We continue to be impressed by the talented Makers in the CustomMade community and their ability to step up to a good challenge – no matter how crazy it might be. This project for BODIES: The Exhibition was certainly no different. As the exhibition continued travelling to science museums across the country, they found that they needed an attention grabbing and unique way to draw outsiders into the exhibit, and they wanted it to be something more than just your typical billboard or print advertisement.
So they contacted Faith Schexnnayder of Flatfork Studios in Austin, Texas with the challenge to fabricate a larger than life–yet completely realistic–sculpture of a human heart. Undaunted by the request, Flatfork Studios immediately accepted the challenge. The sculpture needed to be in New York City as soon as possible as the exhibit was setting up there soon, so with a tight deadline the Flatfork crew got to work.
Faith says that this carve was their “fastest carve ever,” which is really saying something because Flatfork Studios carve everything completely by hand. Plus, once the heart was carved, it measured roughly 14ft tall, 8ft deep and 15ft long. When it was nearly complete, the Flatfork Crew then brought in a doctor to number each part of the heart and define their functions to keep things as accurate as possible.
The sculpture then traveled to New York City where it was on display on Pier 17 while BODIES: The Exhibition was in town before continuing on its journey to other cities promoting the exhibit. Scroll right to view the images and watch this massive human heart pump new life (and new visitors) into the BODIES exhibition.
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