Psyche Inspired: Meagan Martin

Institution: Olin College of Engineering

Major: Engineering with Industrial Design

Psyche Inspired Class: 2023-2024

Reflections on Psyche Inspired

Reflections on Project 1: Gazing Upwards

Gazing Upwards

Meagan Martin

November 3rd, 2023

Major: Engineering with Industrial Design

Genre/Medium: Wood, Clay, Ceramic Glazes, Ceramic Lusters, Gouache Paint

About the work: This work is inspired by the long history of the human desire to look at the stars and try to capture and represent the beauty and wonder above as we now look to Psyche. It symbolizes the very human urge to gaze upwards and dream. This Orrery is a nod to a popular visual and tactile representation of planetary orbits and rotation. Made from Wood, Clay, Ceramic Glazes, Ceramic Lusters, and Copper, this work is intended to invoke the nostalgia of a historical Orrery while simultaneously centering the Psyche mission. Features include wheel-thrown hollow clay representations of the Sun, Earth, Mars, Psyche, and Jupiter, which are layered in a series of high-fire glazes and lusters, forming a not-to-scale representation of planetary objects and asteroids. These representations are mounted on a lathe-turned wooden base, held up by welded copper tubing. The sun is coated in a sunflower dark yellow matte high-fire glaze. The Earth is glazed with both Seaweed and Blue Rutile as well as a pearlescent luster over the mottled blue-green swirls, giving it a shine. Mars is coated in a deep firebrick glaze and Jupiter in Blue Rutile and Ancient Jasper. The model of the Psyche asteroid is coated in Ancient Jasper and topped with a gold luster to give it a metallic shine. Each celestial object is held up by a copper tube bent at 90 degrees and supported by a second welded rod parallel to the base of the first; these rods are then attached via a 3D printing collar. This work has dimensions of 17 in height, 10″ in width, and 12″ in height, the work weighs 3.4 pounds. This work allows for the rotation of the planets in a loose representation of their orbits via 3D-printed bearings attached to the copper tubing. The wooden base is stained with natural dyes and Gouache paint to achieve a deep, warm color. This lathe-turned wooden base features a mix of convex and concave curves and is attached to a base plate for stability. This work was made to capture the beauty of the celestial bodies above while also recognizing ourselves as part of a long history of dreamers who have reached for the stars. By centering Psyche and working to pay tribute to all who have worked to forward this mission, which will inspire the next generation of dreamers. This work would not have been possible without the help, knowledge, and support of Dyllan Nguyen, Dr. Jonathan D. Stolk, Genevieve Mancuso-Jackson, Jordan Spring, the staff of the Babson Ceramic Studio, and the Psyche Inspired team.

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Reflections on Project 2: Reaching for the Future

Reaching for the future

Meagan Martin

January 19th, 2024

Major: Engineering with Industrial Design

Genre/Medium: Pine Wood, Wooden dowels, Acrylic Paint, Wood Finish

About the work: This work comprises five hand-carved wooden toys inspired by various aspects of the Psyche Mission. Specifically, it features models of the Psyche spacecraft, asteroid, and rocket, along with two scientists and a command center console. All five elements were made from pine wood decorated with acrylic paint and coated in a clear varnish. All toys are placed in a box roughly approximating a typical toy box. The toys are designed to inspire the people who interact with them to become involved and excited about space—encouraging their users to dream of space and engage with the collective wonder of the mysteries and wonder of space. The toys represent the power of play and the impact of childhood toys on individuals’ paths and passions; these toys encourage the option to work in and opportunities found within STEAM fields.

The five toys sit in a cardboard box with one side replaced with transparent plastic. The box is a gradient from yellow to purple across the length and width but has solid colors of yellow and purple on the remaining two sides. The five wooden toys, which were formed using a mix of hand-carving wood lathe work and laser cutting, are within the box and include a representation of the psyche satellite with a silver cube structure with a shallow cone on one side, with laser cut panels with a grid pattern, highlighted by gold paint in contrast to the blue color of the general panels. Below the satellite within the box is a toy command center with multiple screens showing various artistic representations of the psyche asteroid orbit, satellite, and several other screens made from laser-cut inland slabs. To the right of the center, we created two scientists who fit into the command center; each has a white coat and will add layers of play to the set. Next to the scientists is a wooden representation of the psyche asteroid decorated in gray, silver, and gold. The final toy in the box is a representation of the Falcon Heavy Rocket, which launched the Psyche spacecraft. It is painted black and white with colorful details.

This work would not have been possible without the help, knowledge, and support of Dyllan Nguyen, The Olin shop staff, and the Psyche Inspired team.

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Reflections on Project 3: The Light of Psyche

The Light of Psyche

Meagan Martin

February 23rd, 2024

Major: Engineering with Industrial Design

Genre/Medium: Glass, Wood, and LED lights

About the work: The Light of Psyche is a blown glass lamp in the shape of the Psyche Asteroid set on a wooden base. This work was inspired by the physical form of the psyche asteroid as well as the strong emotional connection society has to Psyche as a beacon of hope, inspiration, and wonder–a true representation of the human soul.

The blown glass form was created through the use of a 3D print of the psyche, a silicon mold of a negative of the form, a wax positive of the asteroid, and a one-use Plaster mold. The glass form was blown in the plaster mold and finished via cold working. The Wooden base was shaped via a router and stained with natural wood stain. The LED light is inlaid in the base in a recessed port.

This work was made possible due to the help and guidance of Zachary Fielder, Dyllan Nguyen, Sarah Swartwout, James Morley Read, James McLeod, Benjamin Linder, Conor Davies, Olivia Eburne, Chirs Watts, and Jeff Mentuck.

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Reflections on Project 4: A Feminist View of Psyche

A Feminist View of Psyche

Meagan Martin

May 20th, 2024

Major: Engineering with Industrial Design

Genre/Medium: Oil on canvas

About the work: A Feminist View of Psyche is an oil on canvas painting that features a representation of the goddess Psyche under the dome of the Psyche asteroid, surrounded by some of the many inspirational women of NASA. The four women featured are Katherine Johnson, Sally Ride, Margaret Hamilton, and Mae Jemison. The four women are surrounded by technical equipment as well as iconography representing the four mythological trials of Psyche, dually representing the four women’s substantial challenges as they paved the way for women within the space program. Their representations visually build up to Psyche’s standing form, which is reaching down to a child to give a gift of three stars, a symbol of the goddess. The image of the child is based on a picture of my mother, whose love of space first introduced me to its wonder. All the figures are set again, an abstract view of space. The work hopes to acknowledge the many women who paved the way in the space program as well as note their impact on following generations; a thank you to all women who inspire and encourage others to follow their dreams even if they are found in space.

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