Supplemental Guidelines
There are some additional things I want to address to avoid potential problems as we dive into the making of things. Some may seem obvious, but all need to be said. The first element may be the hardest to create since there is nothing to "respond" to yet
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We are all going to have to practice our best Zen non-attachment here. you can expect people to alter your elements slightly as needed to facilitate the addition of their elements. I don't want any ego issues or complaints that someone "ruined" their piece. In agreeing to work collaboratively, you are agreeing that the work is "our" work, not "your or my" work. (When in doubt...communicate.)
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Having said the above, do not intentionally deface or alter someone else's element to the extent that it no longer impacts the piece in the same way it did when you got hold of it. If someone gives you a piece with a nicely polished bronze element, don't paint the bronze green because you want it to be green. Focus your energy on what YOU are adding, not what someone else added before you.
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Resist the urge to do too much. We don't want eight finished sculptures cobbled together into one. We want eight elements that work well together to create a cohesive whole.
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Resist the urge to do too little. Try to impact each piece that comes you way in the most effective way possible.
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Don't add the same element to every piece. I know that many people have a "style" of work, but mix it up a bit. If everyone added the same element to each piece we would end up with eight identical sculptures in the end.
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Try to create elements that lend themselves to further addition by other. Make it easier on your fellow collaborators. Give them a place to attach something to.
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The first piece does not need to be the bottom piece. In fact, there doesn't need to be a specific orientation for anything. If at some point during the process the piece needs to be given a specific orientation, and a base of some sort, thats fine.
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Elements can be made up of multiple pieces. They do not need to be one physical object.
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Elements do not necessarily have to be attached to each other at all, but it will be much easier to deal with if they are. If you want to create an element that sits next to the existing elements, just be sure that you document the appropriate orientation for me and others in you group. Lets try not to end up with huge sprawling installation pieces though. When the project is finished we will have one sculpture for everyone participating, and that is already a HUGE amount of work.
Feel free to suggest additions to these supplemental guidelines.
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