Concrete Workshop Outcomes

Concrete Fluidity, Chaz Howkins, 2016, concrete

Concrete Fluidity, Chaz Howkins, 2016, concrete

I carved the gender fluidity symbol into a block of styrofoam so that the concrete would cast with the symbol raised on its surface.  Gender fluidity is often dismissed as an identity, so I wanted to cast the symbol in concrete to create a sense of permanence and validity.

Concrete Casting Workshop

Wooden mould

Concrete mixer and moulds

Remains of the mould

During this workshop I created a wooden frame to act as a mould for the concrete and then carved my design into a block of styrofoam and placed it in the bottom of the mould.  I then poured the concrete into the mould, left it overnight to set and dismantled the frame to remove the solid concrete block.

Vinyl Moulding Workshop

Clay covering object

Pouring in the vinyl

During this workshop I watched a demonstration of how to create a vinyl mould.  This is a very time consuming process and I didn't feel I could make it relevant to my practice so I decided against casting an object of my own.

Body Casting Workshop

Cracking Under Pressure, Chaz Howkins, 2015, plaster body cast

This piece comments on society's constructs of beauty and the concept of the ideal body - how an 'ideal' body is simply unachievable for most.  I cracked the cast intentionally to represent a woman cracking under the pressure of fitting in and discoloured it to highlight the sense of imperfection.

Face Casting Workshop

Alginate being applied to face

Face covered in plaster and scrim

Face Cast, Chaz Howkins, 2015, plaster cast

I found the face casting process very uncomfortable as it felt like being buried alive, but I am happy with the outcome because I found it very interesting being able to view my own face from another person's perspective.