Connections with Sculpture, Day 1

Connections with Sculpture is a FREE, three day program for educators in Hamilton and Trenton, NJ.  The program includes hands-on workshops, tours and practical information for educators who wish to bring their students to the sculpture gardens.  The program is grant funded and provides for transportation and workshop expenses for the educators to bring their students to Grounds for Sculpture during the upcoming school year.  

Today, it poured.  When I say it poured, I mean BUCKETS.  Our activities were slightly altered as a result of the rain but still very interesting and beneficial.  One of the highlights was a visit to the Johnson Atelier.  I love getting "behind the scenes" views of the art world.  We saw sculpture being produced in various stages of completion - from plasticine modeling to plaster molds to final metal (bronze, aluminum, steel) pours.  We were also able to witness some of the works being hand painted and pieced together by expert welders.  

The Atelier also works with technologically advanced digital sculpture production using both additive and subtractive methods of 3D printing.  This technique and its possible applications for copying work left me feeling extremely uneasy (could be because I recently read "The Art Forger"...).  Regardless of the ethical issues digital production present, the technique is amazing, and started the wheels turning in my own head about a sculpture project I have been pondering but (until now) have not known how to pursue.  

One of the nicest things about this program thus far has been the willingness and the interest that the presenter has in OUR needs.  Grounds for Sculpture's Curator of Education is genuinely interested in what educators are looking for in a trip, what they need from the trip site to make things run smoothly and what materials would help educators to prepare for our visit.  I am really looking forward to collaborating with this