of the particles. I clear the edges so that there's a 'cloud' shape floating in the middle, and then drive a word through the cloud to erase any particles that get in the way of the letters. The words get pushed through at different angles, and if you're not standing at the correct angle to the piece, you won't clearly see the tunnel.
The Paradox Clouds are designed to hang on a wall. They're about 8 inches (20cm) wide and 2.5 inches (7cm) tall. They're made from seven layers of 3mm acrylic. The front six layers are transparent, and are etched front and back with small craters. The back layer is black acrylic. They're signed and numbered on the back, and are limited to 11 of each design.
I'm still tinkering with things like exactly how big to make the craters, and how to construct them, so Paradox Cloud #2, 3/11 may not be identical to Paradox Cloud #2, 7/11. The first Paradox Cloud control files were made using Adobe Photoshop, but their obnoxious lack of support and my need for more control has resulted in my current process of starting with PNG files for the initial images that get fed through a program I wrote to create a series of SVG files that are then fed to the laser cutter to make the final acrylic panels.
The first two members of the series are held together with 3mm cap bolts. Later editions will be fastened with 2mm cap bolts that I managed to source from a supplier in Asia.
Probably the most ubiquitous non-paradox of the set.
Heddy Lamarr was a beautiful movie star in the early 20th century who also co-invented a spread-spectrum radio guidance system used during World War II.
So often the Oscars are a lovely example of "well, if it was that popular, it must not have actually had any merit."
I think this is probably the weakest of my paradoxes, which, frankly, is a good thing. I would hate for this to be common.
This piece has a title that's challenging to reproduce in print accurately. It's also easily my favorite, in part because of the secondary layer of meaning in the font choices.
I thought there'd just be five Paradox Clouds until my friend Allan Rousselle suggested this one. Its title was inevitable; the first time I ever saw a Darwin Fish sticker on the back of a car (I was northbound on I-5), I was delighted. What a wonderful symbol of the ability of science and faith to co-exist! Only after I'd enjoyed it for a bit did I think "Hmm. I wonder if they mean it ironically?" I was very disappointed to eventually learn my interpretation was not the prevailing one. How sad.