Dragonfly Rug Sculpture

The Dragonfly Rug Sculpture was a capstone for Max Stockdale’s Bachelor’s degree from the CMU School of Design, focusing on the expanded sculptural possibilities of rug tufting and textile design to create 3D, fantastical forms and environments. His initial inspirations included Lee Bontecou’s sculptures, Disney animatronics, and the “Honey I Shrunk the Kids” movie set experience.

This project was developed under Mark Mentzer’s “drawing from nature” course. Mentzer’s course emphasized the importance ofsketching to understand form and structure. Mirroring Mark’s practice, Max developed a daily drawing practice that turned to his interest in dragonflies, from childhood obsession to his undergraduate studio work.

The six foot frame undergirding the dragonfly is made of pvc pipe, zip ties, wire mesh, and electrical tape. After drop testing it for durability, the tufted rug pieces were sewing into form to accentuate the bilateral symmetry and golden ratio patterns of the insect. Nylon, wool yarn, and paint brush hairs add a variety of textures and colors. Max studied the Common Green Darner’s thorax, abdomen segments, legs, head, and wings for the basis of this sculpture, and hopes to inspire curiosity in natural forms for others.

This project was made possible with support from FRFF Grant #2024-070