Applied Imagination
Experiential Design Co-Op | Spring and Fall 2024
Applied Imagination is a company based in Alexandria, Kentucky that uses botanical and natural material to create iconic models that celebrate architecture and the natural world.
I have assisted with projects for:
To create a walk-through garden exhibit with elevated train tracks inspired by iconic Arizona landmarks.
Carving
The formations were carved out of large styrofoam blocks using hot knives.
Sand Texture
Sprinkling on a glue, sand, and grout mixture for added realistic texture.
Natural Material
Applying horse chestnut bark, peat moss, and ground cork to hide exposed supports for train track.
To create a walk through garden archway exhibit inspired by the four seasons and twelve months in a year.
Hanging Wisteria
Adding various materials to make the model resemble the real building. Horse chestnut bark was used and sanded to mimic the off-white colonial style stone on the building.
The materializing process also entailed carving the letters for the entry and making mini working porch lights.
Smoothing
We then applied a heat gun to the surfaces for a smoother texture.
The building’s walls were blocked out and cut from large pieces of 3/4" gator foam.
First Coat
Coating the carved forms in latex to protect from outdoor conditions.
Chipmunks
Squirrels
*I worked on a large variety of aspects for the arches, but these three are the components I was tasked with making.
Painting and coating Pintado Heart seed pods, drilling holes, and intertwinning them with wire to represent wisteria.
Placing the wisteria on the arch to create a magical, whimsical effect resembling the real hanging flowers.
Carving chipmumks out of foam and placing natural materials such as peach pits and palm fiber to make them look realistic.
Carving squirrels out of foam and placing natural materials such as bark and palm fiber to make them look realistic.
Adding finishing touch details and shading to differentiate the grey squirrels from red squirrels.
Photos by: Franklin Park Conservatory
https://www.fpconservatory.org/exhibitions/through-the-vines-a-seasonal-journey/
Grout pouring for the walls, UV resin pouring for the windows, and cutting locust wood for the roof shingles.
