James Orrell, Interdisciplinary Sculpture, 2026
James is a Sophomore IS major. His work primarily focuses on the built environment and the ways in which we respond to and interact with it. Though mainly a sculptor, he also works in 2D and other forms of media at times. He is excited to expand his digital fabrication skills this semester and hopes to incorporate these techniques into his art practice!
Skill Building
A series of technical exercises build and demonstrate skills in Rhino, laser cutting, 3D printing, and CNC routing.
Project I: Station Tower Light
I was inspired by the tower of the Mount Royal Station building in which many of my undergraduate sculpture classes are held. I find that the tower is a distinctive local landmark and it is a beacon of sorts that lets me know I am nearing my current home at MICA. My piece reflects this quality of the tower as a beacon by using the clock faces as a point of illumination.
Process
I first modeled the tower of the Mount Royal Station building from architectural plans, and then sectioned it into pieces which I could laser cut from plywood and assemble. Fully modeling the wall thickness and joints allowed the piece to go together fairly seamlessly, and I was able to incorporate many of the architectural details by layering pieces of wood. The clock faces are modeled with a piece of translucent paper inserted into the hollow structure. Illumination is provided by a small battery powered candle underneath the piece.
Project II: Growth
My piece explores the interrelation between nature, technology, and human input. I am fascinated by the forms that digital fabrication allows us to create, and wanted to contrast traditionally created and drafted, human made forms with the natural forms which are created through evolution or through algorithm. I explored ways in which technology is in some ways surpassing our own ability to design objects and forms manually, and how in some ways it is becoming more subservient to our own needs.
Process
The pen form was modeled from a fountain pen which I have and use frequently. I was inspired by the sleekness and simplicity of its 20th-century industrial design and modeled/printed elements to make it appear to be an aircraft. I was inspired to create the base by the possibilities available with the “organic” support structures in the PrusaSlicer 3D printing program. This is a newer feature which allows support material to be “grown” onto the model and give support in the most efficient way possible. I intentionally created a structure which was extremely unsupported in order to coax the supports onto the model, and experimented with different settings and parameters to alter their appearance and ensure that they were ultimately a cohesive part of the finished piece. The final printed structure was then attached to a landscape I made from wood and plaster and covered with dirt.
Project III: Station Garden Path Stone
As a collaborative group final project, our class made a walking path through the Station building garden. Each student made a stone from concrete, which they were free to decorate however they pleased. I chose to draw the logo of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad on mine, as this was the company which built and originally owned the Mount Royal Station building, and as we were creating a permanent installation on its grounds, I felt it was an appropriate homage.
Process
I modeled my design from a template path we created using the Grasshopper plugin for Rhino. After machining the mold from a block of foam, I cast concrete into the mold, creating my stone.
Research
Presentation Slides on Design for Additive Manufacturing
More Information
additional information and links