Technology
A Wonderful Podcast Extra Segment About Me and B. B. King
I’m so glad that Tracy and Tom put together this page and extra little podcast segment about my interaction with B. B. King and how his death sparked my family into remembering. The message also holds some special things for all artists and artistic families. If you have not had a chance to listen to the short segment, it is not long.
The little podcast above was cropped from our long podcast. Here is a link to Tom and Tracy’s podcast about the book. Though their podcast primarily focuses on fused filament fabrication (type of 3D printing ) they diverted a bit to podcast with me about my book coming out in Sept. called 3D Technology in Fine Art and Craft: Exploring 3D Printing, Scanning, Sculpting and Milling
PAY ATTENTION- Important- They Are Going To Blow Up This Treasure Trove
I wrote about the importance of our cultural heritage in my new book 3D Technology in Fine Art and Craft: Exploring 3D Printing, Scanning, Sculpting and Milling
In the book I talk about how a company called Cyark is scanning cultural artifacts from all over the world. They are doing this in the hopes of preserving and documenting these treasures in case of natural or human destruction. Mes Anyak is a 5,000 year old and very large archaeological site that is an incredibly rich cultural reservoir with art that is being uncovered and expected to be uncovered for the next 40 years. Here is the catch— it is scheduled to be blown up. You will have to follow the links in this post and be sure to read my book to discover why. ( Don’t wait for the book- act now!)
Only 10% of Mes Aynak has been excavated, though, and some believe future discoveries at the site have the potential to redefine the history of Afghanistan and the history of Buddhism itself. (From http://www.savingmesaynak.com/)
I came upon Mes Anyak while writing my book and my heart wept at what I saw. I immediately felt a kinship to Brent Huffman for his work in trying to spread the word about Mes Anyak. I was honored to feature his photography and this incredible place in the book. Though 3D scanning is a wonderful way to preserve and document, and I would love to talk to anyone who is 3D scanning any part of Mes Anyak for my Art and Technology Podcast. But scanning feels like putting a bandaid on a gun shot wound. To me, it is senseless to blow up this treasure trove- akin to murder. Brent is trying to make a documentary to spread the word about Mes Anyak in the hope of saving it. Please visit his kickstarter campaign.
Like Mes Anyak—Brent has limited time.
PLEASE TAKE NOTE: Please watch the video of this incredible place, visit the kickstarter, help and pass on this post to others.
Time is of the essence.
Help #SaveMesAynak from Kartemquin Films on Vimeo.
National Sculpture Society – “Hand Versus Computer”
I’m delighted that the National Sculpture Society invited me to participate in education at the National Sculpture Society Conference June 26-28, 2015.
In 2007/2008 I wrote an article about combining traditional and digital technology called Exploring Digital Technologies as Applied to Traditional Sculpture and a sidebar on Shan Gray’s sculpture The American . The magazine that I wrote this for is Sculpture Review – a publication of the National Sculpture Society. All those years ago I was working on a degree combining 3D technology in fine art. This type of degree was not even heard of and would not have been possible without the support of Goddard College Master of Fine Art in Interdisciplinary Arts degree. Eight years later, my book titled 3D Technology In Fine Art and Craft: Exploring 3D Printing, Scanning, Sculpting and Milling by Focal Press is being published, and I’m headed to the National Sculpture Society Conference to discuss these topics.
I’ll be participating in the conference in Philadelphia on a panel- “Hand versus Computer.” I’m accompanied by some incredible artists.
The panel consists of Sabine Howard, George Nista, Simon Indrele, Sandis Kondrats, Jim Licaretz, and me Bridgette Mongeon. Once again, I’m the only female on a panel talking about technology. Tuck Langland will be moderating the panel.
Though the Society Conference has me listed for the book signing, my book won’t be ready. It is coming out in Sept, but is available for pre-order on Amazon. So, technically I won’t be able to participate in the book signing. However, when I’m not on the panel, I’ll be in the vendor area. I’ll be talking about the process of creating the Grambling State Tiger featured in the book, the many different technologies and the artists that I featured in the book. Of course, I’ll also be talking about my new book and art project of Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter Tea Party. This new project is pushing the combination of art and technology to the max. Check out the video below or on YouTube. My time in the vendor area will be like my interactions at 3D Printer World Expo 2015, 2014.
