just checking in (don't forget the stuff at the bottom)

Still plugging away at the work for SOFA. It is coming up FAST!!! I had to pause today for emergency dental stuff. Right before I left richmond I paid $800 dollars for a couple of filings.....that fell out while I was chewing on some movie theatre candy. Son of a B!!! DAmn you twizzlers! I go back on Thursday for the "major" work. My poor yuck mouth. I also wanted to point out a great article on Lauren Kalman by Gabriel Craig in this months American Craft. Lauren is the one of the other artists that is going to SOFA with Sienna. I love her work. The metal in the mouth makes me cringe. I feel like I am back in the dentist's chair. Anyhoo here are a couple of process shots just to prove that I have been doing stuff.





Some of the things that I am working on include generating 3D shapes from points on a map. Here is how it goes:
1.Screen shot of google maps
2.place background bitmap in Rhino
3.Running a Script that generates 3D surfaces from points
(This script is based on the Voronoi tessellations. These tessellations generate cellular structures from predetermined points. The script allows for cellular growth which in turn automatically makes polygonal cells. These cells are then used as the base of the brooch. Here is a great link on how to draw the http://765.blogspot.com/2009/09/how-to-draw-voronoi-diagram.html)
4. I then determine a pattern based on icons from google maps (thumb tacks, stars markers etc)
5. I then extend and trim the pattern. I also draw in the tabs for the pin stem and catch
6. The copper is painted and then the template is "etched" off with the laser.
7. The brooch is then drilled, cut and folded into its final state

working working working

Just thought I would keep everyone in the loop. I am experimenting with the laser cutter a bit. These are prototypes for SOFA. They are made from upcycled copper (left over copper flashing) I paint the sheet and laser etch the paint off, cut them out and fold them up. The final designs are being tweaked and will probably be a bit more complicated. I am having some problems with the pin back as well as size etc. the interior will have a flat sheet of pattern so you wont see the copper on the inside. I am also throwing in a video of the laser in action. It is kind of random how the laser chooses which lines to "etch" first. Whacky machine. Tell me what you think.

all done

Whew that was close. I think I finished raising the fine silver about an hour before we left for the wedding. Anyhoo. It was a smash hit! Too bad I was in the bathroom when they cut the cake. Too many Jack and Cokes I guess. 12 gauge sterling silver, Sand blasted, brass brushed with a polished edge.

Cake Server

I got a little side tracked from the SOFA stuff. I forgot all about Liz's brothers wedding. Anyhoo here is the cake server Liz and I made for them. I hope they like birds.

Just saw this and thought it was cool. It really shows what you can do with different types of 3D printing materials. It is from a flickr friend called SUPERRUNE. Great stuff. Couldn't have explained the process better myself. I might steal it for a slide show in my Construction Fabrication class at SUNY.

its my birthday!

I just wanted to take a quick break from my studio work today to talk about how my girlfriend rocks!!




For my birthday Liz bought me this coffee machine that I have been secretly eyeballing at the Blue Cashew ever since we moved to New Paltz. I also truly believe that the secret to an academics heart is a good cup of coffee. So she hit the nail on the head this year. The machine is a Jasper Morrison: Rowenta Coffee Maker and I personally think it is one of the best designed coffee machines ever!!! It drives me absolutely nuts that these companies have been making coffee machines for so long and they can't freaking make a non drip spout or a carafe that isn't made out of feather weight highly breakable glass. God forbid they make one that looks good. I have bought or used countless coffee machines over the years and only just now have I found the ultimate machine. No drippy pours, no fancy timers, no complicated measuring systems, no hard to clean trays and IT LOOKS COOL! Oh and did I mention it makes an incredible cup of coffee!!!! Thank you LIZ!! Thank you Blue Cashew! Thank you Rowenta! Thank you Jasper Morrison!

New laser at SUNY New Paltz

I thought I would pause fro a moment and share some images. We are setting up a new Digital Media center in Fine Arts with the help of Jenn Woodin our new Ceramics faculty. Part of the lab is a new laser cutter!!! I documented the whole unpacking. Here it is for your viewing pleasure. -Arthur

SOFA

The cat is officially out of the bag.

hello there!

