Damian Hurst's conceptual art projects make you think about our society. His irreverent use of everyday objects is at once whimsical and profound. This piece, inspired by one of his, features pills.

You'll need:

-1 12-by-12-inch Plexiglas mirror
-6 1-by-12-inch clear Plexiglas strips about 1/4-inch thick
-Collection of small, round, colorful objects, such as pills or buttons
-White glue
-Methylene chloride (a solvent that bonds to Plexiglass; available at most hobby stores)
-Clamps

Clamp a shelf in place on the Plexiglass mirror, and bond it to the face of the surface using the methylene chloride. To do so, place a corner of the mirror on the table so the clamped shelf is on a slight incline, and put the needle applicator of the agent at the top of the shelf, at the very crux of the two pieces of acrylic. (The needle directs the flow of the bonding agent more precisely than the tip of the bottle could.) The bonding agent will run down the crack to the bottom, bonding the shelf instantly. Now remove the clamps, and the piece should be bonded firmly in place. (The bond is immediate, so be sure the shelf is exactly where you want it before you apply the solvent.) Repeat this process with all six shelves.

Now it's time to affix your decorative elements. (We used pills, but you can use any other colorful objects.) Apply a small drop of glue to the shelf where you will place the item, then set the item into the glue. If using pills, make sure any printing is upright.

Now your piece is ready to hang; you can do that by attaching tab hangers on the back. Try experimenting with other objects that pique your interest - beauty supplies, sewing notions, etc. Let your imagination go wild!

Episode 110 Main Page