Thank you Focal Press for believing it is time for this type of book.It took a long time to convince a publisher to publish a book on the topic of art and technology. I also want to thank them for supplying me with a sample of the book prior to the release date so that I can have it for this conference. The book is available on Amazon but, the actual release of the book is September 2015.
There is still time to register for the conference. Also stay tuned. I’m trying to podcast with some of the participants from the conference for the art and technology podcasts. I’ll either do this before if we can fit it in or after. But, as always, keep checking the book’s website as I podcast monthly with those working with art and technology. You are also welcome to use the podcast episodes on your website or ezine.
If you are going to the conference and want to set up a fireside chat around some drinks or a meal, I’d love to organize one. Just let me know. We did this at 3D Printer World Expo and those participating found it helpful. And as usual you can share your own work on 3D tech and fine art projects and questions on both LinkedIn and Facebook. I’ll be glad to help!
See you in Philly!
2 New Book Projects!
I have already started on another book project. This new project I’m tentatively calling Finding Alice- Process Book. It is similar to the 3D Technology in Fine Art and Craft: Exploring 3D Printing, Scanning, Sculpting and Milling
The second book project is titled Finding Alice-Field Guide. As the press on the project states, if you go to the sculpture and all of the seats are taken at the bronze tea party, do not dismay. You can begin to look for the 150 different elements hidden in the bronze. This second book written in rhyme, riddle etc is a field guide to understanding and finding all of the 150 elements. You may need the process book and an understanding of Lewis Carroll to know them all. Still looking for the correct publisher for this book. I’m not sure it is the right fit for the publisher of 3D Technology in Fine Art and Craft: Exploring 3D Printing, Scanning, Sculpting and Milling
These two books will be out in 2017 as I need to finish the sculpture first. Still have two other books 3/4 of the way done and inspired by others. Ah my two loves. Sculpting and writing, they do vie for my attention.
For hints on the 150 items follow this blog or the Finding Alice Page on Facebook.
The media and press pages have much more information about this sculpture project.
Here is a wonderful podcast that talks about the books. Thanks to Tom and Tracy for the interview.
My Book on 3D Technology in Fine Art and Craft is Now Available on Amazon
I have been waiting on this for a while. My new book on 3D Technology In Fine Art and Craft: Exploring 3D Printing Scanning, Sculpting, and Milling is now available on Amazon for Pre order. I’m already starting on a new book. This new book is similar to this book, however it follows one job right through. The job is creating a monumental bronze sculpture of the Mad Hatter’s tea party for a Texas Park. I do not yet, at this date, have a publisher for the Finding Alice process book. You can follow along on the new book and project on this blog or the Finding Alice process page.
If you would like to follow the conversation on these topics or have your own artwork you would like to share. Please do so either on linked in or Facebook.
Join the conversation and share your own work on 3D Technology and Fine Art on LinkeIn
Join the conversation and share your own work on 3D Technology and Fine Art on Facebook
Bridgette Mongeon is a sculptor, writer, illustrator and educator as well as a public speaker.
Her blog can be found at https://creativesculpture.com.
Follow the artists on Twitter twitter.com/Sculptorwriter
Artist Is Searching For 3D Printer to Promote in A New Book
Bridgette Mongeon, is the author of the new book 3D Technology in Fine Art and Craft: Exploring 3D Printing, Scanning, Sculpting and Milling – Focal Press Sept 2015 and the host of the Art and Technology Podcasts. She is embarking on a new sculpture and book project and is searching for the perfect home 3D Printer to review and promote in the book and in the creation of a high profile monumental sculpture.
The sculpture is a monumental bronze of Alice In Wonderland’s Mad Hatter tea party. July 4th 2015 is the 150th anniversary of Lewis and Carroll’s story of Alice in Wonderland. The media opportunities on the project alone are monumental.
The artist is also creating a new book project associated with the monumental sculpture tentatively called Finding Alice- Incorporating 3D Technology and Traditional Sculpture in Creating a Monumental Bronze Sculpture. Finding Alice is similar to her previous book but instead focuses on one sculpting project and the technology used to create the art.
