Biotechnology and The Hand

I made the following pieces for my undergrad BFA thesis show. My artist statement below describes the relationship between the body and the wearer and how these braces came into exisitance. 

3dimensional renderings of joint specific braces made on the computer.

Final fitting and documentation.

These thumb braces have number keys that correspond to each finger brace and joint location.

This brace was created to keep Josh's joints and fingers in a specific position to help him with writing and painting.

In this body of work I am focused on alleviating body restrictions, such as limited hand function, for a personalized fit to Josh Huyck who has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. With this degenerative disease, Josh is losing everyday hand function due to the deformation of collagen surrounding the joints in his fingers. These finger braces were created using a 3d computer-aided design (CAD) program, and were modeled specifically from Josh’s hands. These prosthetic braces allow him to hold each finger in a position that prevents hyperextension and flexing. Working in this method has enhanced the ability to produce these braces. This allows me to change, manipulate, and retain information that will benefit an individual with this condition while creating a unique work of art that challenges traditional craft discourse. If you have any questions