For my second project in NMD200 I made an acrylic sculpture that is suppose to represent a three-dimensional spiral with a hand coming out of the spiral. The overall process to create this project was not very different from other projects that I have had to do in the past. I created an illustrator file (which I have done on multiple occasions) with the design that I wanted to be cut out. Since I wanted to do a layered three-dimensional piece I had to cut out and design each of the layers individually. This was the part that was a bit tricky because to create the piece that I wanted to I had to visualize the design in my head a picture what each layer needed to look like in order to achieve the same effect that I was aiming for. Another difference from the other projects that I have done in the past is that I got to learn how to use a completely new piece of hardware. In most of my other classes I have been told to learn how to use new software instead of hardware. It was really interesting and productive to learn how to use the laser cutter and I look forward to seeing what else I will make with this new hardware at my disposal.When I first came up with my idea I did not know what medium I wanted to use. At first I thought that wood would be the best material to represent what I was trying to portray but then I was introduced to acrylic and the interesting qualities that it came with. Acrylic can be colored so I decided to go with a translucent purple for the spiraling teeth and a clear transparent acrylic for the hand and back ground. I choose the clear acrylic because I wanted to be able to see the full effect of the three-dimensional spiral. This choice was a good and bad decision. Good because like I wanted you could see the spiral, bad because the adhesive that I used was seen because the acrylic was transparent. The adhesive that I used was super glue and now going back I really wished I spent the time and money to find acrylic glue that would have done the job a lot better. Some things that I wish to do in the future are add more layers to the original piece. I only used a total of seven layers and even though the three-dimensional effect was achieved I wish it could have a bit more depth for more emphasis. One interested question that was asked during an in class discussion was why I choose a hand reaching out of the spiral. Originally my answer was that I though it would just look cool but when I really thought about it I came to the understanding that the hand represent a part of something that is being pulled into this never ending spiral of doom but still reaches out for something as if the hand was reaching toward hope itself. I really enjoyed this project and want to expand my original project as well as create new works with the laser cutter.