Just how is 3D printing being used in a monumental bronze sculpture? The artist is creating 150 elements that will be hidden in the bark of the sculpted bronze table, benches and nearly 20 foot scene. These items will be created using a combination of 3D scanning, sculpting and 3D Printing and then embedded into the clay before the artwork is made into a bronze.
The Duration of this Arrangement
The artist is searching for a 3D printer for the duration of the sculpting of the project which is approximately 12 months. The printer will need to be available March 2015 and preferably come pre assembled, unless there is someone in the Houston, Texas area that can put the printer together at no cost.
What is the artist looking for in a 3D printer?
- Good Communication with Technical Support
Creating a monumental bronze sculpture, and writing a book is not a “quick” task. That is why a clear channel of communication with the manufacturer of the 3D printer and their technical support team is essential. Reviews and tutorials need to be written and clearing a channel of communication can help the artist reach her “monumental deadline “of the sculpture project and clearly write the details of the 3D printing process.
- Ease of Use
Because the author/artist will be writing extensively about using the printer it is important that the 3D printer work properly. Of course with all technology—things happen. That is why the first criteria in this project is good communication with technical support. - Type of 3D Printer?
In writing the 3D Technology in Fine Art and Craft and creating her 3D printed artwork the artist is aware that designs need revising and often more than one 3D print is required. That is why the artist would prefer to have two 3D printers to review. One fused deposition modeling printer and another printer that uses stereolithography. With the stereolithography printer it is especially beneficial if the 3D printer also use castable resin for further experiments and promotion. - Great Resolution Each of the 3D printed pieces will be embedded into the clay. The deadline to complete this project is tight and therefore the best resolution with the least amount of post processing is preferred.
The Promotion Opportunities
- Inclusion in Mongeon’s book Finding Alice
- Inclusion in the media press that features the combination of new technology with age old sculpting for creating this legacy of a story.
- Possible inclusion in the next edition of 3D Technology in Fine Art and Craft—if the publisher Focal Press requests a follow up edition.
- Inclusion and mention on Ms Mongeon’s book tour- Providers of the 3D printers are welcome to supply their own printed collateral material for distribution. Mongeon is scheduling a book tour with universities, maker spaces and communities dealing with 3D Technology. She is a returning speaker at 3D Printer World Expo, was the cochair of 3D Camp 2012-2013 and is involved in the educational initiative of STEAM which encourages the combination of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math in education.
- Add space on the book’s accompanying website.
- A podcast episode with the host of the Art and Technology Podcast featuring the companies 3D printer and artist that use it.
If you are interested in this arrangement please contact the artist through the contact form on her website.
Other information about Bridgette Mongeon
FINE ART/WRITING/SPEAKING
Sculptor’s fine art website
BOOKS
Digital Sculpting With Mudbox: Essential Tools and Techniques for Artists.
NEW BOOK
3D Technology in Fine Art and Craft: Exploration of 3D Printing, Scanning, Sculpting and Milling. Sept 2015
Join the conversation and share your own work on 3D Technology and Fine Art on LinkeIn
Join the conversation and share your own work on 3D Technology and Fine Art on Facebook
ART AND TECHNOLOGY
Art and Technology Podcast
Expanding Your Horizons In Math And Science – Lewis Carroll And Art
This past weekend I had the opportunity, once again, to present with my wonderful friend and studio helper Allison Gonzalez at the Houston Expanding Your Horizon’s Conference for teenage girls.
“Expanding Your Horizons Network is known as the preeminent source for resources and experiences that provide focused engagement of middle school girls from all backgrounds in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).” Of course–I am an artist and understand the importance of having an A (art) in the STEM curriculum. I am a proponent of STEAM.
I titled my topic- “Art, Technology, Medicine, Math, and Literature”
There is geometry behind my digital sculptures. A great resource for learning about this is through Guerrilla CG videos such as this one on Subdivision Surface Overview.
It was a lot to cover but with my newest art project I could cover it all. I am creating a monumnetal sculpture of the Mad Hatter’s Tea party. I talked about how I created this presentation in the computer using digital programs and also how I work in the studio using traditional and digital processes just as I featured in my new book 3D Technology in Fine Art and Craft: Exploring 3D Printing, Scanning, Sculpting and Milling Focal Press 2015.
