The Animal

Exploring one animal through three different mediums

The objective for this project was to select an endangered animal and convey its characteristics through three different mediums. Since the first two parts revolved around environmental awareness, I chose the bald eagle. Although this species is no longer endangered, it reached a point of near extinction in the US during the late 1900s. As a national symbol, I thought that the eagle would highlight the lack of environmental awareness in this country.

PART 1: PLASTIC MODEL

The first stage involved making a three dimensional model of the animal with recycled plastic. In addition to bearing a physical resemblance to an eagle, the model also mimic's the bird's wing motion when flying. This can be done by placing one's hand inside of the body and pressing down on a lever that flaps the wings. I chose to use the cap of a spray bottle for the bird's head because the eagle's near extinction was linked to the use of an airborne pesticide called DDT.

Recycled Materials: Water Bottle, Forks, Knives, Spoons, Food Containers, Spray Bottle Cap.

PART 2: GRAPHIC TRANSLATION

The second stage's objective was to create a two dimensional representation of the animal constructed from basic shapes. The animal was then placed within a spread containing a message about its endangered status. In addition to pesticide use, deforestation was a major cause of the bald eagle's near extinction. To create a sense of continuity throughout the class, each student included a phrase that began with the first letter of their animal and what it stood for.

PART 3: POP UP BOOK

The final stage of the project was to create an engaging pop-up spread that revolved around a characteristic movement of the animal. While I incorporated the flapping motion from the model and the animal's pose from the graphic representation, this stage came with its own unique set of challenges. Finding a pop-up mechanism that was applicable to my animal proved to be particularly difficult. To overcome this challenge, I examined existing pop-up books and refined a mechanism within one of them to suit my objective.