Dragonfly —
by Sari Grove

Description:

The key to making a no-weld armature: 1/2 inch copper strapping (plumbing section of your hardware store)-this copper strapping has 1/2 inch holes in it...These holes will fit a 10-24 size threaded steel rod (galvanized)...So you can stick the rod through the holes & then bolt it in...This means you can attach rods together without welding...The copper bends, so you can send your rods in any direction...This is my innovation, for those who don't want to burn their corneas by welding... The weave is a boat knot called a Monkey chain knot...The line is called Mason's line, which is what bricklayers use to keep their bricks straight...It is also available as Nylon line in size 18, in various colours from special importers... The sculpture moves at all joints...The wings can flap, the legs can move...It is hanging on a wall now by its 4 feet, but it can also stand on a floor or pedestal or can be attached to a floor more permanently through the extra holes in its feet...Rod is all galvanized so rust is not a huge fear... Theoretically, the wings could be attached to a small motor to make them flap...An LED light can be added to the tail, to make it glow in the dark... This is a prototype piece, a teaching model...Extra glue has NOT been added to the nylon to the knots...This might keep them from moving, but for the moment, glue is making me tired-just the scent of it is giving me a headache now...So no glue...But maybe later if I think the line needs more permanence...But it seems over time that the line is gripping itself better, just from experience! Sari Grove 2013