Kim Schmahmann

Kim Schmahmann

Kim Schmahmann

Belabeled

2015-19
maple, poplar, multiple veneers, cables, mirror, and steel hardware
H  x  W  x  D
9′ x 5’4″ x 6″
Permanent Collection of the Peabody Essex Museum

Labels Matter

In this piece, we see an actual reflection of ourselves in the mirror. But the rest of what we see is an optical illusion.

Everything is on the surface. Yet it appears to have depth.

Isn’t that how a label works—especially when applied to people?

We give them a label, which is only on the surface, but it seems to give depth to that person. This ‘depth’ is merely an illusion.

The labels and the judgments we put on ourselves and others are optical illusions. Once we have the courage to see them for what they are, we can start confronting our own prejudices.

This is a piece about identity, about how we define ourselves and others through labels.

From the moment we are born, we are given labels. We acquire more labels during our lives — both those we give ourselves and those others give us.  These labels become powerful because they frame how we see ourselves and others, shaping expectations and possibilities. In remaining  attached to our labels, we lose sight of who we might become.

This piece marks the place where we routinely stop to check ourselves before heading out to face the world — the hallway mirror. The mirror challenges us to reflect on the power of labels in our lives.

Kim Standing in front of Belabeled
Left View of Belabeled
Form

The piece consists of a tromp l’oeil marquetry on two wall panels, with mirror and cables. 

The marquetry depicts a structure in the process of being constructed and deconstructed. This structure terminates in three-dimensional blocks that are inlaid with commonly recognized labels. The blocks are held in tension by the cables that crisscross the mirror split across the two panels.

The label blocks are arranged in a specific order. Those positioned above the horizon depict labels that when given to individuals endow them with significant advantages in society — white, boy, smart, rich, etc.  Those blocks positioned below the horizon display labels that place individuals at considerable disadvantages in society — black, girl, poor, gay, etc.

Right View of Belabeled
Detail of White and Black Blocks
Informative Image
Detail of Thin Label
Smart, Strong and Good Labels
Informative Image
Informative Image
Informative Image
Drawings for the Marquetry — Multiple Iterations
Informative Image
Making the Title Blocks

Click on the Navigation Arrows to see more.

Designing the Block Layout

The position of the label blocks was known at this stage but the orientation of the cables had to be worked out in-situ.

Procedure Layout in 3D Model

I worked out the multiple steps needed to make the blocks using a 3D model.

Milled Wood

Milling is one of the hardest procedures for me.  I not only love trees but see them as an essential part of our environment.  Trees are not the renewable resource that we think they are. It is important to treat each piece of wood with honor and respect.

Vacuum Veneering

For the blocks, I chose vacuum over hammer veneering because I wanted to reduce as much dimensional changes to the blocks as possible.

Grain Direction

It is important to keep track of the grain direction on each piece of veneer because the grain direction affects how light is reflected.  

Jig for Block Veneering

I used jigs to veneer the angled sides of the label blocks.  The jig stops the block from sliding under pressure during glue-up of the veneer.

Jig for Drilling

The tolerance for the holes in the underside of the label blocks had to be .25mm because the inserted tensioning hardware needing to match up perfectly.   

Underside of Label Blocks

The large holes house the cable tensioning device and the two smal holes are for bolting the label block to the marquetry panel.

Veneering the Label onto the Block

For full video click on button below.

Making the Cables

Click on the Navigation Arrows to see more

Making the Tension Cables

Click on the Navigation Arrows to see more.

Prototyping the Pegs

The original pegs were 3D-printed but as they easily snapped under stress, they were rejected.

Wooden Peg with Tensioning Device

After rejecting the 3D printing process, I tried pegs made out of maple wood.

Refining the Shape of the Wooden Peg

As the space under the label blocks is limited, I needed to reduce the thickness of the pegs to fit the hardware.

Strengthening the Pegs

To increase the strength of the wooden pegs, I laminated the hard maple wood. 

Fitting the Peg

I had to make sure that the pegs would fit into the space provided on the inside of the label block.  

Prototyping the Final Peg Assembly

I needed to make sure that the peg, the tensioning hardware, and the label block would fit well together.

