Product Sculpture and Foundry Practice

At the end of the course, students should be able to: 1. an entrenches the knowledge of sculpture beyond the needs of fine art; 2. sculpture and the technical process; 3. use the throwing wheel; 4. manipulate and realise forms with the lathe machine; 5. an understanding of sculpture that functions as a craft in human industry; and 6. engaging metal casting and direct same.

The course bridges the concepts of sculpture as art and as a craft. It appropriates the sculptural processes of carving, modelling throwing and assemblage to lathe-machined pieces in wood, plastics, and metals. An introduction to the course shall engage skills in technical drawing. Assignments focus on rudimentary practices in conceptualizing, sketching models, computer simulation of models leading to product development and execution. Included is foundry practice involving the mechanics of the furnace and melting techniques, equipment and tools for ferrous and non-ferrous metal casting and principles of modelled cast products. Studio practice focuses on industrial metal casting processes, emphasizing shell mould and investment mould casting, sand casting, cores, core prints, core boxes, moulds; i.e. sand moulding; green/damp moulds, skin dry moulds, and skin dry moulds.