PORTFOLIO OF MAKING

The work in this portfolio differs from my fine art work, but is essential to who I am and how I grow intellectually. Projects outlined here are incorporated into professional positions I have held, where the goals and intentions are programmatic, not personal. While the constraints and limitations of my fine art research are not applied to these projects, my personal belief of the impact of remix theory, familial collaborations, and the power of painting are certainly not checked at the door. I hope you enjoy looking through the text and images below, they have changed my life.

IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE 3D PRINTING MATERIALS

“Outside the BeAM makerspace, there’s a place to pay respects to allPHA printed failures. Joel Hopler, a Hanes Art Center/Murray makerspace technical supervisor, points an experimental space in a small, raised planter created earlier this year to show the team how allPHA objects break down. The speed of decomposition depends on the thickness of material, along with compost factors like heat, moisture, and microbial activity.”

PARAMETRIC EXPLORATIONS

As the faculty at FAU’s School of Architecture further development around artificial intelligence, projects that engage with complex geometric forms are becoming the norm. The images below outline my own experiments as I work to keep up with the fabrication expectations of the program. Working on these designs prepared me for projects were students train A.I. to develop organic forms and auto-layout floor plans for building designs.

FURNITURE FOR BROOKS & SCARPA

Architects have a long history with designing furniture as a scaled down and personal engagement with building structures. In working with Prof. Huber at FAU, I had the opportunity to produce collaborative designs for the architecture firm, Brooks and Scarpa.

CONFERENCE TABLE

GLASS TOP ROUND TABLE

CUSTOM DESIGNS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS

Graduating students are always looking to make their class stand out and have an impact on future generations. One way they can do this is through designing awards/gifts for events, donations, or other marking moments in the program. I have worked with many students to outline design strategies to produces artifacts that hold significance, while going beyond industry standard expectations of awards and trophies. Below are two examples that showcase a range of design and fabrication techniques.

2022 DESIGN AWARDS

Traditionally, design awards are minimal additions to the announcement of external awards and scholarships presented at the end of the semester. This year’s graduating class requested to manage the entire event and produce the physical awards. I worked with the students throughout the process and helped them create procedures that could be handed down to future graduating classes.

MEMORIAL PROJECT FOR LOU WOLFF

This award was produced by undergraduate student Shambil Kahn in memory of Lou Wolff, a local south Florida architect, whose family provides annual scholarships to FAU architecture students. The round building in the images below is from an original design by Lou Wolff. The original building has since been remodeled, so the student was required to use the architect’s original drawings to create a 3D model for printing. The mural on the building is an iconic element, so Kahn collaborated with other students and faculty to create a topographical interpretation of the design to showcase this element in the final 3D print.

PPE FOR NON-PROFITS IN BROWARD COUNTY

During COVID-19, many maker-spaces filled a gap in our industry’s production of personal protective equipment. The way that makers throughout the country stepped up to support their communities was inspirational. At FAU, we began by 3D printing and CNC routing face shields and DIY mask adapters for local businesses and non-profits. We then received a grant from the Community Foundation of Broward to 3D print 5000 face shields and deliver them to local non-profit organizations.

LASER CUT GINGERBREAD

PROJECT TITLE: “Gingerbread Borderland: HAPPY HOLIDAYS 2018”

Summary by Susan Harbage Page:

“Gingerbread Borderland is a recreation of the U.S.–Mexico Border in Brownville, Texas and Matamoros, Mexico in the Rio Grande Valley. It depicts the Rio Grande which marks the actual borderline, the border fence running beside it, and the Gateway International Bridge in the Brownsville,Texas area. The objects in the scene all have particular meaning and are things I have photographed, and seen as I have walked, canoed, and ridden bikes in the border area since 2007. The intent of this work is to build awareness of the harrowing risks that immigrants takes as they work to enter the U.S. and build better lives for their families in the U.S. This is a representation of the border space which remains imaginary to most U.S. citizens.

Thanks to the team of people who made this imaginary construction possible:

Loaf, Bakery, Durham, North Carolina
BeAM (Be A Maker, UNC-Chapel Hill) – Prototyping and Technical Resource
Joel Hopler – Collaborator/Consultant
Carrie Bird – Collaborator/Baker/Icing and Construction Design
The Noun Project – Open source graphics”

SO MUCH MORE

Working with institutions for higher learning and research is an enriching experience, especially because of interactions with faculty and students. There are so many projects that do not have official write-ups but are personally important and impactful in the lives of each participant. Below, I have compiled sample images to showcase a diverse range of projects I have been involved with.