| Popis: |
Many artists today are seeking new materials and techniques with which to express themselves; stage set designers have an added incentive. Stage scenery tends to be large, sometimes numerous, and expendable in a relatively short time. Expensive scenery, therefore, is often beyond the means of many community theaters and some professional ones, too. Some theater groups learn to use a small amount of scenery that is adequate for their purpose. For large, effective and versatile sets, however, there is another approach: to scrounge for materials. Industry uses many materials during production that are discarded when they are no longer needed. In the paper industry such a material is nylon 'forming fabric' on which paper is made. Depending on the size and speed of the paper-making machine, the fabric can be up to 8 m wide and 40 m long. Most of these fabrics are stiff and are made of approximately 0.25 mm diam. monofilament nylon woven at approximately 20 x 30 filaments per cm. Fig. 1 shows a scanning electron micrograph of the weave of a typical fabric of this type. Forming fabrics are discarded after many days or even months of use when they develop a small hole or tear, which seldom would affect their usefulness as a scenery painter's canvas. This material is very strong; it can be folded; it can be sewn with a standard sewing machine to make hems or to join pieces; it can be glued with epoxy or polyester resins; and, finally, it can be prepared to make an excellent painting surface. There are some disadvantages, but they can be guarded against. The fabric is apt to have creases when salvaged from a paper mill, due to rough handling. Since it is a waste product, it is generally rolled and folded into a tight bundle for easy disposal. Sometimes through prior agreement with a paper mill, one can arrange to have it rolled loosely for transport. To some extent, creases can be ironed out gently, but care must be taken not to introduce puckers with too hot an iron. |
