Mollie Walsh -
Over the past two months, a dedicated group of seven makers have been working on an unusual group build. In this latest collaboration at Vector Space, members challenged themselves to create something unexpected: a giant cardboard sculpture.
After years of constructing massive cardboard boats for Parks and Rec’s Great Cardboard Boat Race—which is, sadly, on hold —the team felt compelled to broaden their horizons. Without the restrictions of a boat race to adhere to, they were free to stretch in unprecedented directions. They didn’t yet know what to build, only that they needed to build, build something for building’s sake. Build something as a team and build something to delight their own sense of wonder.
Naturally, a Pandora’s box of ideas arose—ranging from a grand castle to a Mississippi River steamboat with a working paddlewheel. After much fantasizing, the team’s imagination finally led them into a dark Eastern European forest, where they voted to bring to life the mysterious house of Baba Yaga. If you know the lore, you’ll recall that Baba Yaga’s home has a sentient gate and stands on giant chicken legs—very special circumstances indeed. You’ll also know that you don’t want to offend her, so building her house with respect and integrity at towering heights was no small task. Did the team choose it for the challenge? I like to think so.Shifting their focus in this feat of cardboard and with tedious and laborious amounts of love, detail and plenty of debates over structural design would eventually result in a sculpture that stands precariously—yet proudly—at just over sixteen feet high.
Aesthetically, the piece embodies the team’s collective vision of Baba Yaga’s infamous home — a figure both fearsome and wise, cruel and just. Our members come from all walks of making — some new to the space, some with us since the beginning; some engineers, some homemakers — most hesitant to describe themselves as artists at the start of this build. I hope that now they can at least see it as a possibility, after considering the scope of this project, the impact it’s had on audiences, and the artistic bravery it took to collaborate on something so grand.
Similar to our ragtag assembly of makers, cardboard as a medium captures the spirit of the project perfectly: humble, accessible, and sustainable, yet capable of inspiring awe. With imagination, skill, and teamwork, even the simplest materials can transform into something extraordinary — and the most unexpected group of people can come together to create something truly magical. The dedication to excellence was evident in every stage of the process: the countless trials and mockups, the patience required to build and repair each toe, and the shared persistence that carried the team through from concept to completion.
Artists: Robyn Troyer, Randy Sass, Allison Swede, Reese Preston, Paul Van De Graaf, Nicholas Grummon & Mollie Walsh
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