We talked a bit about Lewis Carroll and that this is the 150th anniversary of Alice in Wonderland and about how Charles Dodgson ,the real man behind the pen name of Lewis Carroll, was a mathematician. I shared some of the secret math and other things that are in his cool stories. I then shared the math/geometry and code behind my digital artwork.
with code and created in layers.
They played with a layer puzzle.
The girls learned about 3D printing and how it works in layers and the many different applications of 3D printing.
We looked at how 3D scanning works with both laser and light and used pin art to see how the pins made a replica of our hand.I posed the question, if I had smaller and more pins would the detail of the hand be better or worse?
Some of the girls that also attended my presentation last year remember using photogrammetry and a cell phone to scan their feet
We looked at how geometry works in the computer, about the underlying mesh of a 3d piece of art and how if we add more squares to a mesh we are able to sculpt more detail, but we must use more computer memory.
The girls got to see lots of 3D printed pieces and even took one home thanks to the generosity of Lulzbot.
Finally the girls made a Dodecahedron [doh-dek-uh-hee-druh n,]. We Provided a free printable on the Alice In Wonderland Website.
The girls were provided with a list of links that they could use to help them learn about math, 3D and explore on the computer. Below are the links I shared.
I met the people at Lulzbot. They are all
about education and generously donated
some 3D prints that I could give the girls.
The girls came in and out of the room to a series of videos. My choice videos for this presentation were
The Making of the movie Paranorman using 3D Printing
Derby the Dog how a dog got legs using a 3D printer
And another on how they are using 3D printers for body parts
3D Printer Replaces body parts
LINKS GIVEN TO GIRLS – These are from my book 3D Technology in Fine Art and Craft…
Art, Technology, Medicine, Math, and Literature –by Bridgette Mongeon
Be curious- Think Impossible things.
Alice laughed. “There’s no use trying,” she said: “one can’t believe impossible things.”
“I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”
If you want to investigate 3D Technology further, below you will find information and websites.
www.digitalsculpting.net My website on my book and digital technology
www.creativesculpture.com My fine art website.
Free or Inexpensive Gems that Encourage Individuals to Play with Math.
Knot Plot Helps to visualize knots http://www.knotplot.com/download
Surface Evolver Visualizes minimal surfaces http://www.susqu.edu/brakke/evolver/evolver.html
TopMod A topological mesh modeler http://www.viz.tamu.edu/faculty/ergun/research/topology
SeifertView Visualization of Seifert Surfaces http://www.win.tue.nl/~vanwijk/seifertview/
Excellent tutorials on geometry and computation http://www.christopherwhitelaw.us/?p=567
Software
Blender Free- open source 3D Modeling, animating and much more http://www.blender.org *Sculptris Free http://pixologic.com/sculptris Hard surface and organic.
*Daz Studio 3D Free http://www.daz3d.com
Other Free Fun Stuff
JWEEL Free browser based jewelry design program https://www.jweel.com/en/
Autodesk 123 Series Free http://www.123dapp.com/
123D Catch- Scan from your cell phone
123D CNC-Create files for CNC milling
123D Creature- Create creatures using this app
123D Design – Create 3D models using this free app
123D Make – Helps you to make physical models out of designs. 123D Sculpt – Sculpt using your iPad
123D Meshmixer – helps to prepare your files for 3D printing
123D Tinkercad- helps you to design 3D object for printing
Learn Code for Art Processing 2 http://processing.org/
The Annotated Alice Lewis Carroll, John Tenniel, Martin Gardner editor
Bridgette Mongeon is a sculptor, writer, illustrator and educator as well as a public speaker.
Her blog can be found at https://creativesculpture.com.
Follow the artists on Twitter twitter.com/Sculptorwriter
A Magnum Opus and Celebrating 150 years of Curiosity
I have been sculpting for thirty years, and am now embarking on what I refer to as my magnum opus.
Some readers may have heard me mention this sculpture over the last two years. The project is a larger than life size Mad Hatter Tea Party in bronze. Families can come to visit the sculpture and bring their lunch and join in the tea party. I’ll post more on the location of the park in another post.
