Professor Rees comes back to GOPA and SOIT

Above:  Tyler Zeleny, Michael Rees, Geoff Flash, and Brian Sandilands visit GOPA/SOIT

On Tuesday May 27, Professor Michael Rees and his current and former graduate students:
Brian Sandilands, Tyler Zeleny, and Geoff Flash came back to GOPA and SOIT to visit the STEAM students who went on the field trip to the WPU Power Arts Building last week LINK.

They brought three D portraits of the students machine cut out of styrofoam as well as a few printed with the three D printer in black and orange plastic, to GOPA Art Teacher, Mr. Jones' STEAM class.  (The remainder of the smaller plastic portraits are still being fabricated at the Power Arts building by the graduate students in the 3-D sculpture shop there.)

Also in attendance in the art classroom were SOIT art teacher, Marilyn Simon with her STEAM students, WPU Art Professor in Residence Triada Samaras, and WPU Math and Science PIR and Dodge Grant Manager, Dina Scacchetti.  Later several members of the Paterson Alliance and school principals, Principal Vivian Gaines (SOIT) and Dr. Karen Johnson (GOPA).

 
Above:  Michael Rees with Principal Vivian Gaines and mebers of the Paterson Alliance.
Below right: Michael Rees with Principal Karen Johnson
 











Professor Rees spoke to the students about the 3 D printing process first, explaining that "failures" with the three D technology are always opportunities to learn.  "Failures," Rees explained, "in fact create later successes."  He also talked about the geometry inherent in the 3 D printing process and explained how 3 D printers use hexagonal patterns to create objects. 

Next Professor Rees and his graduate students handed out works to the students.
Each student received his/her own styrofoam self portrait.  He then demonstrated working with both joint compound and with wood glue and newspaper to collage, and encouraged the students to begin working on the portraits with hands-on materials.  Students discussed the differences between sculpture and painting and contemplated their options for changing the surface of their portraits.

Art Teachers Mr. Jones and Mrs. Simon will have the the STEAM students continue working on these art projects in the days to come.

Above:  SOIT Art Teacher Marilyn Simon reflects on a student portrait