Proposal

The goal of this proposal is to update the Visual Arts and Art History Ceramics Studio at the Boca Raton campus to reflect current top priority research areas within the field and to enhance the resources available to graduate and undergraduate students.

The current ceramics studio, housed on the Boca Raton campus in the Visual Arts building, has very little to offer in the area of current technology being used within the field, and is in need of updated technology if we are to continue to attract and develop top quality students. This facility serves an average of 80 - 100 students each semester from all areas of the Visual Arts. The Department of Visual Arts and Art History offers 5 undergraduate degree programs and 3 graduate degree programs serving over 700 majors.

In order to remain current within our field we need to make 3D technologies available to our students, and integrate these technologies within the curriculum and the studio. "Fab Labs" as they are commonly referred to, are increasingly being incorporated in curriculums across the board at all levels of education. Familiarity with 3D scanning and printing, vinyl plotting, and decal printing will give our students an advantage after completing their degrees, widening their potential job pool from studio, gallery & academia-related opportunities to include positions in industry that use these same technologies.

The requested equipment will be housed in VA112B, a lockable, controlled access area within the general Ceramics Studio. This space will provide a secure environment for the equipment, while being easily accessible to students during monitored class and lab hours.

Access and use of these technologies can also be a recruiting tool in seeking high quality graduate students and faculty, and building a strong research-based MFA program. Many programs across the country are integrating 3D technologies into their curriculum, and ceramics is particularly suited to adopting many 3D fabrication methods.

The requested technology will not only attract potential students in the fine arts, but will also promote cross-discipline research and collaboration, particularly with students in STEM fields at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

These acquisitions support the following tenets of the Dorothy F Schmidt College of Arts & Letters (DFSCAL) Strategic Plan:

 1.3 Strengthening Graduate Programs.

1.3.3 Support & promote MFA programs by fostering an intellectual environment for graduate level research & creative achievement.

- Assist department chairs and graduate directors with the recruitment of top quality students. 

2.5 Identify & Support College-Level Signature Themes

            - S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics)        

- initiatives that support and demonstrate the role that innovation, creativity, arts of expression, writing, speaking, design, presentation, performance, measurement, quantitative and qualitative methods, and statistical analysis play in conveying STEM ideas and fields to the public and governmental bodies

            - Emerging Technologies & Society

- Emerging technologies are transforming the landscape of the 21st Century. The work of digital arts and humanities lies at the intersection of traditional art and humanistic studies and advancing technology. Several vectors of inquiry emerge from this confluence, ranging from data visualization and data mining for social science or humanities research to the use of digital media in creating art. Units across the College could situate themselves at the forefront of these advancements that considers the societal implications of these innovations.

4 Sustaining and Strengthening our Resources

4.1.4 Environmental Stewardship - While the University and various student organizations have worked to raise awareness of humanity’s impact on the Earth, the College can help spur these efforts by more formally and forcefully considering ways it can help foster a “green path” in and around its campuses.

As well as the following tenets of the University’s Strategic Plan

Goal 1 – Enrich the educational experience

Objective A – Enhance the quality of undergraduate academic programs

            A.1 – Attract the best-qualified students

            A.6 – Expand STEM initiatives

A.8 - Identify and expand programs that develop in students the talents and skills that promote economic development

Objective B. Strengthen and expand graduate programs

Goal II: Inspire Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity

            Objective A. Increase scholarship and creativity

A.2 - Maintain and strengthen the necessary facilities, equipment, and staff support in colleges for faculty and researchers to engage in research, scholarship, and creative activity.

E. Involve students at all levels in research, scholarship and creative activity.

Students who conduct research, scholarly or creative activity are more engaged learners. Research has shown that learners develop deeper understanding of material and greater retention of understanding with active, more experiential learning.

Signature Theme: Contemporary Societal Challenges

Florida First contemporary issues include: healthy environments (water management, climate change); innovation and sustainability.

Undergraduate and/or academic programs that acknowledge contemporary issues include: the arts (creative expression); performing and fine arts.

Ceramic decal printer (DCT Ricoh 830DN package)                    $9,995

- includes toner, decal paper, covercoat & flux

- Scanner – Epson Perfection V600 Photo Scanner          $230

- 27” iMac 3.4GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7                      $2,000

- lock for iMac     $80

- CAT6 10" network cable $15

    - Surge Protector $35 

Vinyl Cutter (Graphtec CE6000 – 24)                                            $2,300

-       Includes blades, vinyl & software

-       Compatible with Adobe Illustrator for Mac

3D Printers & Scanner

            - Makerbot Replicator Z18                                                 $6,500

            - Makerbot Digitizer 3D Scanner                                         $1,099

            - 20 spools PLA filament                                                    $1,300

            - Cerajet ceramic dry printer                                               $10,000

            - Cerajet printing material                                                   $3,000

            - Dell XPS 8700 (to run 3D software & printer)                    $1800

- lock for Dell XPS 8700 $80

- CAT6 10" network cable $15

- Surge Protector $35

Adobe Suite & license $800

Rhino 5 Software Bundle (to create 3D prototypes) $495

The requested 3D technology would be installed in VA 112B during the summer of 2014 and implemented into the curriculum in the fall of 2014.

Additional supplies beyond what is requested for printing decals, vinyl, and 3D objects will be purchased by students for individual projects. Routine maintenance will be performed by the studio technician and ceramics faculty.

Department of Visual Arts & Art History ceramics faculty and technician