Mayakovsky’s Hammer

Mixing the dye for staining the cloth.

Mixing red dye for staining our cloth.

Staining the cloth with our dye.

Staining the cloth with red dye.

Ironing the dyed red cloth for the banners.

Laying and measuring the plastic sheeting.

Ironing plastic sheets to create the inflatable form.

Ironing plastic sheets to create the inflatable form.

Laying out the plastic sheeting to create an inflatable form.

Inflating the hammer in front of Arts West.

Having some trouble inflating the hammer.

Installing the hammer indoors.

Inflating the in the lobby of Arts West.

The inflated hammer inside the main lobby.

The paper figure standing benead the head of the massive inflated hammer.

The Assignment:

Artist’s Statement

Working with your partners, create an inflatable sculptural object no less than 8′ in height. The sculpture will consist of one or more recognizable images designed to represent or signify a specific, notable person. The pieces will be constructed of plastic sheeting or other inflatable materials, and will be inflated by electrically powered fans. All of the solutions to this exercise will be installed first outside, and then in the breezeway of Arts West Building, simultaneously, as a temporary “monument valley”.

The Team:

  • Travis Butler
  • Michael Sadler
  • James Minshall
  • Will Rusch
  • Quintin Roper

The Subject:

Vladimir Vladimirovich Mayakovsky

A Russian and Soviet poet and playwright, among the foremost representatives of early-20th century Russian Futurism.

The Process:

Using dyed cloth and paint we created banners to flank the inflatable hammer. The hammer itself was about 12 feet tall and powered by a single box fan and constructed by ironing together plastic sheeting. It was on display outside of Arts West at Elon University for one day and inside the Arts West entrance hall for one week.

Video Documentation:

Videos shot while attempting to setup the inflatable for the first time.

Video 1 | Video 2 | Video 3 | Video 4 | Video 5 | Video 6 | Video 7