SNAG SLIDESHOW round three ding! ding!

zbrush!

So I am officially hooked! I love zbrush. Some of you have probably seen my flickr stream lately. I am think I am getting better with it. My brother has been teaching me the basics and which has been helping a lot. I am still not quite where I want to be but as far as an organic modeler it rocks!! I am working on this piece that will eventually be made into a slip mold for silicone rubber. Eventually. I don't know how it is going to work yet but I will keep you posted.

PNCA/OCAC visit

So recently I was invited to do a lecture on my work in Portland Oregon for the PNCA/OCAC MFA in Applied Craft and Design. Well I was blown away with everything! Portland is just amazing. Some old VCU folks, Karl Burkheimer and his wife Martha were gracious enough to let me stay with them. I have always been a HUGE fan of Karl's work and he definitely was a big influence on my attitude towards making. I had him as an instructor when I was an undergrad in the Craft/Material studies department at VCU I think for two classes one in wood and one in experimental materials.

Here is a great video on Karl
http://www.opb.org/programs/artbeat/segments/view/811



My Crafts education started in a system of separate majors/fields and more importantly workspaces. I am not sure if that effected the way I approach objects but it most certainly made me think about making within a certain scale. It seemed that everything I made had to fit in a shoebox. The only reason why I bring this up is because I have to reflect on how I navigated the system before giving my opinion on this very new program.


In my personal experience, every department works differently and being an educator, information and it how it is presented is important. When I teach I am always asking questions. "Is this really the right way to teach this?" "Are they getting it?" "Why does everyone have a blank look on their face?" " Wait is my zipper down?" All kidding aside, In academia you are expected to have two jobs. One: to be an educator that has some sort of success rate. You have to prove retention in the form of thesis exhibitions, lectures, presentations, etc etc etc. Your students have to have ended their education with some sort of experience and skill set that they didn't have before. Most importantly students have to be knowledgeable about what they are doing. Two: you also have to be an artist. You have to "actively participate in professional pursuits". This pretty much means you have to exhibit, lecture and generally get involved in your field. Let me be the first to tell you that it is a hard job. Throw in a personal life and a family and it is nearly impossible. For the people that can do it all: I AM JEALOUS.


So on with the show: My opinions about the joint MFA in Applied Craft and Design


Well lets just say I may be going back to grad school. I loved it. It was great! There were so many things about the program and Portland that just seemed to work. It was described to me as the most European city that is not in Europe. Just a little blurb from the website:


"The Applied Craft and Design Studio is housed in a dramatic 8000 sf former warehouse space. Each student has a dedicated individual work space, as well as use of over 3000 sf of work areas shared between the program's 30 students. The AC&D Studio includes: a 1200 sf wood shop; a welding and metal working area; a kiln and ceramics area; a computer lab (housed in an Airstream trailer!); a critique space; and a small kitchen.

Students also have access to all labs, shops, libraries and equipment at the OCAC and PNCA main campuses. Labs are staffed by highly qualified technicians able to provide students with technical assistance and instruction, with specialized equipment for Book Arts, Printmaking, Ceramics, Design, Fibers, Metals, Photography, and Wood. There are several different digital computer labs with professional-level color, large-format printing capabilities.

Each student is also provided with opportunities to display his or her work and learn preparatory and installation skills in professional level exhibition spaces"

While I was visiting Portland JP Reur, the head of the program and I sat down for coffee and had a great discussion on how exciting it is to be maker/designer right now. How incredible it is to participate in forging relationships with industry and other artists. I feel that this attitude is a direct reflection on how this department works. Imagine for a moment, a bunch of artist/makers thrown in a giant, communal workspace add in some critical dialogue mix with a mentorship program, splash in the city of Portland and viola an academic experience that is refreshing and energizing. The whole time I was there all I could think of as that old Reese's peanut butter cup commercial: "You got your peanut butter on my chocolate! You got your chocolate in my peanut butter"


I mean come on the first visiting artist they brought in helped the students design/build the space. The students rented a uhaul and picked up an old barn that had fallen down. Cleaned up the wood and built alcoves to work in. They also re-fabed an old airstream and put their computer lab in it. The space is just chocked full of creative thinking that I found inspirational.

I encourage you all to check their blog and read all about it. I also wanted to say thanks to everyone for bring me out there! It was good to see all the metals people. Deb Stoner, Heidi Schwegler, Miel-Margarita Paredes, Catherine Chandler and Hilary Pfeifer

I also wanted to say thank you to Namita Wiggers the head curator at the Museum of Contemporary Craft in Portland for taking some time out of her busy day to hang out with me. We had a good time talking about publishing and what is the best vehicle to get information to people. Ebooks? IPad? Printed material? Online? I also had an incredible organic hotdog at a restaurant called park kitchen

Also I had a chance to visit one my former students Mat Williams. Mat is currently a MFA student in this program. Mat along with his roommate Jason Starin have a live/work space where they have exhibitions. Its actually built into their lease that they have to have a show. Drool. Their space/gallery/home is called Garbageman Astronaut. Check em out.

