THE DESIGN AND CREATE OF SANDSTONE SCULPTURE FROM SHELL OF GOLDEN APPLE SNAIL TO INCREASE THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF BAN THA LUANG COMMUNITY, PHIMAI DISTRICT, NAKHON RATCHASIMA PROVINCE

Abstract

This research aims to design and create the prototype of sandstone sculptures from the shell of Golden Apple Snail under the local identity, to disseminate knowledge and evaluate the satisfaction of farmer and community on the design and creation of sandstone sculpture from shell of Golden Apple Snail. The Sample Groups were selected by purposive sampling. It consisted of three sculptures that expert in design and creative and fifty of farmers and people who joined with the training in ban Tha Luang, Phimai district, Nakhon Ratchasima province. The sketch idea inspired from the poses of bird, fish and snail that related to the ecological system. The process started from clay molding, cast the plaster prototype, made the rubber mold, cast with a mixture of plaster, sand and shell of Golden Apple Snail, wind until it set, soak in a bucket of hydrochloric acid and bring to a rinse with water. The research tools were the assessment of suitability of design, creativity and the satisfaction rating by using the basic statistics, such as Mean and Standard Deviation. This research result shows that there are nine forms of the sandstone sculptures from shell of Golden Apple Snail with the uniqueness. The overall assessment of suitability of design and creativity was at high level (=3.75, S.D.=0.78). The farmer’s' satisfaction assessment revealed that the overall assessment was at high level (=4.20, S.D.=0.56). This research could gain the benefit from the shell of Golden Apple Snail and increase the economic value to the community.