Hooter Owl

Maeve Hind, 2018

ABS plastic

Dimensions variable

Collection of the artist

“Hooter Owl” is a 3D-printed owl from a collection of 3D busts made by university students. All of the objects within the collection were from an online museum resource and all objects are historical. Typically an object of this size takes around four or five hours to print. It was a very successful print as all of the detail of the owl remained intact when breaking down the supports. Supports are added in the printing process to hold the object upright and keep it stable but must be broken down to reveal the object after the printing. This object was a part of the collection at the university but now resides in a personal collection of its maker.

Owls are of great significance to me as someone who struggles with anxiety and has a stuffed owl which provides comfort. I wanted to print an owl as a smaller object to represent the stuffed owl’s significance. The object now symbolizes comfort, companionship, and safety. This object’s use remains as a portable object to provide comfort, while also speaking to future forms. The first 3D printers were used in the 80s but are being used with more advanced technology now and are able to do amazing things. As technology continues to advance, they will be able to do more and more and take the role as the “maker” rather than a human being.

“Hooter Owl” is something that is very personal although created by a printer and a form that can be recreated by anyone who has the resources I had and can be manipulated very easily. As we are immersed in technology today, many questions arise around the value of objects. Many may ask if this object's value is lessened because it was created by technology. I would argue that it doesn’t, because of the amount of significance it holds to me. Though only an image, through this platform there is an chance to connect with it as they read my words and view the image and its relationship to others in the exhibition.

Maeve Hind