In my last post, I discussed some of the inspirations involved in the Capitol Theater. We are fortunate in this era that despite the loss of many great movie houses of old, that others still are being restored to their former glory. The Fox Theater...

Sometimes there is no substitute for hands. Ask potter Tortus Copenhagen, who's "Making Gestures" photo series defines handmade.   [gallery type="rectangular" link="none" ids="2533,2534,2536"] says Tortus:
"We believe that value begins with the mastery of making. Throwing vessels on the wheel requires the use of a number of carefully controlled ‘gestures´, each suited to shape and guide the clay in a different manner as it spins on the wheel. Each has is own distinct shape, function, or even design one could say. These gestures, nearly artworks in themselves are perfected to sense and lure the best out of material. Sturdy yet delicate hands, shaped by time and clay, apply the careful yet impulsive pressures that give each piece its own unique character. These are just a few of the gestures we use every day."
I first started working with clay in the early 90's, under the tutelage of Ken Stevens and Reid Ozaki at the University of Puget Sound. I quickly shifted my focus to working with The New Clay, which offered exciting opportunities to work with multiple traditional craft techniques with one simple material and virtually no tools. Thus I launched a career of handcraft, using for many years just my hands, a mayonnaise jar, a tissue blade, and a convection oven.  My tools and techniques have become much more complex over the years. Now I work with virtual clay. I 3D print. I use metal clay. Seeing these photos, I can feel the spinning lump of wet earthen clay,

I can't get over these incredible lifelike sculptures made by combining traditional sculpture techniques with digital modeling and prototyping. Artist Rey Hernandez has published a fascinating expose on his techniques. Peek inside Scientific Art Studio and see how they created the Animal Learning Plaza for the San Francisco Zoo. Envisioned as tactile exhibits, photos give scant clues that the sculptures are not living and breathing. [gallery type="rectangular" link="none" ids="2496,2512"] [gallery type="rectangular" link="none" ids="2497,2498,2499"] It may be that not every home needs a 3D printer, but Rey aptly demonstrates the advantages conferred to artists by digital design. After designing in Zbrush, the models are either 3D printed, or cut from foam on CNC machinery, then cast in bronze, concrete, or resin. Note the intermediary clay model: [gallery type="rectangular" link="none" ids="2514,2517,2508"]

Further evidencing that 3D printing can play a part in a manual craft process rather than simply replacing it, Adam Beane Industries has announced a forthcoming sculptable 3D printing filament. [gallery type="rectangular" size="medium" link="none" ids="2473,2472,2471"] The material hardens at room temperature but becomes sculptable at 125 degrees...