Let us guide you
Limitless Possibilities!
If you have been to the Ranch, you know that campus is made for fusion. In the summer months, the garage doors are raised up to open the studio walls, encouraging cross-medium collaboration and inquiry. The following workshops take that time-honored notion one step further to combine traditional techniques with the limitless possibilities of digital fabrication. You’ll have to see it to believe it!
Clay, Hand and Machine: Computer-Aided Clay Processe
To kick things off, the workshop Clay, Hand and Machine: Computer-Aided Clay Processe, led by guest faculty Audrey An, emphasizes the use of traditional craft and technology. The workshop teaches students to create digital models that can be transformed into clay objects or custom tools, using Rhinoceros 3D and handheld scanners, while also gaining proficiency in modifying forms in Blender 3D.”
Guest faculty, Audrey An, is the perfect match for this workshop. Her creative research revolves around the notion of “convergence”—cultural, technological, and interdisciplinary. She is currently an artist-in-residence at the ceramics program, Office for the Arts at Harvard. She was recently selected from over 760 applicants as one of 21 Ceramics Monthly Emerging Artist finalists for 2023!
No Strings on Me: Marionette Making
Russell Hamilton’s workshop, ‘No Strings on Me: Marionette Making‘, combines wood, metal, 3D printing, and found objects to create artistic magic.The embodiment of human expression and mimicry, marionettes have historically captivated the imagination through their theatrical and allegorical power.
Russell Hamilton’s No Strings on Me gallery exhibition was recently shown at the Miniapolis College of Art and Design’s Gallery. He has exhibited across the US, Asia, and the Middle East. He is currently an associate professor at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD).
Refined Design: A Method for Digital Making
“Experienced 3D modelers looking to explore new materials and digital fabrication, join us in ‘Refined Design: A Method for Digital Making‘. This workshop, led by Jack Mauch, uncovers creative possibilities at the intersection of craft, design, and digital manufacturing.”
Your guide, Jack Mauch, is an experienced artist and educator, whose passion lies in Improving creative practices through the use of digital tools. He is a co-founding member of Treats Studios, an artist collective in Western North Carolina where he lives and works.
Listen to Jack’s story from Craftsmanship podcast:
In the Round: CNC Carving
Technology has propelled contemporary design in countless unexpected ways throughout history. Step into the modern world of contemporary furniture design with ‘In the Round: CNC Carving‘, led by expert Jomo Tariku. This introductory workshop allows participants to explore their unique artistic voices, designing furniture parts and decorative elements on paper before translating them into 2D CAD and 3D models using Rhinoceros 3D.
Jomo Tariku is an Ethiopian-American artist and industrial designer at the forefront of modern African design. In 2017 he founded his acclaimed namesake furniture collection that has been featured in Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, 10 Questions with Jomo Tariju in Interior Design, and other publications. Jomo is constantly exploring ways to convey harmony, heritage, and humanity through his craft.
Watch how Jomo Jomo Tariku’s signature Nyala chair Is made! How Jomo Tariku’s Signature Nyala Chair Is Made I Beautiful Things I HB
Featured Workshops
Let Us Guide You
Reach Out
Are you overwhelmed by workshop options? Or do you know which workshop to take but are unsure about the skill level, faculty, or techniques? Our staff is ready to answer questions and assist in selecting the perfect workshop for your next creative journey. Please feel free to reach out any time and we can point you in the right direction!
Betsy Alwin
Director of Ceramics and Expanded Media
Call: 970-924-5054
Liz Ferrill
Artistic Director of Painting, Drawing & Printmaking
Call: 970-924-5076
Andrea Jenkins Wallace
Artistic Director of Photography and New Media
Call: 970-924-5044