Electronic Dust Series

This series is a subversion of ceramic failure, turning lime pop into a physical metaphor for the ephemeral, constantly evolving ecosystem of open-source 3D object libraries. These objects I used in these videos are downloaded from the open-source library. These 3D-printed objects are used as molds to cast my lime and clay mixture, then demolded, dried, and fired. Once fired, the objects are filmed over two to three weeks by time-lapse photography and video recording, documenting the exact moments when physical form dissolves back into dust.

  • In the world of ceramics, limestone contamination is traditionally seen as a catastrophic failure. When clay containing calcium carbonate is fired, it initially appears stable. However, as the fired body absorbs moisture from the air, the lime expands with enough force to shatter the surface from within. This delayed destruction, known as "lime pop," can occur days or even weeks after the work leaves the kiln.

    While most ceramicists view "lime pop" as a technical malfunction, I am drawn to its raw energy and transformational power. It serves as a physical manifestation of the digital cloud: a space that feels stable, yet is inherently volatile and prone to sudden change. By isolating the lime pop, and engineering a specific recipe and firing cycle, I capture the exact moment when a work transitions from form into dust.

    I translate digital data into physical form by 3D printing it and making a mold. The mold is then filled with a specialized wet lime-rich clay mixture. After de-molding and drying, the solid objects are fired between  Cone 06–9, (1000°C-1280°C)


“Liberator”, 2026 created in Boston. Fired lime rich ceramic materials to cone 9. Recorded for 2 weeks. “Liberator” focuses on the dark side of file sharing, showcasing world first 3D printed gun, Liberator by Defense Distributed in 2013.

 

“Connector”, 2019. Created in Birmingham, UK. Fired lime-rich ceramic materials to cone 06, 5, and 6; time-lapse recording for 2-3 weeks each. “Connector” was created with three rod connector files (y245 length45thicker, 4-way cross connector 11, Rod 90/18) that are a remix of the original (Every Rod Connector 3.0), which is available through ‘Thingiverse’ online. It is an example of how anyone can contribute to an existing file for slightly different purposes and also share it to be altered and used.

 

“Screw Bit”, 2018. Created in Romhild, Germany. Fired lime-rich ceramic materials to cone 01, time-lapse recording for 6 days. This is one of the first experiments I made with my lime-pop mixture.

 

“Bolt” , 2018. Created in Romhild, Germany. Fired lime-rich ceramic materials to cone 06, time-lapse recording for 4 days. This is one of the first experiments I made with my lime-pop mixture.