Turning Soda Cans Into Escher-Inspired Wind Chimes

I have always been intrigued by the artwork of M.C. Escher and the way he seamlessly integrated math into his art. Recently, I used recycled soda cans to create a set of wind chimes inspired by his work Sky and Water. This Instructable describes the journey of bringing this piece to life - I hope you enjoy it!

Material

1. Soda can
2. B-7000 Glue or other metal glue
3. Metal split jump rings
4. Paper clips and binder clips
5. 1/2" wooden rod
6. String
7. Thin metal wire
8. Jewelry making chains
9. Wood stain and paint
10. Sanding paper

Tools

1. Scissor
2. indentation pen
3. Needle-nose pliers
4. Drill

We chose to recreate a smaller version of Escher's original Sky and Water I, in which Escher uses positive and negative space to transform a school of fish into a flock of birds - all while tessellating the plane with the two shapes. Due to material constraints, we decided to select a section with six birds and six fish, which still provides a balanced composition—large enough to illustrate the transition clearly, yet manageable in scale for our yard sculpture.

For our interpretation, we used positive space (solid forms) for the birds and negative space (hollow forms) for the fish.

The birds are numbered 1 through 6 in green, while the fish are marked in red. Notice that Birds 2 and 3 share the same shape, as do Birds 4 and 5. Bird 1 contains the greatest level of detail, while Birds 2 and 3 are somewhat simplified but still more complex than Birds 4 and 5. Bird 6 is reduced to a simple silhouette. This progression guided our design: Bird 1 features fully extended wings with detailed feathers; Birds 2 and 3 have spread wings with fewer details; Birds 4 and 5 are simplified into single pieces that retain the wing outline; and Bird 6 is represented as a clean silhouette.

A similar progression occurs with the fish. Fish 1 is simply a silhouette, while Fish 2 and 3 share the same basic outlined form. Fish 4 and 5 contain more detail in their fins and tails, and Fish 6 is the most intricate of all. This influenced our design choices as well: Fish 1 is represented by empty space, Fish 2 and 3 by simple outlines, Fish 4 and 5 include fin and tail details, and Fish 6 is divided into multiple articulated sections so it can move and "swim" in the wind.

With the finalized design, we split the image into a 2×2 grid and print each section as a template. This defines the scale for our final piece and ensures all parts are accurately aligned for assembly.

Cut off both ends of the can, then slice the cylinder open and flatten it into sheets. Use a clay noodle machine—or an iron, as demonstrated in some YouTube tutorials—to press the sheets flat. Finally, sand off the paint.

Start with the simplest bird shape. Cut out the bird 6 template and trace it onto the soda can sheet. Be sure to trace two pieces—one from each side of the template. Position them so the sanded side faces outward for a shinier finish. Align the cutouts and glue them together, but leave a small margin along the edge unglued so connecting rings can be inserted later.

For birds 4 and 5, cut out the templates and trace them onto the soda can sheet. Then cut out the bird shapes--again two sides for each bird. An additional step is to mark the wings by creating indentations.

Tip: There are many tutorials on how to indent aluminum or other metal sheets. The key is to use an indentation tool with different tip sizes and to work from both sides of the sheet. A bit of experimentation will help you achieve a layered effect.

Each bird in this group is now composed of three parts to allow for wings that can spread. This step is a bit more complex when working from the templates. The first piece includes the bird’s body with the right wing attached. The second piece is a duplicate of the body, and the third piece contains the left wing.

The latter two pieces can be combined, but doing so may reduce the quality of the wing-spreading effect.

Add more details to this group of bird with indentation pens as shown.

This bird consists of two main components: the wings with a connecting piece, and the body. The body is made from two pieces that are still intended to be glued together.

Adding most details for this bird with indentation pens.

Cut the soda can sheets into 1-inch-wide strips. Fold each strip as shown, bringing both sides toward the center to avoid any sharp edges. Connect strips as needed by inserting the end of one strip into another and securing with glue.

Next, cut out the Fish 2 template. Using pliers, carefully shape the strips to follow the outline of the fish. Add internal support lines as shown to strengthen the structure. Glue and secure with binder clips/paper clips as needed.

This set of fish includes more detailed features, such as additional outlines, a cheek area, and fins. The added outlines are created using the same method as in the previous step.

The main difference is in forming the smaller fin and tail details, as shown, with a slight extension toward the fish’s body. This extra section is then folded and inserted into the opening of the strips to secure it in place.

Fish 6 has the highest level of detail. The body is divided into four parts: the head, front body, back body, and tail. The outlines and fins are constructed using the same method as in the previous step.

Special attention is given to the scales, which are made from a series of small strips. Both ends of each strip are inserted into the openings of the main structure to secure them in place.

Align all completed birds and fish with the original printout. This helps identify where the pieces need to be connected. Mark the connection points on each piece using a washable marker.

For the birds: Because a small margin was left unglued along the edges when assembling the birds, paper clips can now be inserted into the connecting areas. Glue the edge to secure paper clip connectors. (Note: the top edges of birds 1, 2, and 3 are intentionally left unglued for now, as the best hanging hinge can only be determined after full assembly.)

For the fish, insert paper clips at the marked positions along the strips.

Then connect all components together using split rings.

Once all the birds and fish are assembled, attach hanging hoops at suitable positions along the top so the entire structure remains balanced when suspended. Glue the top edges for bird 1, 2, and 3.

Cut the wooden rod to the proper length for the structure. Stain and paint the wooden rod, if necessary.

Drill holes 1 inch apart on the rod to help affix the artwork. We also added some metal chime rods from an old wind chime.

Have fun decorating your new wind chime!