Art Department – Sculpture, 3-D Design & Jewelry Design
2002-2004
Description
Sculptors and arts professionals utilize computer technology to create visual simulations of proposed projects for design, study and peer review. It allows an art instructor to visualize and critique each student's concept within the students intended context and facilitates modification of the design through critical thinking and computer analysis. It is important that students understand the complex requirements utilized in the design, approval and fabrication of contemporary sculpture. The computer enhances the ability of the sculpture area to develop their concepts within the lab setting.
In addition, the area still languishes from deferred maintenance practices of the last 20 years. Broken and inoperable capital equipment, and still is not adequately funded to support the additional 150 plus added students we now serve each year. We need repair and equipment replacement money disparately as the added enrollment is increased (doubled) the deterioration rate of our already over taxed equipment. We need to acquire stone carving equipment as well as a diamond stone saw to facilitate stone carving.
Curriculum Impact
Computer generated and edited composite video imagery is the only cost effective process that permits students to construct, visualize and review their concepts within a sculpture lab setting. These computer video simulations are critical to a sculpture lab classroom as ideas generated by students, as a part of their assignments would cost thousands of dollars to actually construct.
We must address the deterioration of the areas capital equipment or we will face elimination of technologies currently used to instruct our students. Our facilities are too small to serve the number of sections currently scheduled. By adding more students we have accelerated the situation from a difficult one to a desperate one. We have entire curricular modules that we cannot complete or offer due to replacement/maintenance issues. We also need to address safety issues in regard to facilities, as well as critical issues of student and project storage.
Approximate Number of Students Served
We now serve 360 students per year, up from 210 four years ago. All these students use the Technology we are applying for. We are also in the process of adding additional Digital Courses in Synergy linked to these requests in the Sculpture area.
Support Impact
We added 2 part time teaching positions each semester and are offering 2 additional summer courses. We have also added 3 sections in the digital arts per semester – 6 per year. We do have an existing Staffing need for a Technician, but this will not change with these requested Additional technologies.
Year 1 (2002-2003)
Objective
A. Digital: We need to upgrade our existing software and to purchase an Apple 23 inch Digital Screen, Digital Video Camera, hardware and Memory, Additional 120 Gigabyte internal Hard Drive, 512 megs of PC 133Ram. We also need a high-resolution flat bed Scanner and additional 3-D software for the Synergy center as we add digital classes there.
B. Equipment: We need welding carts, plugs and tolls to replace and upgrade existing equipment We also need to upgrade in order to facilitate the increase (nearly double) in our enrollment in the past few years. We also need a forge for repair and instructional purposes; and we need replacement foundry tools such as tongs, shanks, crucibles, and safety apparel for student protection. We need a dedicated repair budget to avoid the high expense of replacing damaged tools. It is more cost effective to maintain tools and equipment rather than replacing them. We also need to double our locker Storage as we were already short of space prior to adding students.
Action to Meet Objective
Purchase additional equipment as described and apply to the program. Repair the 50% or more of our disabled equipment as soon as funding is granted. Purchase and Apply digital equipment to Sculpture Lab; and introduce companion courses in the Synergy Center as support to our curriculum. Purchase locker to accommodate students added in the last 4 years.
Support issues: We already added 2 part time teaching positions each semester and are offer 2 additional summer courses. We don’t anticipate needing additional support for our Digital requests. We do have an existing Staffing need for a Technician, but this will not change with these requested Additional technologies.
Year 2 (2003-2004)
Objective
A. Digital: We need to upgrade and add to our existing software and To purchase an Second Apple 23 inch Digital Screen, and purchase two IBM 350 Megabyte Compact Flash Compatible Mini Hard Drive to match our current Nikon 990 Coolpix Digital Camera. Acquire middle to high range Epson photo printer to output student projects in room 211.
B. Equipment: We need replacement tools and continue to upgrade and repair existing equipment. We will need funds to contract vendors to sharpen our shear blades, repair our small electrical hand tools, and service our welders. We need to continue to replace replacement foundry tools such as tongs, shanks, crucibles, and safety apparel for student protection. We will need to look to replace our older floor sanders and electrical tools. We need a dedicated repair budget to avoid the high expense of replacing damaged tools. It is more cost effective to maintain tools and equipment rather than replacing them. We also need to add a slot gas fired forge to bend and shape metal, and a kiln to re-heat molds during the metal casting process. These processes currently expose students and staff to potential burn hazards, so equipment including state of the art safety controls would minimize this exposure.
Action to Meet Objective
A. Digital: Purchase upgrades for existing software and purchase a Second Apple 22 inch Digital Screen. Purchase two IBM 350 Megabyte Compact Flash Compatible Mini Hard Drive. Purchase a mid to high range Epson photo printer.
B. Equipment: Purchase replacement tools to upgrade and repair existing equipment. Hire contract vendors to sharpen our shear blades, repair our small electrical hand tools, and service our welders. Purchase replacement foundry tools and tongs, shanks, and crucibles. Buy safety apparel for student protection. Purchase replacement floor sanders and electrical tools. Put in place a dedicated repair budget to avoid the high expense of replacing damaged tools. Add a slot gas fired forge to bend and shape metal, and a kiln to re-heat molds during the metal casting process.
Support: We already added 2 part time teaching positions each semester and are offer 2 additional summer courses. We don’t anticipate needing additional support for our Digital requests. We do have an existing Staffing need for a Technician, but this will not change with these requested additional technologies.