Fields and Frames

3 units

The 3D printer is widely known for its ability to produce models with endless variation and customization, and its output is typically characterized as precise, fixed, and immaterial. However, when combined with clay, a soft, visceral material that slumps and oozes when extruded and layered, the 3D printer's tectonic language becomes highly idiosyncratic. This course will investigate the use of ceramic 3D printing for a collaborative temporary public artwork with a community partner. During the seminar, students will use Potterbot ceramic printers to explore 3D printing with clay in tandem with an investigation of the architectural frame that structures the artwork. With new materials and digital fabrication technology, we have the potential to rethink the relationship between structure and frame. Students in the course will engage in a rigorous workflow focusing on the relationship between designer, tool, material, and frame. Over the course of the semester, students will engage in a series of assignments and tutorials intended to create a strong understanding of the methods for robotic deposition and working with clay while also challenging the prominence of precision and control associated with digital fabrication technology. Central to the class discourse will be the exploration of the relationship between the highly articulated frame and the field of ceramic components, focusing on notions of authorship, precision/imprecision, loose fit, scale, and tolerance. Additional coursework will include drying and firing clay components, post-printing physical manipulation, staining and glazing techniques, clay body research, and full-scale prototyping. Proficiency in Rhino is a requirement for the course.