Sculpture
The Sculpture Labs offer a superb range of possibilities for learning about fabrication in a variety of materials and processes. UC Berkeley supports traditional techniques in a facility equipped to handle metal fabrication, gas/arc/MIG & TIG welding, wood construction, mold-making and casting, laser cutting, sewing, and alternative materials. Advanced students participate in courses that allow them to pursue individual interests—including mixed-media formats, installation, and public art—with an emphasis on development of concepts, skills, and techniques.
The Sculpture Labs consist of four large studios/shops located on the ground floor of the Architecture + Art Practice Building: the wood shop, the metal shop, studio classroom, and outdoor workspace.
The wood shop maintains a large table saw, three bandsaws, stationary sanders, a lathe, a radial arm saw, two chop saws, one panel saw, a stationary jig saw, drill press, 6” joiner, a 16” planer as well an array of hand tools.
The metal shop equipment includes an upright band saw, a horizontal band saw, a lathe, two manual brakes, roller, anvils, drill press, stationary grinder/polishers, a rotary holepunch, a hydraulic sheet metal shear, a hand shear, air compressor, small aluminum sand casting, a milling machine. The metal shop also supports oxy acetylene/MIG/TIG/Spot welding and plasma cutting 4’X4’ CNC machine, computer workstations and an Epilog 75 Watt Legend EXT Laser cutting machine.
The third studio/classroom is an open workspace with sewing machines, flexible moldmaking and casting, tables, stools, and a display/working wall.
A large outdoor work area allows students to spread out and pursue large-scale projects and experiment with alternative materials. The space includes a rolling overhead crane, a forklift, and a covered workspace.
A small gallery for student projects is located in the foyer before entering the classroom and wood shop.
Two studio classes are taught each semester, and are assisted by a full-time staff Mechanician. Courses rotate between these selections:
ART 14: Sculpture: Foundations
ART 130: Advanced Sculpture: Concept and Construction
ART 133: Advanced Sculpture: Meaning in Material
ART 136: Advanced Sculpture: Radical Wearables (taught in The Project Lab)
ART 138: Advanced Sculpture: Installation
ART 160: Special Topics in Visual Studies
Location: Anthropology + Art Practice Building, ground floor
Sculpture Labs open hours: TBA
Lab use: Access to these spaces is reserved for students enrolled in Sculpture classes and to graduate students in Art Practice.
Facilities/Materials fee: varies per class
For more information, contact:
Teresa Smith, Sculpture Studio Mechanician
Email: idiolect@berkeley.edu
Phone: +1 (510) 643-0200
Office: 185 Anthropology + Art Practice Building
Faculty oversight:
Brody Reiman, Associate Professor
Stephanie Syjuco, Associate Professor
Note: All UC Berkeley students can access fabrication facilities at the Maker Labs in the Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation with a semesterly Maker Pass. These facilities are administered by the Department of Engineering and are separate from the Department of Art Practice.
Art 14 Beginning Sculpture project by Lena Gavenas