Also as a side note I don't think you can visit Portland without going to VooDoo doughnuts. Apparently their claim to fame came from a NyQuil doughnut. Oh man oh man

Man I miss working at the movie theater. I just realized that I worked in a movie theater off and on from age 16 to 27.


Love this. I think anyone can appreciate it.

Facts About Projection from Studiocanoe on Vimeo.

This is a short film about my job as a Projectionist. I am quite proud of this film, mostly because I’m so proud of my job – it seems like a fulfilment of my childhood romantic notions of what I wanted to be when I grew up. Nonetheless what it most discernibly omits is how truly magnificent all the other staff are who work there too. It is dedicated to the other projectionists I know; some of whom are under threat of redundancy, and unquestionably to Sammy; for the lessons and facts about Projection.

gear ring

kinekt gear ring from lps on Vimeo.

from kinekt. http://www.kinektdesign.com/

via: core77 via: Kinekt Design

just in case you cared

via You might like this

more working view

Sorry I have been a bit lazy but I have a few more workspaces to show you guys

Kathryn Wardill

Nicole Jacquard

Arthur Hash (me)

Engaged!

So its official we done gots engaged. This holiday has been a whirlwind of crazy!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Hello all! I am up early on Christmas morning to bring you good tidings and a new posting. I thought as a fun project I would post some images of artists "working view" I asked everyone to send a photo of their "space". This might be the gym, the studio, the library or even their kitchen. Anyhoo, I got a few back and it is a great start but I am awaiting for more. If you would like to share your "working view" please send your images to arhash@gmail.com with the subject "working view". I would also like to thank Suzanne Pugh for a little something something. I will hopefully spill the beans on this in the new year.

Corey Ackelmire

Amy Tavern

Barb Smith

Gabriel Craig and Amy Weiks

Nathan Dube

Joanna Gollberg

hello hello hello

I have been really bad about posting. Everyone says that but things have been that busy. I have been helping Jen Woodin, a new hire here at SUNY New Paltz to set up our Digital Fabrication Lab. It has been a slow start but finally things are on a roll. The students are finally printing on the 3D printer. The laser cutting has been cutting and the space has been evolving. I just went over there and cleaned up to get ready for an impromptu photo shoot. So I should have photos up on the blog very soon. On another note......

I have been frantically finishing everything up for the semester. I still have a boat load of grading to do and about a million SNAG applications to sort. Somewhere in the mix I went to the BFA metals thesis shows. I got a few pics before people started showing up. I couldn't shoot everybody's work, mostly because people kept jumping in the way of my camera to get a closer look. I guess that is a good thing. I just wanted to give a nod to my students and all the hard work they put into their shows. Congrats Ladies!

HOLY MOLY

Man what a great day! Liz and I did so much. I totally fell in love all over again with Beacon, New York. First, of course there is Dia. Liz had to drop off a Red Velvet cake at work and man oh man as always jaw dropping. I still can't believe we are lucky enough to live 20 minutes from freaking DIA. Anyhoo we decided to get lunch. I had heard rumors about this place from Liz's co-workers and SHO NUFF! Freaking Poppy's! Hamburgers! 100% Grass Fed 100% Local 100% Organic 100% delicious! I had some kind of B B Q Bacon burger that almost made me go crazy. Also we had a HUGE bag of hand cut french fries. SON OF A B!!! Melt in your mouth goodness. You gotta go! POPPY'S 184 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Closed on Monday, Tues-Thurs 12-7 Fri-Sat 12-9 and Sun 12-6 Link about poppy's.

After that... across the street....the School of Jellyfish also pretty mind blowing. Here is a blurb "The School of Jellyfish for the Advancement of Sustainable Living and Chocolate is... a few architects, designers, and thinkers with a lot of ideas to help you feel better in your own skin and make the world a finer place for all — while you appease your dark chocolaty side." Well let me tell you we had a dark hot chocolate with a large marshmallow, chili powder and whipped cream as well as a STELLAR chocolate truffle served on a piece of Ply-boo (plywood made from bamboo). Yes sir. My mouth is just freaking loving me right now. The space is really great. When we were in there a Charlie Chaplin movie was being projected above the coffee bar. The furniture had a really interesting space saving design where the benches keyed into the table.

