MOLECULAR TREE

BY JAKE MCRAE

For this piece, I was inspired by the forms of molecular geometry and the ways that atoms and molecules are depicted. The spheres and rods represent atoms and the bonds between them. Bonds are depicted as either single, double or triple. The rings around each rod further emphasize the different numbers of bonds and add greater depth to the piece. To provide a stronger sense of balance and flow, I chose to vary the sizes of both the rods and spheres. This creates a branching effect, which could be interpreted as representing different atoms and bond strengths.

“Ultimately, my goal was to reinterpret the way that molecules are illustrated in a dynamic and three dimensional sculpture.”

I have been making art for most of my life. I attended a visual-arts focused school for both middle and high school where I was able to explore various techniques and styles. At the University of Puget Sound, I was given the opportunity to work in the sculpture department which led me to explore three dimensional mediums in greater depth. Since then, I have been experimenting with various 3D art processes, most recently exploring welding. I created this particular piece mostly from found materials that I shaped and cut using various tools. I used a flux core welder to fuse the parts together into the final sculpture and sanded it down to give it a smoother finished look.