Well Things just got crazy. As soon as I set foot in the door from Penland things started piling up. I am pulling my hair trying to keep up with it all. I think I might take a break for a little while with the blog. We just moved and I am desperately trying to finish setting up the studio so I can get to work. I have pieces to finish and pieces to start, syllabi to finish up, calls to make, mail to be sent, coffee to drink and dinner to make. Arghhhh make it stop. I did however get this wonderful photo from Fabio Fernández the exhibitions director at The Society of Arts and Crafts in Boston. The Pop Craft show will be opening Friday Sept 11th. I think it turned out pretty well. Click on it to see a larger view

flipping out!

Upcycling!!

Well I am back. Of course things couldn't be busier. I have started setting up the new studio. I am trying to get it done as soon as possible. Its not hard when you need a drill and its in a box somewhere among a million other boxes. Did I mention that I hate moving? On another note the Penland class was a HUGE success. I had a blast! I heard rumors that it was the "BEST SESSION EVER!!" It might have been the beer talking. Also I had a great opportunity to prank my pal Adam Whitney by sewing the pockets to his shop apron shut with a whole bunch of his stuff in it.

That was after I super glued a bunch of change to the floor in his storage room. oh man. Anyhoo. The students were great! Here are a couple images I took before I left. Great job you guys! It was a design challenge. I brought kits of materials that included rubber gaskets, heat shrink tubing, stuffed animals, glass bottles, cork, zippers, washers, felt, static cling vinyl, hot glue etc etc etc. All they had to do was make jewelry from it. Here are the results!

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

dang~!

So I had the pleasure of visiting Hoss Haley's studio! Man o Man! It is a metal workers dream! If you don't know Hoss or his work it is AH MAY ZING! Adam Whitney (Penland's metals coordinator) and I took a quick day trip to Asheville to visit his new fountain that is being installed downtown.

While in Hoss's studio I couldn't help notice that there was a large part of an ironworkers arsenal missing! the forge. Hoss explained that he does almost 90% of his steel fabrication with no heat! In the middle of his shop is a 100 ton press that he built himself (see the panorama below, dont forget to click to make it bigger!). Pretty amazing stuff. His building reminded me of Liz's building in Richmond and all I could do was think of all the things we could have done. His shop had so many amazing odds and ends that made my head spin. Anticlastic and sinclastic forms pressed out of 1/2 plate, stainless steel rod welded and polished to perfection, large paintings made with steel and an angle grinder, anvils, hammers and bending jigs galore! it was very hard not to be a tourist and take photos of every little thing. What an amazing setup. I wanted to say thanks to Hoss and Leslie for having us over to their house which is equally amaizng. It was a pleasure seeing their latest creation James Haley. Even the outside of his house is clad in metal (note the alphabet magnets). We were also really lucky to see Susie Ganch while she was on her way to Arrowmont








click on the panos to view them large scale!

Penland

All is well in Penland. I think the students are enjoying the class. I am meeting some new people and seeing people I hadn't seen since my first trip to Penland in 1998. I am going to post more photos soon but I thought I would start with the usual, majestic landscapes and studio shots. I also assembled a few panoramas of the newly restored metals studio! Well new since the last time I had been here in 2005. Its sooooo nice now. Adam did a great job! click here

PENLAND!

Gotta be at the Airport at 4:00 am! Can't wait for my Penland class. Stay tuned for photos and Video!

POP craft!

Hello all just wanted to check in. Totally listening to the Stuff You Should Know podcast. Latest show has a great thing on Twinkies. They talked about how back in the day Twinkies were actually made with milk, eggs, butter etc... now they are made with up to 39 ingredients! One of those ingredients must be crack. Again I am such a fatty. Annnnnyhoooooo - I am currently working a vinyl sticker installation for the POP craft show at the Society of Arts and Crafts Boston.