Psyche Inspired
Learn more about the Psyche Inspired program and view other works
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Psyche Inspired: Cameryn Laborte
Institution: Seattle University
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Psyche Inspired Class: 2020-2021
Around Psyche
Cameryn Laborte
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Genre/Medium: embroidery hoops
About the work: The organic shape of Psyche contrasting with the rigid, sharp-angled spacecraft inspired me to look for more of the beautiful, round shapes associated with the Psyche mission. The first and largest piece was inspired by the path the Psyche spacecraft will take from Earth to the asteroid with a gravity assist from Mars. The second piece was inspired by Dr. Rona Oran’s presentation on what the electromagnetic field might look like around Psyche. The last piece captures Psyche itself in vibrant colors from the mission badge.
Toward Collision
Cameryn Laborte
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Genre/Medium: isomalt, cake
About the work: I was inspired by the hypothesis that Psyche may be the product of powerful collisions that stripped away the mantle of a protoplanet, leaving behind its inner core material. In this piece, I wanted to demonstrate a cross-section of that protoplanet headed towards a powerful collision with edible art. I textured white chocolate, broke it into shards, and colored it with different shades of grey metallic powder to represent the hypothesized iron core. I chose these metallic colorings and sharp, jagged textures to contrast the rocky mantle. I packed a chocolate hemisphere with a chocolate cake and frosting mixture to represent the mantle. Crumbled cake shows the contrast of how soft rock materials are in comparison to metal. The crumbled cake also showed the characteristics of some rocky asteroids composed of many individual stones, or in this case crumbs. To show the movement that this protoplanet would go through, I used isomalt to create a red sugar sail that surrounds the chocolate hemisphere.
A Psyche Dozen
Cameryn Laborte
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Genre/Medium: butter cookies and icing
About the work: I relate the excitement of sharing Psyche to the sharing of good food. With that, I created a set of decorated cookies to look like the mission badge and the Psyche asteroid. I designed and 3D printed custom cookie cutters, with the mission badge cutter having a stamping feature for greater accuracy of the design. After baking, I used icing of the same colors as the mission badge. I tried smearing the icing to create gradients similar to the badge. For a more detailed approach, such as the black lettering and most accurate badge cookie, I used an edible watercolor technique.
Cameryn Laborte
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Genre/Medium: gingerbread and butter cookies with icing, food coloring gels, and powders
About the work: Inspired by the people of the Psyche mission, I created gingerbread molasses and butter cookies using icing and an edible watercolor technique to symbolize not only the person, but the lesson I took away from each of them. Marisol Arenas demonstrated the importance of continuous learning and growth, even against adversity. Lindsay McLaurin shared the importance of connecting with others, sharing the excitement of the mission, and feeding off of feedback. Tom Prettyman’s presentation showed that interplanetary comparisons of data connect what we learn from separate missions. Kristina Larson drilled the importance of communication between distinct, interlocking areas. Dr. Lindy Elkins-Tanton helped me realize the connections between the arts and sciences and how our exploration of space offers a greater understanding of ourselves. Ravi Prakash recalled his varying experiences, pointing out that every opportunity offers something to learn. While I’ve only decorated a handful of people involved, the people of the Psyche mission offer so much in their work and in what they can teach, and I wanted to honor that
Cookie Psyche Excitement
Cameryn Laborte
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Genre/Medium: butter cookies and icing
About the work: I relate the excitement of sharing Psyche to the sharing of good food. With that, I created a set of decorated cookies to look like the mission badge and the Psyche asteroid. I designed and 3D printed custom cookie cutters, with the mission badge cutter having a stamping feature for greater accuracy of the design. After baking, I used icing of the same colors as the mission badge. I tried smearing the icing to create gradients similar to the badge. For a more detailed approach, such as the black lettering and most accurate badge cookie, I used an edible watercolor technique.
