SDSU at SNAG Conference

SDSU @ Meta-Mosaic: 2013 SNAG Conference: 

http://www.snagmetalsmith.org/conferences/meta-mosaic/programming/snag-student-exhibition

Congratulations to all 23 pieces that were chosen for SNAG's annual juried student exhibition!

Restrain was chosen, currently being shown at SNAG conference's student juried exhibition.

2013 Student Awards Exhibition - Shine on SDSU Metals Department!

Every Spring semester in SDSU many undergraduates and graduates apply for the annual student awards exhibition. Many great art works were juried to be on this group exhibition: painting, ceramic, sculpture, metals & jewelry. Then the art department, the deans, SDSU's sponsors and faculty members vote for the winners for the awards ceremony. This year our metals department has shine our light!

Two of our undergrads and two graduates has been awarded.
Congrats to Rene Henry,  Eirene Mavromichalis,
Demitra Ryan-Thomloudis & Tammy Young Eun Kim!

Seth Papac and I

AWARDS - President's Purchase Award                           - Provost's Purchase Award                              - PSFA Dean's Purchase Award                       - Extended Studies Purchase Award                - Aztec Shops Purchase Award                         - A&L Dean's Purchase Award                           - Design Innovation Institute Award                 - Meritorious Award SDSU Art Council Here are some photos from the exhibition: PSFA Dean's Purchase Award: Personal Map 2011 Silver, copper, brass, stainless steel, gold paint, amethyst, cubic zirconia 15 x 18 x 1/8" Thank you, SDSU & the metals crew for your support!

SDSU Student Show Opening @ Francis Parker School

Congratulations to metals undergrads and for those who came to the opening to support. 

Everyone's work looked great, love you guys!

Some of the undergrads & grads with Seth Papac

Upcoming Show: La Frontera

LA FRONTERA 

Opening at: Museo Franz Mayer, Mexico City: 

May 2 – July 14, 2013 

Then travelling to Velvet da Vinci Gallery, San Francisco: 

August 7 – September 15, 2013

3D Scanner Test

Scanner test!

Last semester I took Digital Fabrication with Matt Hebert. I really enjoyed it so since then I have been working more in the Rhino program. I have always been very passionate about computer programs and now digital fabrication has finally come to me as a new set of skill. It's been very exciting since then as I now use digital rendering to my new metal/jewelry work.

The furniture program at my school, SDSU, offers Digital Fabrication class; they have CNC machine, 3D printer and a digital scanner. This semester I am taking an Independent class with Matt to continue this practice. I was curious about the scanner so Matt decided to show me to test it. Last semester I played with silicon; from flat sheets to casted forms I constructed solid and sheet silicon in my work. So I brought one of my casted silicon form that I made last time: placed it on the scanner's tray and let the red laser beam do the work.

(Right image) The black dots on the silicon surface are registration marks so when merging various images they help to match

This is an scanned image out of three others

This is the final scanned image after merging three different images. However, you can control and scan more views for more detail. Since this was a first try to see how the scanner works we only scanned three views; each took about 20 mins to scan but I was told that it can take from 30 mins or more. It all depends on the object, as you can see this silicon is very small but you can scan large objects with this scanner. The class TA, Shane was actually scanning his face for fun but I wouldn't stare at the red laser beams!

Showcase 500 Art Necklaces

I'm pleased to announce that one of my neckpiece 
was chosen to be published in the Showcase 500 Art Necklaces! 

Pre-order Lark's awesome book here: http://amzn.to/VUi3oO

Thank you for your support!

Gem Table Update

On our last update I have test-cut the joinery on CNC machine to ensure the fitting of the table legs with its base. Since then I have made a minor adjustments on the design of the joinery design for a invisible fit. After checking my file and have set the tool paths, it's time to cut the actual pieces of this Gem Table project on the CNC machine!

Using the smallest round bit
the first layer (engraving) has been cut

Finished view of the engraving

After changing the small bit to a bigger router bit, the real cutting begins as the machine cuts the table top and the legs.

After the CNC machine has cut each pieces, the bottom edges are rough from the machine thus hand clean up is necessary. The photo above shows pretty clean edges since it's the top view. At the wood shop, I have filed and slightly beveled the edges; now they look prettier than before :)

They are ready to be assembled!

Using a mallet I have gently hammer down four legs to the base, half way open so that I can fit the table top and the ring on the top portion of the table. Carefully hammering four sides, I have "prong set" the table top and the ring.

A view to show the legs and its base

"Prong set" table top

The Gem Table has been assembled successfully~