Endless Amusement

A day by day account of my internship/artist in residece at The Library Compant of Philadelphia.

[jesselentzlibco]

[jesselentzlibco]

So I knew the show was a mini exhibition in the cases at the library so I assumed that ment the show was mini, as in short. As in 2-3 weeks. But I wanted to check so I emailed Erica and it turns out its 2-3 MONTHS. AH that's so great!

[jesselentzlibco]

These are the final pieces made over the 15 weeks of my internship through The Library Company of Philadelphia. The project was all based on the collection and additional research while at the library. Each piece is a representation of the decade through the toys that were being produced, in a similar style to what they would of been, made in a close or exact material. This was a labor of love. The case show will be at The Library Company starting September 12th. 

[jesselentzlibco]

As I come to the last days of my internship I am so excited.

I finished all the sculptures this week. Got all my statements in. Sent off the measurements. Did the photos. Shopped the photos. Uploaded the photos. Now I just have to send those off and deliver the sculptures on friday and thats pretty much it! I cant believe it! 15 weeks of incredibly hard work. Between 7 flat tires, heat, rain, broken sculptures, exhaustion and everything else, I came out with some really awesome pieces! I am so happy with how things turned out and it was really a privilege to work there. I really learned so much about research in the digital age, history, craft, and myself. 

This opportunity has also given me the confidence to apply to shows and other internships in the future. I really could keep going but I will stop. I will post all the sculptures next!

[jesselentzlibco]

I have been bad and havent updated in 10 days

It is mostly because I havnt been going in much and things are wrapping up. Today was actually my last real day there. Mostly spent writing. Everything is almost finished!

[jesselentzlibco]

Day 31 (late post as well)

I realized today that the gears for my walking bear are going the wrong direction. So he walks backwards. And of course I realized this after he was glued together. I dont know what Im going to do. And I am having some problems with my CAM sculptures because it is so humid the glue wont dry. I think I just need to step back and not work on them for a few days. I am going home monday and I plan on finishing the rocking horse. Getting that out of the way will be really good. 

[jesselentzlibco]

day 30 ( i forgot to post)

Day 30 was filled with rewrites and gluing and tiredness. The heat is getting to me and I just want to be done so I can install and not think about it anymore. Only a few more things to do then finishing writing and things. So close to the end of the summer.

[jesselentzlibco]

[jesselentzlibco]

Day 29

I completely checked out yesterday. I just couldnt get it together. But today was super productive. I painted and glued and figured things out! It went so well! 3 more sculptures one their way to being done. Cam tiger is painted and just needs a few tweaks: done. Voting bear is painted and just needs a bit of assembly: almost done. Mechanical bear is a body now and felted, the mechanical part is giving me some issues but Im not really all that surprised by that: on its way to being good! 

That will just leave the rocking horse, which needs to be painted and it's saddle made and its mane attached. Then the decoder necklace, which is giving me some issues. I was going to make a really cool animal thing with the letters, but the space is just to small, so it looks like I have to do something else with it. I have faith in me though. That will just leave the artist statements and the photographs, which I hate doing but can do. Wish me luck.   

[jesselentzlibco]

[jesselentzlibco]

Day 28- the most productive day ever

Me and dad got together at 12 to work on my voting booth bear, CAM tiger, and rocking horse. We has less then 5 hours and my god did we get a lot finished. The horse is completely together. The cam tiger works and just needs 2 more panels and paint. The voting bears issues are almost completely resolved. Like this is a seriously impressive amount of work for 4 1/2 hours. 

[jesselentzlibco]

day 27

Today I talked to Erika about the website and photos I need to take. I collected supplies. I read about things. I had a nice time. Not super exciting, but a good day. Going home to work on sculptures this afternoon!

[jesselentzlibco]

day 26

Today was terrible and awful and very not good to start out with. I tried to go to the library but got a flat on my way there, then broke the finished sculpture I was carrying. I was on the verge of having a breakdown so I went home. 

I collected some supplies and worked on fixing the broken sculpture, but didnt get much else finished. Monday will be extremely more productive. 

[jesselentzlibco]

day 25

I got all 5 of the finished sculptures artist statements finished! I also did some more research for my 1930's sculpture. I wish I had more of the sculptures finished, but I have 3 of the last 5 started, so that is good too. Monday I am going home for 3 days to hopefully get at least 3 finished. That would be amazing if I could get that accomplished with my dad's help. 

[jesselentzlibco]

Formed top for 1940s bear

[jesselentzlibco]

Armless voting bear

[jesselentzlibco]

day 24

I really was going to go into, after missing all last week. I feel so guilty about it, but its not like Im just chilling here. I can actually work here, while I cant there. But I am promising myself I will go in Wensday and Friday. But today and last night I got so much done. I started to put together my voting bear and realized that the proportions were all wrong! He looked terrifying! I freaked out because mixing those colors took me hours and I didnt know what to do. But I had a brilliant idea and I used the foam body and head and felted around him and I couldnt be happier with him. I also mostly figured out how his CAM will be working!

I also think I have solved the problem of 1930, it turns out that is the decade decoder rings and cereal and comic book premiums became popular, so I am making an animal symbol to alphabet cipher pendant. I bought the pieces today so hopefully I can figure that out quick!

Wensday I hope to have a few artist statements done. And next week I would like to go home and get together with my dad to work things out with a few sculptures I dont have the tools for here.