Peg Bracket

Each peg is fixed in place by means of a bracket siutated on the underside of the marquetry panel.

Assembly Completed

All pegs made and bolted to their brackets.

Laying Out the Cables
Creative

What do we mean? … inventive, imaginative, innovative, innovatory, innovational, experimental, original, artistic, . . . ?

Block/Cable Support

What is not visible is critical to keeping the whole toghether. Isn’t that how life works?

Turns out it was a challenge to work out how to conceal the cable tensioning devices and how to hold the cables in place.

Thin

Our culture is obsessed with Thin.

Why do we feel more worthy when we are thin?

Framing the Panel

I used a combination of sliding dovetails and epoxy to make the panels rigid — my first use of a non-reversable adhesive. I felt this part of the structure would (hopefully) not need to be redone.

Making Thin

Take a few pieces of veneer, soak them in hot hide glue and curl them round a low-calorie bottle of ginger ale.  Wrap and hold in place till dry.

If only it were so easy to be thin!

Installing the Mirror

Installing the mirror was a precarious moment as one false move could have damaged the surface or the marquetry.

It’s a Boy!

We are defined by our physical characteristics. Why do we limit ourselves so?

It’s a Wrap!

The making of this piece ended up being more of a challenge than I expected.  The design went through many iterations and what I thought would be a simple panel piece was made substantially more complex by introducing cables under tension that span two large marquetry panels.  

Belabeled

2015-19
maple, poplar, multiple veneers, cables, mirror, and steel hardware
H  x  W  x  D
9′ x 5’4″ x 6″

Labels Matter

In this piece, we see an actual reflection of ourselves in the mirror. But the rest of what we see is an optical illusion.

Everything is on the surface. Yet it appears to have depth.

Isn’t that how a label works—especially when applied to people?

We give them a label, which is only on the surface, but it seems to give depth to that person. This ‘depth’ is merely and illusion.

The labels and the judgments we put on ourselves and others are optical illusions. Once we have the courage to see them for what they are, we can start confronting our own prejudices.

Kim Standing in front of Belabeled

This is a piece about identity, about how we define ourselves and others through labels.

From the moment we are born, we are given labels. We acquire more labels during our lives — both those we give ourselves and those others give us.  These labels become powerful because they frame how we see ourselves and others, shaping expectations and possibilities. In remaining  attached to our labels, we lose sight of who we might become.

This piece marks the place where we routinely stop to check ourselves before heading out to face the world — the hallway mirror. The mirror challenges us to reflect on the power of labels in our lives.

Form

The piece consists of a tromp l’oeil marquetry on two wall panels, with mirror and cables. 

The marquetry depicts a structure in the process of being constructed and deconstructed. This structure terminates in three-dimensional blocks that are inlaid with commonly recognized labels. The blocks are held in tension by the cables that crisscross the mirror split across the two panels.

The label blocks are arranged in a specific order. Those positioned above the horizon depict labels that when given to individuals endow them with significant advantages in society — white, boy, smart, rich, etc.  Those blocks positioned below the horizon display labels that place individuals at considerable disadvantages in society — black, girl, poor, gay, etc.

Informative Image
Left View of Belabeled
Right View of Belabeled
Detail of White and Black Blocks
Detail of Thin Label
Smart, Strong and Good Labels
Informative Image
Drawings for the Marquetry
Multiple Iterations
Informative Image
Informative Image
Full Size Drawings

I work mostly full size and when throwing vanishing points out manually, they can end up being 12 metres out.  This is one of the unfortunate reasons that I moved to vector drawing applicatons.  I do miss drawing on paper in full scale.  To compensate, I make many prints so as not to lose a sense of the size of the piece.

Making the Title Blocks

Click on the Navigation Arrows to see more.

Designing the Block Layout

The position of the label blocks was known at this stage but the orientation of the cables had to be worked out in-situ.

Procedure Layout in 3D Model

I worked out the multiple steps needed to make the blocks using a 3D model.

Milled Wood

Milling is one of the hardest procedures for me.  I not only love trees but see them as an essential part of our environment.  Trees are not the renewable resource that we think they are. It is important to treat each piece of wood with honor and respect.