When we left I was almost ready to pass out from sensory overload. We popped into one last store and visited Clay, Wood and Cotton. It was a great little place that sold some really nice things. They had hand printed towels, beautiful serving dishes, bowels salt and pepper shakers, handcrafted camera pouches and lots of wooden spoons. They also had some really nice clocks. Man I am spent. I was going to work in the studio tonight but after all of this I just want to sit on the couch and watch a movie. Liz is making macaroons so the house smells great! Life is good.

Here is a time lapsed movie I did in Poppys. That is all for now. Talk soon.

ahhhh sofa

Well I am back. It has taken me this long to process SOFA and how everything went. Here are just a few things:

Helped Sienna man the booth. Met and worked with some awesome folks. BARBARA SEIDENATH, RAISS BUMP and LAUREN KALMEN. I also had a good time meeting some of the Cranbrook grad students and Stefan at the Ornamentum booth oogling Iris Eichenberg's work. Had drinks with Doug Bucci and Don Friedlich. There were lots of folks there that I wanted to talk to but didn't have that much time. Most of my days were spent stopping people from taking photos. Namita, one day, we are going to have lunch or a drink and sit and talk for a long, long time. I swear. What a great time. It was a whirlwind! Anne and Mark thank you so much for inviting me and of course I want to thank the Sienna Gallery for bringing me. Be friends with her on Facebook.

Now that I am back....

The best thing I learned about all this was what people buy at SOFA or maybe who buys at SOFA. For a long time I have subscribed to the notion of democratic design. Something for everyone. I truly believe that something great should not have to cost an arm and a leg. So maybe SOFA wasn't really the place for me. For people that have had the luxury of growing up napping on a Le Corbusier lounge or ate TV dinners off of an Isamu Noguchi table or even used a Peter Voulkos charger as a fruit bowl, congrats, officially I am jealous. REALLY jealous. Since good design was all around you when you were growing up it I believe it desensitized you to beautiful things. I saw a LOT of beautiful things at SOFA. If I had the money I would have bought most of it. On the other hand I saw a bunch of stuff that I wasn't so thrilled with. I am sure people looked at my work and said the same thing.

In my opinion, jewelry functions, for the most part, when someone wears it. If you are only making jewelry for the 5% of collectors or buyers that come to SOFA, then your piece should be made out of crystal skulls, mayan gold and the bones of the elephant man. A piece can be beautiful and not have to cost $50,000.00. Here is the problem. You gotta eat. You gotta pay your bills. You have to at least cover your costs of going to SOFA. I guess what I am getting at is that I think my prices were too low. The illusion of value wasn't there. I didn't think about all of the fees associated with a gallery going to SOFA. Its a whole new ball of wax. Booth fees, lights, paint, packaging, phone line for the credit card machine, lettering.....It is not your neighborhood craft show. It is a large machine with lots of high polished, quality parts that are expensive. It requires high test gasoline.

On another note, I had this "big idea" that didn't work. It was 66 separate brooches that when assembled together formed my hand. I used a 3D scanner and CAD software to generate these pieces and then fabricated silver sheet and pin stems for their backs. Priced at $100 each, which I might add barely covered the cost of the silver back and 3D print material, never even got touched. I had this great idea about tracking the pieces as they were sold who has what part. Joe Smith in Dallas, Texas had the tip of my thumb Jan Smith in California had a piece of the palm. etc etc etc. Out of the 66 brooches only one sold. oh well. Anyhoo enough of my babbling. Here are some images from the show!

Propane

I can't remember if I posted this. I just watched Objectified with my Digital Fabrication class. It had ups and downs. It kind of made me feel like a waste. I feel like I should be a collector instead of a maker. Are we all just spinning our wheels? How is what I am making important to the world? Do I just make things because I have to? Is it part of who I am? Is it that important? On the eve of SOFA I feel like I need to re-evaluate the subject of my lecture and completely re-work it.

thing to do when we get back to Richmond

Just realized that there are so many things missing from the list. Krispie Kreme, VCU, Ipanema, Cous Cous...etc etc etc.

Also our houses almost made it in the Times (Thats the New York Times folks). If only the cameraman had stepped to the right about 5 feet. Oh well. On that not we have two beautiful places for rent. A studio apartment and house for in Richmond VA. Near Gallery Five. Both newly renovated with all new appliances and new hard wood floors. If anyone wants photos LMK

http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/10/18/travel/18hours.html

SF

Shepard Fairey from Arkitip on Vimeo.

FYI

Hey everyone just a quick heads up for you Philly folks. My buddy Anthony Tammaro has a show up at the Wexler gallery. Here are some images of the show and some images of his work. The video is great