Anagrams in MDF on the CNC router
For the past two years I have made a lot of text-based work, all of which has been presented in vinyl on the studio wall. Finally, at the beginning of year three, I have branched out into three dimensions.
As happens so rarely (for me) this idea has its roots in its visual effect. I mentioned to a tutor that I had been thinking about how text might look on a large piece of MDF board (painted or coated in something nice and glossy), or even cut out of it. He suggested I take a quick class in Adobe Illustrator and design something to be cut out with the CNC router they have in woodwork.
I had been considering the effect that an anagram might have – cutting a word out of a piece of wood, forming an anagram out of its letters, and presenting it alongside the cut MDF. I struggled to come up with an anagram that meant anything, then I remembered that early on in the year I had realised that I was thinking myself OUT of making work, and that this time I had to just MAKE SOMETHING in order to get the ball rolling; to see whether my instincts about the visual aspect were right.
I needed something short and snappy, with an easy anagram that might at least raise a smile, if not an eyebrow. I went with ELVIS LIVES. At this stage it’s only a trial piece, and I have since come up with a few decent anagrams, which I think I will probably make, as I really like the look of ELVIS LIVES.
