Article Responses

The Digital Stone

By: William V. Ganis

The most comprehensive collection of Computer Numeric-Controlled mills and lathes are found in The Digital Stone located by Trenton, New Jersey. William V. Ganis writes that the JA Stone Division, was a preexisting institution in which formed The Digital Stone Project. The JA stone Division tried to preserve the Stone Studio but ended up settling with the Atlantic Foundation to sell the equipment for half a million dollars. With the collaboration of the Stone Division along with other sculptors, the purchase of the equipment back from Atlantic foundation helped re-open DSP. Works that are done in this huge studio range from public installations to personal sculpture. Although these machines are useful when doing large scale works they can only do so much and are not ideal for finishing surfaces. Even with all the help from the technology in the studio, all the sculptors that are built need concept and form which comes form the artist.

Digital Sculpture: Ars Ex Machina

By: William V. Ganis

Digital Sculpture by William V. Ganis compares the past technology with the present. In the mid 19^th century, Oliver Wendell invented the photographic dual-image “stereograph” in which gave off a three dimensional illusion. Today the virtual world is separated from actual space by the computer monitor. Digital sculptors use virtual space as a start but realize their work is in physical space. A Rapid Prototyping machine, which is a three dimensional printer, makes an object in the virtual realm become physical. The RP is defined as an artist tool. It is exclusive to have ownership of this RP printer. Eventually, these machines will enable color, different material, and moving parts as they become more advanced.

Formtography

By: Harry Abramson

Formtography is the capturing and recreating of forms without the need for molds. In the article Formtography by Harry Abramson, he tells how it involves three steps which include: three dimensional data capture (camera), Digital sculpting (photoshop), and digital production (camera). A 3D animation program called Rapid Prototyping which is a growing industry, builds layer by layer in 3D form. Acquiring detail very quickly and has accurate representation. CNC milling uses a block of material that is carved by a computer controlled tool that moves along the three to five axes. Since these technologies are so expensive, rough digital enlargements are very popular because its lowering the cost, and takes less time even though it requires you to work by hand on details.

Compare/Contrast Summary

All three of these articles are talking about the rise of technology in sculpture. Right now, technology is a guide to the sculptors vision. In The Digital Stone, brings up how companies fight to have such huge technological machines to make art. DSP was one of the most significant buildings for unique resources, including a wide variety of tools from computerized equipment, handheld power tools, scanners, and cranes. Such machines like the CNC milling machines and digital enlargements were explained in detail in articles Digital Sculpture and Formtography. The article Digital Sculpture talked more about the advancement in the 3D printer. Being more aware of the future, the 3D printer might enable us to incorporate color, material and movement. On the other hand, Formtography explained the growing programs in animation. Using Rapid prototyping and rough digital enlargements. Even with all this technology I still believe the quote that was mentioned in the last article Formtography. That technology “doesn't make it easier to create good art, it just makes it easier to produce good art.”