Inflatable bases and overall system design and testing

For the bases I decided to mod some fermentation buckets. I cut the handles and outer rims off the bucket tops, as well as the outer rim of their lids. This streamlined their form so that the fabric fits neatly around each bucket while also retaining enough structural integrity to be sturdy as a base.

I cut 5 holes in the bucket bases. This is to allow appropriate ventilation and to feed/ cool the fan in each.

I cut a hole in the centre of each lid to the same diameter as the fan blower nozzles.

I will close the system, making it airtight, by using gaffer tape to secure the fan nozzle and the bucket lid in place, with white tape so it's invisible. I just used the neon pink tape because it's what I had to hand. Plus it's fucking fantastic.

I tested the system using 2 buckets and it worked perfectly. I'm not even sure that I'll need all 5 fans. 

After leveling off the column lengths, I hemmed them, attaching one side of this industrial velcro strip to each column bottom.

The other side of the velcro I attached to the bucket bases, just above the ventilation holes, creating an airtight yet removable seal between the bases and the textile inflatable. 

I applied foam sticky back strip underneath the velcro on the buckets, to create a silo of air the while length of its form, giving the inflatable more structural integrity.

I placed a bag of clay inside each bucket to weigh it down and then inserted a fan unit, sealing up the system as I went.

The system was finally ready to test.

It is self supporting, silent and looks really strong. I'm really happy with it overall and feel very proud that I've managed to pull such an ambitious sculpture off.

The piece is tactile and interactive too; with column arches big enough to walk through even as an adult.

The only issue is that the cabling is a so messy. 

So I have decided to mod the fan units by attaching them to a 12V motorbike battery, so that all rhe electrical can be contained inside each column bucket. It looks neater and it's less of a trip hazard.

Homeward bound again to fit the batteries over the weekend before the show.