Traditional and Contemporary Practice
Sculpture courses at Auburn University provide students with a rigorous foundation in both traditional sculptural processes as well as contemporary practices. At the introductory level, students learn to express their ideas in three-dimensional form and space, explore basic aesthetic issues and develop skill with traditional sculptural materials and processes — including carving, wood construction and welding. At intermediate and advanced levels, sculpture students regularly mix media, become highly sensitized to environment and space, and engage directly with the work of contemporary sculptors. In particular, they develop skills with more sophisticated industrial and digital fabrication technologies — including computer aided design, gas metal arc welding, CNC plasma cutting and CNC routing. In their coursework, sculpture students also explore contemporary, non-object based sculpture practices, including sound art, light art, kinetic art and installation art.
Facilities
The Auburn sculpture facility occupies 8,000 square feet of the constructed 3-D Arts Building. In addition to housing a large covered outdoor work area, spray booth and individual studio space for advanced majors, the sculpture area is comprehensively equipped with:
- Woodworking shop, including 2 table saws, miter saw, panel saw, 3 band saws, drill press, jointer, lathe, planer, and belt/disc sanders
- Metal fabrication shop, including oxy-fuel torches, 2 MIG welders, TIG welder, plasma cutter, drill press, grinders, abrasive cutoff saw, bandsaws, Hossfeld and Diacro benders, metal shears, bending brake, milling machine, gas forge and lathe
- Plaster room
- CNC router
- CNC plasma cutter