If you follow Medalta on Facebook, twitter or Instagram (which you should) you’d have seen some pretty cool images lately of the 3D printing they’ve been doing. I was so intrigued that I bugged Aaron Nelson and Quentin Randall to send me some info and images to share with you guys. Below are some thoughts about the relevancy of the residency process for an artist and the integration of 3D printing technology. 


The value of art and artists
 

Artists
are experimenters, looking at new ways of using existing technologies
or developing new technologies to solve their own technical problems.
Artists today are not primarily focused on the final product. For every
piece in an art gallery, there are 100 piled in the corners of studios.
It is about the process; the experiments which yield new information.
Artist
residencies are the creative equivalent to scientific laboratories –
ideas come together and are explored to their natural end. Sometimes
it’s as a heap in the corner. In other times – exciting times – an idea
produces something revolutionary. When that happens, change happens.
Art
and Craft 3D printing is at the edge of our understanding and
development. By putting it in the hands of artists – people who make
careers out of pushing forward – their experiments will leave invaluable
and meaningful amounts of new information in their wake.
In
Medalta’s artists’ studios, 3D ceramic printing experiments are quietly
being conducted by many creative minds. The goal here is not to solve
the  problems In fact, more problems are often created. The goal is to
push these two newly-convergent technologies (ceramics and 3D printing)
to their absolute limit in order to see further into the future. By
pushing further than before, artists at Medalta are able to help others
see the future. By experimenting and sharing, progress can (and will)
happen in positive, unexpected ways.
That
is the relevance of an artists’ work. To endlessly experiment, share
ideas, build on ideas, combine ideas and move this world forward.
Medalta’s artist residency program is devoted to that cause and
understands its role in the world. Medalta respects the process of
making and understands that process based learning produces new
knowledge that expands the definition of ‘possible.’”

Well if you’re like me I’m sure you’re dying to know more and if you’re lucky enough to be in the Alberta area you should make sure to check out their 3D printing demo and exhibition this weekend. 

Historic Clay District logo  

CERAMIC 3D PRINTING

Over 125 years of Ceramic technology in Medicine Hat

Exhibition & Demonstration

Saturday, June 1 
7:00pm – 10:00pm   
Yuill Family Gallery (Medalta)
No Charge
  
Artists 

Steve Grimmer

Medalta is pleased to host Ceramic 3D Printing,
a company from Omaha, Nebraska, who are using the methodologies
associated with contemporary art production in order to conduct research
into 3D printing. This company is at the leading edge of printing in
ceramics and organic material for the medical industry.
Artists
are experimenters, looking at new ways of using existing technologies
or developing new technologies to solve their own technical problems.
Artists today are not primarily focused on the final product. For every
piece in an art gallery, there are 100 piled in the corners of studios.
It is about the process, the experiments which yield new information.
Please
join us for a short demonstration of the process and to hear our five
feature artists discuss their involvement with this cutting edge
technology.