I work both digitally, sculpting in the computer and traditionally sculpting in clay. Many times I use both. I just completed a book on these techniques titled 3D Technology in Fine Art and Craft: Exploring 3D Printing, Scanning, Sculpting and Milling. Focal Press 2015. This project uses all of these techniques and more.
I started with a quick digital design. Over the last two years, the digital design has morphed into several different sizes and versions. The design will morph quite a bit more from the digital design, as I take each character and make them my own and sculpt them in clay.
The Scope of the Project
The characters are larger than life measuring approximately 8 feet tall. I revert to the original John Tenniel illustrations for my inspiration. However, the Hatter scene I am creating is really contrary to the original illustration of the Tea Party. In Tenniel’s illustrations, all of the characters are at one end. In my sculpture, Alice, the Hatter, March Hare and Dormouse are spaced out. In fact, each character interacts with a guest that is not yet present at the tea party. The scene needs interaction from visitors to be complete. The sculpture lures individuals to bring a meal and share at the table. The table seats between 6-8 guests. The sculpture titled “Move One Place On” entices visitors to change places in the middle of their visit, just as the characters did in the story.
A Treasure Hunt
There is much more to this scene than meets the eye. Along with the tea party, there is a dedication plaque in the shape of an oversized storybook set upon an old tree trunk. There are small tree stump steps for children to climb to see the words. Sitting on a leaf of this storybook is a mouse that reads the dedication. Moving to the top of the storybook, you will see the feet of a small rabbit jumping into a hole. Move around the tree trunk, and you will not only see a rabbit in the cutaway section of the tree, but you will see a tiny Alice falling down the hole. And so… the treasure hunt begins. Found within all of the bronze pieces in Alice’s Wonderland are many different hidden objects and even more meanings behind each of those objects. How many of these can one find on this curious journey? Well, 150, of course. I have dedicated 150 in honor of the 150th anniversary. On July 4th of this year, the world celebrates the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland.
The Schedule
By the official anniversary date of July 4, 2015 I hope to have enough of the scene sculpted so that camera crews can come in and film. My team and I will continue the sculpting. I have awarded the bronze casting to Shidoni Foundry in New Mexico where more documentation of the process will take place. I am working diligently to hit the target date of installation scheduled for summer of 2016. It would be wonderful if that date were close to the 151st anniversary of the story.
New Book Projects
As you may know, I recently completed a book titled 3D Technology In Fine Art and Craft: Exploring 3D Printing, Scanning, Sculpting, and Milling- Publisher Focal Press. I expect this book to come out Summer 2015. It is my goal to use this sculpture, Move One Place On and create two books- for which I am presently seeking a publisher. The first book, is tentatively titled Finding Alice: An Artist’s Curious Journey of Combining Traditional and Digital Art to Create a Monumental Bronze Sculpture. In my previous book, I focused on the many different types of digital technology that I and other artists around the world use to create art. This new book focuses on one job from conception to installation and all of the steps in between. I will be sculpting using the traditional sculpting processes and using some of the digital processes I cover in my previous book. I include even more technology in this project. For example, I created Humpty Dumpty digitally and will have him 3D printed. I will then embed the 3D printed piece in the clay before it goes to the foundry and is cast in bronze. There will be many treasures created this way. The second book in this project is Finding Alice- A Field Guide This book gives clues to the 150 different elements found in the scene. It is written in Carrollian style using such things as rhyme and riddle. In the light of that, let me give your first clues in the Finding Alice Field Guide.
Searching for Lily before the game
A mother to two- they are the same.
Here she reclines-facing east
Believing this many ‘fore morning feast.
This riddle holds four of the 150 elements in the field guide. The book contains a place for an individual to fill in the blanks. I’ll give you these answers. You will have to find the other 146 answers on your own.
1. Who is this character?
The White Queen
2. What is pertinent to the creation of this hidden object?- See Finding Alice- Process book.
She is the White Queen but is also in the image of the artist’s mother.
3. Where is this physical piece located?
I guess I can’t answer this for you as I have not placed her, and how on earth I will get her to face east is going to be a challenge.
