Sculpture X
Form Finding for the 21rst century
William Paterson University workshop and residency
June 3, 2021- June 17, 2021

NEW APPLICATION DEADLINE MARCH 15, 2021

Sculpture X 2021: Form Finding for the 21rst Century Portfolio

THE WORKSHOP:

Imagine being in a group of like-minded creatives working in proximity to create sculpture carved by robot but finished by your hand? We seek to bring together artists, sculptors, designers, architects, and curators to explore robot carving in wood. Working around other artists can inspire and motivate as you discover new ideas in a speculative, constructive context.  It’s an opportunity to discover new ideas as well as work with new technologies. That's the spirit and tone that Sculpture X: Form Finding for the 21st Century seeks to provide. 

William Paterson University Center for New Art is now offering a 2 week workshop from June 3, 2021- June 17, 2021 for carving a sculpture (from a wooden block) by robot and then further designing it by hand.

Applications due by March 8, 2021

What We Provide

The Sculpture X workshop will provide:

• up to 12 cubic feet of Alder or Poplar for carving. The robot carve will be a rough carve while you will finish the work by hand. 12 cubic feet is roughly 2’x2’x3’. Limited variation can be made.

• the block is glued in house. Every effort is made to create a knot free, void fee block but there can be imperfections, splits, voids and knots after all, its a natural material and we’re only human. The artist should be prepared to make the most of imperfections. This may also include imperfection from the interaction of the wood and the machine.

• our final robot carving resolution offering is done with a 1/2” ball mill with a 3mm offset. see below

• support machinery including dremels, chisels, rifflers, and sanding equipment. rare speciality tools are not supplied.

• computers with software programs

• prototyping technologies and capabilities

• studio visit by a known cultural producer (pending full enrollment)

There will be demonstrations of 3d sampling, scanning. and 3d printing. Pending full enrollment there will be an introductory course using augmented reality.  These are 3 important techniques in the realization of form, a kind of 21st platform for n-dimensional sculpture. (We will not provide any stain or paint for sealing or painting the sculptures.) 

Participants will be encouraged to be introduced to all 3 general activities but focus their work on hand carving the robot prepared wood according to their own 3d file.  It is also possible to carve foam, instead of wood,  that the participant can finish with aqua resin. This allows for larger projects.

Residency for each day of the workshop is not mandatory but is strongly encouraged.  For commuters, the cost of the workshop is $3328 and includes a breakfast and lunch. For residents in William Paterson’s dormitories the cost of the workshop is $4770. THis includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The Process

Robot Carving starts with a 3D digital file. You can make this file in animation software programs or industrial design 3d software programs. (Examples these programs are Rhino 3d, Cinema 4d, Maya, 3d Studio Max, Fusion 360, Solid Works, Z brush and many others.) You can also create a 3d file with scanned data from laser scanners or from a process known as photogrammetry (creating a 3d file from a series of photographs or video of the subject.). With this, you could scan a real person or a clay sculpture to bring it into a 3d program for further processing, or to be exported to robot carving and 3d printing. It is also possible to collect files from all over the world wide web, download them and process them in a collage-like manner or in other ways. Once you’ve created the file, its further processed by us in a robot programming software known as Power Mill. This is an offline simulation program that creates tooling strategies and simulates the robot carve prior to carving. The files are then posted to the Robot to carve as designed. Once carved the workshop participant will further carve the wood model and finish appropriately. (See input, processing, output below.)

Who Should Apply

Likely participants: students from William Paterson University; Artists, Sculptors, Designers, Architects, serious minded 3d enthusiasts. We anticipate undergraduate and graduate students from art schools, colleges and universities; working artists in the New York, New Jersey area (and beyond). Familiarity with 3d computer technology and software is strongly encouraged. Students from William Paterson will be eligible for a merit scholarship between $500-$1000.

