Biography

Jeffrey Sarmiento’s working methods for image transfer in glass have taken him all over Europe and the US as an artist and academic. He has an MFA from Rhode Island School of Design, was a Fulbright fellow to Denmark, and completed his PhD at the University of Sunderland, where he is Reader in Glass. Erin Dickson holds a RIBA Part I from the Architectural Association and is currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Sunderland. She represented the UK at the European Glass Context 2012 and is an Emerging Artist in Residence at Pilchuck Glass School in 2013. Together they execute artist projects at the National Glass Centre, Sunderland, and create their own artwork. Their collaboration, Emotional Leak, was recently exhibited in COLLECT at Saatchi Gallery.

Themed Panel

Beyond the Flatlands:  Printing in 3D

3D printing technologies are enabling the shift away from mass production to mass individualization, through this process universal technologies can be embedded in personalized jewellery and clothing, allowing us to live in an age of persistent identity. The session will explore the taboos and desires of 3D printing. For example several authors have criticized 3D printing for having less emotional attachment, for missing the mark of the maker, loosing the workmanship of risk and meeting the growing cultural phenomenon of instant gratification.

The desires of 3D printing include an increasing range of new material, greater variety of forms, the workmanship of certainty, mass individualization and speed of production.

Parallels will be drawn between these taboos and desires and those associated with a growing ‘mode’ of instant gratification, and expectations born on the possibilities technology is bringing to life. Ultimately this addresses a fundamental question concerning our relationship between the human (biological) and technology and the tools we develop to navigate this fast changing landscape.