禁漫天堂

Jean Tschanz-Egger, head of design at Skidmore College鈥檚 Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery, faced a challenge: The museum鈥檚 new exhibition 鈥溾�� was bringing together contemporary art from the Tang collection with objects from the Shaker Museum. It was also a celebration of the life and legacy of the artist and gallerist Hudson (1950鈥�2014). How could she express all of that in a gallery sign?

found inspiration in the archives of Hudson鈥檚 gallery, Feature Inc., which opened in 1984 in Chicago. The gallery鈥檚 original homemade letterhead features chunky, hand-drawn letters that can look like wood joinery. The letters recall the Shaker craftsmanship on view in the exhibition that includes tables, chairs, cabinets, a walker and a wheelchair, all made of wood. 
 
Now, how should she make the sign?

The solution came from the , a campus center for collaboration, experimentation and learning that hosts 3D printers, sewing machines, art and hardware supplies and a range of other tools.  
  
Darren Prodger, IdeaLab鈥檚 manager, introduced Tschanz-Egger to one of the makerspace鈥檚 newest pieces of high-tech equipment: a Glowforge Plus laser cutter.

鈥淚鈥檓 so happy to collaborate with the Tang Museum to make this design idea a reality,鈥� Prodger said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great example of how creative thought can take physical form here in the IdeaLab for students, faculty, and now the Tang. The only limit is your imagination.鈥�

Like , the IdeaLab stands as a testament to a creative spirit at Skidmore that cuts across disciplines from the arts to the sciences to offer unique, collaborative learning experiences for students and faculty.

鈥淭his semester we鈥檝e had several of Professor Shirley Smith鈥檚 Italian classes here working on our 3D printers as well as with the Glowforge,鈥� Prodger said. 鈥淪tudents were able design a box, learn the Glowforge software, prepare the wood, cut and engrave the pieces, and assemble their boxes within an hour. We鈥檙e hoping to be able to work with more departments on similar projects in the future.鈥� 

The IdeaLab recently obtained the laser cutter as an upgrade from an older, more industrial-style laser. The new, versatile Glowforge Plus uses a thin laser beam to etch or cut materials such as wood, Plexiglas or mylar with precision. 

Once Tschanz-Egger uploaded her design file into the Glowforge online interface, entered the correct settings and loaded a thin, one-square-foot piece of wood into the Glowforge, she hit a button to download her file and waited for the laser-cutting to begin.

Ninety minutes and 11 pieces of wood later, Tschanz-Egger had 22 custom, laser-cut letters.
 
Today, those letters are now affixed to the museum鈥檚 wall, welcoming campus into the exhibition 鈥淓nergy in All Directions.鈥�

Tang Dayton Director said the wall text was unlike that at any other exhibition. 

鈥淚 love the possibilities that open up when we work together to share expertise and ideas across campus,鈥� Berry said. The signage 鈥渋s a perfect example of the exponential power of collaboration, a hallmark of Skidmore鈥檚 interdisciplinary spirt and something that the missions of the IdeaLab and the Tang share.鈥