Vacuum Veneering

For the blocks, I chose vacuum over hammer veneering because I wanted to reduce as much dimensional changes to the blocks as possible.

Grain Direction

It is important to keep track of the grain direction on each piece of veneer because the grain direction affects how light is reflected.  

Jig for Block Veneering

I used jigs to veneer the angled sides of the label blocks.  The jig stops the block from sliding under pressure during glue-up of the veneer.

Jig for Drilling

The tolerance for the holes in the underside of the label blocks had to be .25mm because the inserted tensioning hardware needing to match up perfectly.   

Underside of Label Blocks

The large holes house the cable tensioning device and the two smal holes are for bolting the label block to the marquetry panel.

Veneering the Label onto the Block

For full video click on button below.

Cables from Concept to Reality
Making the Tension Cables

Click on the Navigation Arrows to see more.

Prototyping the Pegs

The original pegs were 3D-printed but as they easily snapped under stress, they were rejected.

Wooden Peg with Tensioning Device

After rejecting the 3D printing process, I tried pegs made out of maple wood.

Refining the Shape of the Wooden Peg

As the space under the label blocks is limited, I needed to reduce the thickness of the pegs to fit the hardware.

Strengthening the Pegs

To increase the strength of the wooden pegs, I laminated the hard maple wood. 

Fitting the Peg

I had to make sure that the pegs would fit into the space provided on the inside of the label block.  

Prototyping the Final Peg Assembly

I needed to make sure that the peg, the tensioning hardware, and the label block would fit well together.

Peg Bracket

Each peg is fixed in place by means of a bracket siutated on the underside of the marquetry panel.

Assembly Completed

All pegs made and bolted to their brackets.

Laying Out the Cables
Creative

What do we mean? … inventive, imaginative, innovative, innovatory, innovational, experimental, original, artistic, . . . ?

Block/Cable Support

What is not visible is critical to keeping the whole toghether. Isn’t that how life works?

Turns out it was a challenge to work out how to conceal the cable tensioning devices and how to hold the cables in place.

Thin

Our culture is obsessed with Thin.

Why do we feel more worthy when we are thin?

Framing the Panel

I used a combination of sliding dovetails and epoxy to make the panels rigid — my first use of a non-reversable adhesive. I felt this part of the structure would (hopefully) not need to be redone.

It’s a Boy!

We are defined by our physical characteristics. Why do we limit ourselves so?

Installing the Mirror

Installing the mirror was a precarious moment as one false move could have damaged the surface or the marquetry.

Making Thin

Take a few pieces of veneer, soak them in hot hide glue and curl them round a low calorie bottle of ginger ale.  Wrap and hold in place till dry.

If only it were so easy to be thin!  

It’s a Wrap!

The making of this piece ended up being more of a challenge than I expected.  The design went through many iterations and what I thought would be a simple panel piece was made substantially more complex by introducing cables under tension that span two large marquetry panels.

Belabeled

2015-19
maple, poplar, multiple veneers, cables, mirror, and steel hardware
H  x  W  x  D
9′ x 5’4″ x 6″

Labels Matter

In this piece, we see an actual reflection of ourselves in the mirror. But the rest of what we see is an optical illusion.

Everything is on the surface. Yet it appears to have depth.

Isn’t that how a label works—especially when applied to people?

We give them a label, which is only on the surface, but it seems to give depth to that person. This ‘depth’ is merely and illusion.

The labels and the judgments we put on ourselves and others are optical illusions. Once we have the courage to see them for what they are, we can start confronting our own prejudices.

Kim Standing in front of Belabeled

This is a piece about identity, about how we define ourselves and others through labels.

From the moment we are born, we are given labels. We acquire more labels during our lives — both those we give ourselves and those others give us.  These labels become powerful because they frame how we see ourselves and others, shaping expectations and possibilities. In remaining  attached to our labels, we lose sight of who we might become.

This piece marks the place where we routinely stop to check ourselves before heading out to face the world — the hallway mirror. The mirror challenges us to reflect on the power of labels in our lives.

Form

The piece consists of a tromp l’oeil marquetry on two wall panels, with mirror and cables.