Application Process due March 8, 2021

details below

The Details

Applications are due March 8, 2021 

Applications should include

• Please supply a Word Document, or PDF file, or Power Point file for a link to a drop box, google drive or other folder, INCLUDING

• a statement of intent,

• proposed work to be accomplished,

• an artists statement

• 10 piece portfolio of images with Title, date, media, size indicated

• list of 3 references

• your contact information notably email adress and telephone number.

This is due on March 8, 2021 to Tracey Sutton suttont6@wpunj.edu . please CC michael Rees reesm@wpunj.edu. Familiarity with 3d computer technology and software is strongly encouraged. Due February 28

Contact information

Please submit your application to Tracy Sutton suttont6@wpunj.edu, 973-720-2404 and cc Michael Rees reesm@wpunj.edu

Tracey can also help connect you to continuing education to process your payments.

For more detailed information please contact Michael Rees, reesm@wpunj.edu @6462719898

Web Links to sign up

Commuter Registration Link: https://wpconnect.wpunj.edu/continuing-education/programs/Sculpture-X-Workshop--Form-Finding-for-the-21st-Century-6361721-Commuters/37389/

 Residents Registration Link:https://wpconnect.wpunj.edu/continuing-education/programs/Sculpture-X-Workshop--Form-Finding-for-the-21st-Century-6361721-Residents/37390/

Cost of the workshop

Commuter
total $3340
Resident
total $4770

Covid Notes

Some participants may not want to travel or participate in a group activity. For this year, we offer the possibility to carve a block and package it. You would be responsible for shipping.

total $2900

• fees are paid in 3 equal installments, March 15, April 15, May 15

• The first of 3 payments is non-refundable as its tied to material procurement and construction.

• Food: breakfast and lunch for commuters, Breakfast, lunch and dinner for the residents.

• Please advise any dietary restrictions.

• Residents will need to provide their own linen (twin beds, pillow cases, and towels)

Notable Dates (NEW DATES!)

March 15, 2021 Application due: Word, PDF or Power Point Application

March 19, 2021 notification of acceptance

March 22, 2021 Non refundable deposit (1/3 of the cost of the workshop.)

April 1-15, 2021 Files for carving are finalized and submitted.

April 1- May 1, 2021  Blocks assembled and manufactured in preparation for robot carving.

May 1-June 3, 2021 Blocks are Carved in preparation for the workshop.

June 3-June 17, 2021 in residence, hands on carving. Technology demonstrations and augmented reality (pending full enrollment) course.

Covid Disclaimer

We presume that by June we will be able to run an in-person workshop that observes precautions set forward by the Center for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html

Cancellation

In the event of cancellation after the March 22nd payment, we would commit to carve the wood sculpture and package it for a cost of $2900.00. You would be responsible for any shipping costs. In the event of cancellation due to a New Jersey state mandate or a William Paterson University mandate.

Workshop Leaders

David D’Ostilio (William Paterson University) is an artist, educator, programmer and fabricator. His artistic practice focuses on exploring themes of growth, cultural objects, algorithms and identity through sculpture, performance, and digital media. David has exhibited his work internationally in Florence and Venice, Italy, London, England, and in the United States New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, North Carolina, and Arizona. He has a BA from Moravian College and an MFA from William Paterson University. He received an Autodesk scholarship to participate in the Digital Sculpture Project in Garfagnana, Italy. In addition he has studied robotic milling at Robotic Solutions, Inc. David is currently an adjunct professor and Coordinator of the Center for New Art at William Paterson University as well as working as a robot programmer and fabricator.

Christopher Manzione, Stevens Institute, (pending full enrollment)  is an American artist who ran the Virtual Public Art Project, an organization that used augmented reality to produce original artist works in public space. His most recent project Activatar app hosts a range of new media artists projects through monthly shows via a free app. Manzione’s work also includes sculpture, installation, virtual reality, 3D printing and performance. He is currently an Assistant Professor in Visual Arts and Technology at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ.

