Psyche Inspired: Shannon Hack

Institution: arizona state university

Major: Art Studies

Psyche Inspired Class: 2019-2020

Beaded Orbits is a 2’ x 2’ quilt with four beaded medallions representing the phases of orbits placed in each corner and a beaded Psyche in the center. They are attached to fabric of celestial and space themed designs. The quilt layout of the fabric represents the dreams space exploration inspire, and I chose to laboriously bead as a nod to how much work goes into a mission.

Beaded Orbits

Shannon Hack

June 24, 2020

Major: Art studies

Genre/Medium: mixed media fabric and seed beads

About the work: Beaded Orbits is a mixed media piece measuring two feet by two feet inspired by the information gathered during each phase of orbit by Psyche orbiter. In each corner is one of four medallions representing the four phases of orbits with Psyche in the center of the piece. Each of these symbols and Psyche were hand beaded using seed beads and then attached to a quilt style backing. I chose to design the backing like a small quilt as representation of the dreams that exploring the universe encourage when we are open to all possibilities. All the beaded pieces are about 300 hours worth of combined work that for me, is a nod to all the many hours, days, and years that go into a single mission.

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Voyage

Shannon Hack

February 18, 2020

Major: Art studies

Genre/Medium: mixed media: wood, vinyl, LED, 3D print, electrical components

About the work: Voyage is a kinetic sculpture designed to translate the mission and the journey the orbiter will take to collect information from the Psyche asteroid. This piece is a 30”x30”x6” wood housing and is overlaid with a vinyl image of the mission’s trajectory. LED lights each mark an average of 6 months of the orbiter’s time until reaching Psyche. The housing holds three 3D printed Psyche models, which are highlighted with black lights and viewed through holes in their perspective space along the trajectory. When on, the LEDs light up and all the asteroids revolve in sequence and then turn off in a reverse sequence. The initial sequence is meant to convey the orbiter’s journey to Psyche, and the reverse sequence symbolizes the information the orbiter is transmitting back to Earth.

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Consisting of five panels mimicking stained glass, this piece depictions the Psyche asteroid and her orbiter with Mars and Jupiter on each side. Light can pass from either direction, creating projections on surrounding surfaces. One side is smooth and the other textured. This piece can function multiple ways, symbolizing the many possibilities we can learn from the Psyche mission.

A Magical Expedition

Shannon Hack

January 14, 2020

Major: Art studies

Genre/Medium: lexan, caulking, and paint

About the work: This piece features five Lexan panels painted to mimic stained glass with the depiction of the Psyche asteroid and her orbiter with Mars and Jupiter framing them on either end. This piece is designed to help viewers understand the location of Psyche and can be installed to give the observers multiple experiences. From one side, the panels are smooth providing a purely visual viewing. When observing from the other side, the panels consist of 3D lines and textured surfaces the viewer can touch. The idea is that one side signifies the preconceived notions about the Psyche Mission while the other epitomizes the varied, new information the Psyche Mission is designed to gather. The reflection each panel casts onto the wall or floor when light passes through them is that of their hazy image, which is a reminder that although we may feel we see things clearly, there is always more knowledge to be gained. The multiple functions this piece can perform symbolizes the many possibilities we are about to learn with the Psyche Mission.

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Psyche Twinkles

Shannon Hack

November 7, 2019

Major: Art studies

Genre/Medium: wood, paint, LEDs, Arduino coding, copper wires

About the work: Psyche Twinkles is an interactive sculpture where the user is in charge of how many stars light up to surround the Psyche 16 asteroid and its orbiter via temperature. When the sensor is introduced to icy temperatures, the stars are all off. As the sensor heats up, the stars slowly come back to life. The normal hand temperature will be able to activate the first two strands of stars. To activate the third strand, one must add heat via flame. When all strands are activated, all the stars will burn brightly and twinkle at different speeds.

I was inspired to make a piece that would not only inspire the viewer to learn more about the Psyche mission, but to develop something the viewer had control over, allowing them to feel as if they were somehow part of it. Containing it in a wood box was inspired by the Ames room, though that’s as far as that concept is used. The idea behind it was to immerse the viewer in the space of the piece and watch how they control the stars. The way I chose to depict Psyche was so that the most detail of what the asteroid is believed to look like is communicated to the viewer. The image shows Psyche’s famous two craters, and it also shows the color change of the asteroid’s elemental makeup, along with other possible surface characteristics.

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