The marquetry depicts a structure in the process of being constructed and deconstructed. This structure terminates in three-dimensional blocks that are inlaid with commonly recognized labels. The blocks are held in tension by the cables that crisscross the mirror split across the two panels.

The label blocks are arranged in a specific order. Those positioned above the horizon depict labels that when given to individuals endow them with significant advantages in society — white, boy, smart, rich, etc.  Those blocks positioned below the horizon display labels that place individuals at considerable disadvantages in society — black, girl, poor, gay, etc.

Informative Image
Left View of Belabeled
Right View of Belabeled
Detail of White and Black Blocks
Informative Image
Detail of Thin Label
Smart, Strong and Good Labels
Drawings for the Marquetry
Multiple Iterations
Informative Image
Informative Image
Full Size Drawings

I prefer to draw on paper, but given the challenges of creating vanishing points on large drawings at full scale, I now work with vector drawing software. To compensate, I make many prints so as not to lose a sense of scale. 

Making the Title Blocks

Click on the Navigation Arrows to see more.

Designing the Block Layout

The position of the label blocks was known at this stage but the orientation of the cables had to be worked out in-situ.

Procedure Layout in 3D Model

I worked out the multiple steps needed to make the blocks using a 3D model.

Milled Wood

Milling is one of the hardest procedures for me.  I not only love trees but see them as an essential part of our environment.  Trees are not the renewable resource that we think they are. It is important to treat each piece of wood with honor and respect.

Vacuum Veneering

For the blocks, I chose vacuum over hammer veneering because I wanted to reduce as much dimensional changes to the blocks as possible.

Grain Direction

It is important to keep track of the grain direction on each piece of veneer because the grain direction affects how light is reflected.  

Jig for Block Veneering

I used jigs to veneer the angled sides of the label blocks.  The jig stops the block from sliding under pressure during glue-up of the veneer.

Jig for Drilling

The tolerance for the holes in the underside of the label blocks had to be .25mm because the inserted tensioning hardware needing to match up perfectly.   

Underside of Label Blocks

The large holes house the cable tensioning device and the two smal holes are for bolting the label block to the marquetry panel.

Veneering the Label onto the Block

For full video click on button below.

Cables from Concept to Reality
Making the Tension Cables

Click on the Navigation Arrows to see more.

Prototyping the Pegs

The original pegs were 3D-printed but as they easily snapped under stress, they were rejected.

Wooden Peg with Tensioning Device

After rejecting the 3D printing process, I tried pegs made out of maple wood.

Refining the Shape of the Wooden Peg

As the space under the label blocks is limited, I needed to reduce the thickness of the pegs to fit the hardware.

Strengthening the Pegs

To increase the strength of the wooden pegs, I laminated the hard maple wood. 

Fitting the Peg

I had to make sure that the pegs would fit into the space provided on the inside of the label block.  

Prototyping the Final Peg Assembly

I needed to make sure that the peg, the tensioning hardware, and the label block would fit well together.

Peg Bracket

Each peg is fixed in place by means of a bracket siutated on the underside of the marquetry panel.

Assembly Completed

All pegs made and bolted to their brackets.

Laying out the Cables
Creative

What do we mean? … inventive, imaginative, innovative, innovatory, innovational, experimental, original, artistic, . . . ?

Block/Cable Support

What is not visible is critical to keeping the whole toghether. Isn’t that how life works?

Turns out it was a challenge to work out how to conceal the cable tensioning devices and how to hold the cables in place.

Thin

Our culture is obsessed with Thin.

Why do we feel more worthy when we are thin?

Its a Boy!

We are defined by our physical characteristics. Why do we limit ourselves so?

Installing the Mirror

Installing the mirror was a precarious moment as one false move could have damaged the surface or the marquetry.

Making Thin

Take a few pieces of veneer, soak them in hot hide glue and curl them round a low calorie bottle of ginger ale.  Wrap and hold in place till dry.

If only it were so easy to be thin!  

It’s a Wrap!

The making of this piece ended up being more of a challenge than I expected.  The design went through many iterations and what I thought would be a simple panel piece was made substantially more complex by introducing cables under tension that span two large marquetry panels.