Alchemy of Knowledge Exhibition Fabrication with Francisco & Fredy Gabuardy
The Linda Hall Exhibition Specialist Francisco Gabuardy teamed up with his twin brother Fredy to create the incredible fabrication pieces on view in the Alchemy of Knowledge exhibition. We spoke with the brothers to get a behind-the-scenes look at their work.
Can you talk us through your process for creating the fabrication pieces in the Alchemy of Knowledge exhibition?
Francisco: All the pieces went through a four-step process. The first step was research, second step was fabrication, third step was installation, and then the final step was lighting. An example of this is the forest.
With the forest, one of the things that I had to figure out was a final chemical substance that we could use to spray the branches that we collected from the Arboretum outside so that they could be brought inside safely without any bugs, so they wouldn't damage that insect collection. I had to do a lot of research to find a chemical that was safe to use but strong enough to repel bugs.
For the fabrication, we had to collect the branches and create a base. We used a construction foam. The challenge for the installation was making sure everything would be installed in a way that it wouldn't damage the surrounding of the space. And in the final lighting step, as a cherry on top, you create romantic lighting that makes small details pop.
What's something people might not know that goes into being a fabrication artist working on an exhibition like this?
Francisco: How important interactive elements are. The Alchemy table is definitely a good example of this. In the research, there was a lot of troubleshooting to figure out the engineering. Also, how people will interact with it, and figuring out a system that was able to withstand the constant use.
Did you use any Library materials as inspiration for the pieces you created?
Fredy: Yes, the Gothic windows. We decided to look at the wood grain and the colors that exist inside the Library. So, we used the interior of the Library as an influence for that section of the cathedral.
Francisco: And for me, for research material, obviously, I used the arboretum of The Linda Hall for inspiration.
What was the most stubborn or difficult material you had to work with for the exhibition, and how did you overcome those limitations?
Fredy: It wasn't as much the material, but rather the process. Referring back to the Gothic windows, when we were working, we wanted to make sure the final finish felt very natural. We had to do many tests until we finally were able to find one that was successful and accomplished all the things that we wanted to do in terms of balancing the preexisting interior architecture. So, we had to do many tests in order to get that finished feel that was natural.
What fabrication techniques did you use to create some of the pieces, and were any of them new to you that you had to learn on the spot?
Francisco: One of the techniques that I learned is the use of the scale ruler. I've never used that before, but I can see why it's very useful when it comes to figuring out how tall things need to be, how wide they need to be, so that they fit correctly in the space.
What's your favorite piece in the exhibition?
Fredy: We both agreed that the forest was our favorite piece. It was fun to work on, and it also reminded us of the deep Nicaraguan forest that we played in as kids.
What's something people might not know about that goes into being a fabrication artist?
Francisco: I definitely think of the interactive table. In fabrication, the interactive element is something that is small but makes a huge impact in the big picture. I had to not only figure out the engineering of it but also figure out how the visitors would interact with it, and figure out a system that was able to withstand the constant use.
How did you make sure your pieces fit seamlessly within the whole expression as a whole?
Francisco: Communication was one of the keys. The other one was creating mockups. That helped us figure out how things will flow visually.
What do you hope people learn or feel when they visit the exhibition?
Fredy: I hope people explore and discover moments that are rich with details and knowledge in the exhibition.
Francisco: I hope that when people walk through the exhibition, they feel as if they're traveling through time.
Featured fabricated pieces created by Francisco and Fredy are on display now as part of the Alchemy of Knowledge exhibition. Exhibition galleries are open during Library operating hours. Learn more about this exhibition and plan your visit here!
