Cason t's Senior Project Blog

Project Title: A Castle Fit For a King: Building a Chess Set BASIS Advisor: Dawn Ventura Internship Location: Home Art Studio Onsite Mentor: Junya Shao, Artist

Project Abstract

From a young age, I loved to play chess. Even though I wasn’t very good, I stuck to it and eventually improved. As I grew, so did my understanding of the game and its vast possibilities. The sheer limitless number of ways you could play drew similarities to something else I loved: art. So, why not combine the two? Throughout the project, I will be creating, planning, and designing a personalized chess set. This endeavor will allow me to channel my interest in working with 3D mediums by crafting a wooden board and learning both woodworking and ceramics to make the 32 individual pieces. The methodical approach to building the entire set will not only refine my skills but also serve as a foundation for future projects. Along the way, I will be researching the history of chess and exploring its cultural impacts, which may influence the design process. Additionally, I will consult experts about the artistic process to enhance my work. To achieve this, I will utilize wood-cutting machines for general shapes of wood and traditional hand tools for finer details. I will also use needle tools, ribs, and loop tools to work and detail the clay.