Vaduz (Liechtenstein) and St. Gallen (Switzerland), Switzerland

Arts & Crafts Hands on at 1:1 Scale

when 6 July 2016 - 22 July 2016
language English
duration 3 weeks
credits 4 EC
fee CHF 1950

In the first week students will be designing, experimenting and finally casting their personal metal sculpture based on sketches and models. The process of developing and fabricating the sculptural objects will be supported and supervised by the artist Anita Tarnutzer and David Andermatt. Each object will be individually formed and shaped for the cast, depending on the participants’ own ideas and concepts.

The objects will be created during the Art Workshop in close collaboration with employees from the Sitterwerk artwork foundry. The benefits of Sitterwerk’s expert knowledge in creating art objects of all types and sizes for internationally renowned artists will be made available to participants in creating their own objects. To ensure that the students will be able to take the art objects home at the end of the Summer School, they will be limited to a maximum height of 30 cm and a maximum diameter of 20 cm.

The solid cast-metal sculptures have the objective of combining three-dimensional thinking with the craft skills required in casting art objects, providing the students with a unique and special experience in this field.

CONTENT OF THE CRAFT WORKSHOP:
In the second week students will construct mobile bicycle shelters from various materials for an organization called “Free Velo Point” in scale 1:1. Out of a given catalogue of materials (wood, metal, plastic in different shapes and dimensions) the students design, manufacture and finally set up 5 bicycle shelters at selected sites in Liechtenstein. In collaboration with local craftspeople the students will be confronted with different methods of crafting like sawing, welding and working with resin.

“Free Velo Point” is an openly accessible bicycle lending system, which is to start in 2016. The recycled, repaired and uniformly painted bicycles can be borrowed via SMS or with the Velopoint App.

With the objective of promoting public mobility and supporting an environmentally friendly and healthy means of transport, the “Free Velo Point” organization received the Ideenkanal award and a special prize from the LIFE Climate Foundation, in spring 2015, for its first countrywide bicycle-sharing project.

Course leader

Carmen Rist-Stadelmann

Target group

International students of architecture and related fields of study.
30 participants maximum

Course aim

This Summer School has been established as a collaboration between the Institute of Architecture and Planning and the Sitterwerk Foundation: Art and Production in St. Gallen in Switzerland. The program consists of two weeks in total, which will be dedicated to one week of art and one week of craft, with participants attending both.

The first one, the art week, focuses on the production of cast sculptures as a direct medium for designing and communicating. The second, craft week, enhances understanding of materials and their manufacturing methods by building mobile bicycle shelters at 1:1 scale. The two weeks are supplemented by various visits to artist’s studios as well as to related contemporary architectural sights. The practical course will provide international students with the opportunity of developing a better understanding of the dynamic aspects and the role of art and craft in the field of art and architecture in the past, present and future.

One of the most powerful approaches of this unique program is that it does not limit learning to the computer and classroom. Students will enjoy working and interacting with local, well established craftspeople during the program, and they will be able to learn through the experience of 1:1 scale. The first week will be hosted by the Sitterwerk Foundation, a place where producers of art, craftspeople, academics and scientists from various disciplines as well as an interested public can meet. The second week will take place in Vaduz at the University of Liechtenstein, in combination with construction companies involved in the production of the bicycle shelter. A final exhibition of the art and craft results will conclude the Summer School 2016, and participants will receive a certificate.

The Summer School is integrated into the daily life and local architecture of a region well known for the high quality of its craft traditions and careful use of resources, both major factors in sustainability.

Fee info

CHF 1950: The standard fee of 1950 CHF is divided into two parts:
1250 CHF for tuition, the social program, transportation to workshop-related locations and field trips to internationally acclaimed architecture.
700 CHF for the material costs of the art cast object, which the participant will be able to take home.
Registration and payment closes May 31

Scholarships

Scholarship 1450 CHF
Application with Portfolio, Motivation- and Recommendation letter