The WUIware vessels are 3D printed out of California wildfire ash from the El Dorado Wildfire in San Bernadino County, and both the SCU and CZU lighting complex fires in Santa Clara County. WUI (woo-eee) stands for the Wildland Urban Interface. The WUI is the zone of transition between unoccupied land and human development.It is the line, area or zone where structures and other human development meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland or vegetative fuels. Between 2002 and 2016, an average of over 3,000 structures per year were lost to WUI fires in the United States and the WUI area continues to grow as cities expand.
The WUIware raise questions such as, “How do we rebuild from the ashes?” “What artifacts can help us remember what we have lost” and “How can materials that are associated with destruction become materials for creation through additive manufacturing?”
The wildfire ash was collected from the streets and ground in the regions adjacent to each fire. The ash was mixed with a biopolymer to create a homemade filament for use in desktop 3D printers. The tops are designed with the Carbon 3D latticing software.
The WUIware covered bowl is in the permanent collection at SFMOMA. The Bon Bonerie and Urn are represented by the Cristina Grajales Gallery in New York City.
Year: 2023
Project Team: Virginia San Fratello