Rats.

[spacebug]

I think the mold-making/casting project I had going basically failed. The shape I was trying to cast was a little too weird I think, and the casting got stuck, like, REALLY stuck on the inside so I can't get the one practice casting out without totally fucking up the mold. Well, it might be sort of salvagable but not really. And casting stuff sets super quickly, and the vent holes were too small and they plugged up before I could even get the whole mold filled up. Oh well. So, I'm out ~$60, had a great time making a big mess, and learned a bit. I think I'll try it again and make a plaster mold like my big clay head. I won't be able to make duplicates that way, but it'd definitely be cheaper and will probably be easier to demold though a lot messier. (Take a chisel to it! Yeah!) And then if they work they'd all be one-of-a-kind. By necessity, but yeah.

I thought my hands were covered in clay dust, but I think upon closer inspection this might be a very very thin layer of plastic. No wonder it didn't come off in the shower.

Dang, it's after 2 already. No wonder I'm hungry.

Comments

[spacebug.livejournal.com]

Well, I just took one beginning class, so I'm no expert, but the shop they have in the new building is fantastic. There are, I think, fourteen stations with oxy-acetylene torches, a room in back with arcwelders, a pipe bender, a gas forge, a sandblaster, a sheet metal folder, and several drills and grinders and shears. And I know I'm forgetting things... Access to the metal shop pretty much presupposes access to the wood shop, too, which is also pretty impressive.
I don't know if you can get access to the shops without taking classes, though. I took one mostly for free when I was a UofM staff member, I think with fees and tuition and everything, had I paid for the whole thing it would have been around $1,000. The teacher I had is Guy Baldwin. He's a really nice guy, and could answer more of your questions than I can. His email is baldw003@umn.edu.

[vingus.livejournal.com]

thanks so much, I really appreciate it. No, I would imagine I'd have to be enrolled somehow. I just meant I didn't care if it was as a grad or undergrad as the end resulting degree was not important. I wrote to another professor there but I will try Mr. Baldwin as well. Thanks again. Cheers- Rebecca

[spacebug.livejournal.com]

Ah, I see. You'd definitely be allowed to register for classes without being in a degree program, most beginning classes have spots held open for non-degree seeking students- that's what I was as a staff member. (If you're cynical like me you can read that as: "Sure, we'll take anyone's money!")
If you wanted to take more advanced classes you may need permission to register from the instructor. For information on becoming a non-degree seeking student, you'd probably have more luck with the college of continuing education than with the Art dept. Their web page is here: http://www.cce.umn.edu/ The U is kind of an unruly, many-headed beast of bureaucracy. I graduated from there and I used to work in student services so I know how confusing it gets. Good Luck!

[vingus.livejournal.com]

Miss Bug: Again, much obliged. I've been writing back and forth with Wayne, a professor there (you know him?) and he's got me fairly sold on the program. The facilities do seem more impressive than any other place I'm looking. And a paper shop, too? yum. If I make it out there, I owe you a drink. --Rebecca