http://www.christophermanzione.com/

Michael Rees (William Paterson University) is an artist working in themes of figuration, language, technology, and the social to weave a sculptural mélange. He is known for creating a new platform for sculpture that includes objects, software, hardware and interactive experiences. His work is shown widely including the Whitney Museum in the 1995 Biennial and again in “Bitstreams” in 2001, the MARTa Museum in Germany, Art Omi, The Pera Museum in Istanbul, The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, The Museum of Art and Design, New York, The Nerman Museum of Art, Grounds For Sculpture, and in private galleries such as 303, Bitforms, Basilico Fine Art, Pablo’s Birthday, Favorite Goods, Bravin Lee Projects and others. Rees is currently professor of sculpture and digital media at William Paterson University, and Director of the Center for New Art there. 

http://www.michaelrees.org

Michele Thursz (pending full enrollment) is an independent cultural producer, consultant, and art appraiser specializing in contemporary art and electronic and time-based media (USPAP compliant) based in New York City. She has served as director of contemporary and outsider art galleries, media collectives, and art advisory companies as well as a consultant to private collections. She has written and led public conversations about contemporary art and related professional issues.

www.seek-art.comGraduate Assistants

Roma David Bown

Roma was born in the Ukraine and came to the US in his teens. A BFA graduate from Bowling Green State University he is highly focused on digital media and 3d printing. His work focuses on the cultural disconnects in human interaction.

Collin Hassler

Collin was born on Center Reach, Long Island and has his BFA from SUNY Fredonia. Collin is figurative artist that deals with themes of queer identity, and has become intrigued in the use of digital media in the realization of full sized figurative works. 

Center for New Art

With an experimental curriculum focusing on the use of technology in the arts, the Center for New Art is an open forum where students, faculty, colleagues of the University, professional artists and art educators coalesce as makers, thinkers and doers. Combining coursework dedicated to the rigorous investigation of art with a broad spectrum of the most current tools and technology yields artworks that push the limits of the imagination.  The activities and technology at the Center for New Art support and supplement the Art Department curriculum while also extending to other departments within the University, and to artists, designers and architects in the region. learn more: https://www.wpunj.edu/news/wpmagazine/spring2016/wp-detail-2.html
Resources at WPU

WPU Center for New Art is equipped with a large scale KUKA Robot, approximately a dozen 3d printers, a MAC computer lab, several PC workstations with multiple software programs (including virtual reality), and 3d scanning. The Center for New Art is located in the Power Art facility where participants will have access to wood carving tools in a sophisticated contemporary wood shop with space to create your unique design.

Robot Carving Resolution

The sculpture’s rough blocks will be carved to the resolution of 3mm offset using a 1/2” bit. The best corollary of this are these sample carves of the perspective distorted Neanderthal skull (images below). Typically there are three carves on a block: a roughing carve, a smoothing carve; then a super fine carve. The super fine carve can keep the robot busy for weeks. For this workshop, we carve up to the smoothing carve and leave the fine carve to be done by hand. These images are an example our final tool path of a 1/2” bit doing a 3mm offset. That carve is about 11” tall.

Here are some of the test carves we’ve done. The first bunch are the scan of a Neanderthal skull that’s been distorted in CAD software. The second a finish carve of the 3d scan of Collin Hassler. To understand the resolution please refer to the images under Robot Carving Resolution.

INPUT, PROCESSING, OUTPUT

Computers are input, processing, and output devices. With 3d this is how it can work:
Input
3d scans
3d files from the internet
Processing
scanning software from photos or laser scans (some info)
we scan with an Artec Eva Scanner.
software: reality capture, agisoft, recap
authoring software
design software (mechanical and industrial)
Fusion 360, Rhino3d, Solid Works, even iPad software like Shapr3d, others
animation software
maya, 3d studio max, cinema 4d, modo, blender (free), and many others
list of free 3d modeling software
processing software
model correction and fixing
mesh mixer, mesh lab, netfabb, others
3d print preparation
simplify 3d, cura, slicer, others.
CNC (computer numerical control) tooling strategies
Powermill, an others
Output
3d printing
Robot Carving (plus other CNC devices)
Renders and animations
movies, augmented reality, virtual reality
other