4. What is the literary reference?
(Hint—it is a number. Include the sentence written by Carroll.)
Six “Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” (Chapter 5)
Of course, I have been writing the books as I work on the commission. However, I need to place the bronze sculpture before the book is complete. That delay means I won’t have final images of the installation for the book until July 4th 2016 and it does take a while for a book to be published. Maybe the books will be ready by July 4th, 2017? I’ll let you know after I secure a publisher.
Media and Press Page
I am delighted with this project and the work it will entail. If you are interested in publishing a story about the project, I will soon have a media page with some images. I will be adding more images to the page as we progress on the project. If the media page is not up yet, it just means that I have been terribly busy. Just fill out the contact form and I’ll zip some images and information off to you. If you know of anyone who would like to document the creation of this sculpture as a film documentary, please let me know. I think it would make a very interesting film.
Speaking Engagements
I’d be delighted to share the project through speaking engagements and lectures. I’m already planning a speaking tour about art and technology and will be delighted to share this portion. Maybe I’ll even pass on a few more hints for the field guide.
Curriculum
There are many ways that educators can use this sculpture and the works of Lewis Carroll to encourage education in such things as history, literature, and math. Educators can also use the technology and art aspect of this project. The artist will be providing curriculmn associated with this project on this website.
Interns
If you live in the Houston, Texas area and are an artist that is available from March- September and would like to intern on this project, contact me through my contact page. Be sure to let me know your availability and give me links to your work.
Publicist
I’m also looking for an assistant to help with the publicity for this project and will be interviewing individuals immediately.
I’ll share more later, but for now… I must jump in the hole with Alice.
Bridgette Mongeon is a sculptor, writer, illustrator and educator as well as a public speaker.
Her blog can be found at https://creativesculpture.com.
Follow the artists on twitter twitter.com/Sculptorwriter
Having Fun With Alice In Wonderland- Morphing The March Hare
How does a sculpture morph? As I stated in previous posts, sometimes I will create a 3D digital model to work out the design process. This lets my client and I change and modify sizes, placement, interaction and poses. These digital models are done quickly usually using preexisting models that I can change to fit my needs. The photographs on this blog post show the morphing of the March Hare. For the monumental bronze sculpture of Move One Place On- a scene in Lewis Carroll’s book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
I would continue to create the sculpture digitally, but sometimes I just like the feel of the clay. So I then went back down to the traditional studio, my office is upstairs my studio is downstairs. Downstairs I worked on the March Hare, in clay. Besides making the monumental sculpture of this scene I will also be making a number of table-top versions in bronze for sale. Sculpting downstairs in traditional clay and seeing things in a physical form helps me to see how this smaller version will work as well as the interaction of pieces in a physical world.
Once I got something I was interested in, I brought the clay piece back upstairs and scanned him with a 3D scanner. I will need a digital model to enlarge him, but I also did not want to sculpt a tiny cup, saucer and watch traditionally. I put these items into the model in the computer.
I love the action of this piece. Remember also that he is interacting with the visitor, that will be seated on a bench next to him. You also remember that I mentioned in a previous post that I will be hiding things in the sculpture. When you see this sculpture be sure to check out the stump that he is sitting on. I am sure I will be hiding things there. I also have a bunch of other ideas for hidden objects in this piece of the March Hare. I can’t wait to sculpt him life-size. As soon as the other figures are ready I will send the 3D files off for enlargements. Stay tuned.
Bridgette Mongeon is a sculptor, writer, illustrator and educator as well as a public speaker.
Her blog can be found at https://creativesculpture.com.
Follow the artists on Twitter twitter.com/Sculptorwriter
Inspiring Young Minds in Fine art and 3D Technology
Carol Andrews, Visual Arts Director Newspring Center in Spring Branch Texas, invited sculptor Bridgette Mongeon to speak at North Brook High School. New Spring Center and Mongeon have the same desire- inspire young minds to “define and achieve a bright economic future. A few different classes joined in for a creative and visually stimulating lecture by Mongeon. The facilitating teacher Scott Keairnes asked Newspring to find a sculptor to speak to the students, what he got was a bit more.
Mongeon is a well-known bronze sculptor has just finished writing a book titled “3D Technology in Fine Art and Craft: Exploring 3D Printing, Scanning, Sculpting and Milling.” She has been combining 3D technology in fine art for years and enjoyed talking to young people about the many different aspects of 3D. “A student who learns about 3D, whether it be 3D scanning, 3D printing or even 3D sculpting and Computer Numerically Controlled Milling, will find that their education is crosses disciplines. They can take these tools and use them in multiple different ways. The young people that embrace and learn this technology will put themselves ahead of others when it comes to looking for a job. The
government is also seeing the importance of the technology and is investing, exploring and supporting education in 3D. I’m thrilled for the opportunity to inspire the students,” states Mongeon.
The artist talked about a variety of subjects other than just fine art and technology. Architecture, science, and medicine and other disciplines use 3D technology.
“I want to encourage the students to understand that using their art as a career does not just mean being a studio artist. This is something I did not grasp in high school. There are a variety of careers that use the arts, and even more that incorporate 3D technology.” A variety of subjects other than just fine art and technology. Architecture, science, and medicine and other disciplines use 3D technology
The sculptor also announced that she uses interns at her studio on a regular basis. “ I love mentoring young people. Give me someone with a passion, and I can teach them the art. Internships are some of the best ways for young artists to get ahead.” Find someone who is doing what you think you might like to do and ask them how you can help. Tell them you will take out their trash if necessary. You just want to be in that environment.” Mongeon ends the lecture with a motivational conversation that she uses in many of her lectures when she teaches marketing in the arts. “There is something in the adage of ‘it is not what you know, but who you know.’ You may think that because you are young that is harder, but it gives you an advantage. She shares a story bout a girl who planned for her pony. She closes with the statement, ‘Plan for your Pony and you will become known by all of the pony keepers.'”
At the end of the session, one student out of the many approached the artist and asked, “how do I learn about an internship? This is the motivation the artist seeks. “ I have used interns for many of my projects over the last several years.” States Mongeon. “ The students are always changing; I would love to find that one passionate person who would be interested in making a career out of art. Someone that is dependable and a good worker and that I could work with for many years to come. I’ll still use other students, but I am open to finding that one special person.”
“When the book comes out I would like to create a book tour. I’ll be looking at other high schools and higher education to lecture at next year. I’m thrilled with the possibility of this book becoming a resource for inspiration and education of so many in the different disciplines that incorporate the arts and technology.“
Mongeon’s book 3D Technology in Fine Art and Craft: Exploring 3D Printing, Scanning, Sculpting and Milling will be coming out June 2015. The artist is thrilled that those reviewing the book have found it to be a good resource as a text book.
“Bridgette Mongeon has taken the complex subject of 3D printing and made its secrets available in clear readable form for the artist and the public. She has given the reader the most up to date and useful information along with the necessary little secrets to make the appropriate decisions in applying this new medium to the art of making sculptural forms. It is an informative and enjoyable book from start to finish. Her choice in examples gives the viewer some of the most contemporary sculptural works available. An excellent textbook for every level.”
Mary Visser, Professor of Art, Holder of the Herman Brown Chair
The Sarofim School of Fine Arts
Southwestern University
“This is a much needed comprehensive introduction to “state of the art” digital sculpture. The author is a professional sculptor whose practice bridges a wide range of traditional and contemporary, analogue and digital, approaches to creating and realising her work. With an extensive knowledge, experience, and understanding of her discipline, its history and current applications, she is ideally placed to impart of this knowledge to anyone with an interest in digital fine art sculpture. The text and illustrations are clear and instructive, taking the reader on a step- by-step journey through otherwise difficult to navigate technologies. Between its pages this publication covers a wide range of digital tools currently in use by fine artist and craftspeople. It does much to dispel a lot of the smoke and magic surrounding the technology, demystifying this in an easy to follow account of the pros and cons in all of the categories covered. Each chapter in turn offers an in-depth explanation of its topic, written with the first-time user in mind it is also an invaluable resource for the professional sculptor and educator….a must for anyone with an interest in 3D digital creation and fabrication.
Keith Brown
Director of Art & Computing Technologies
Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester Institute for Research & Innovation in Art & Design”