Sculpture

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Department Philosophy

Cranbrook Sculpture is immersive and experimental, bringing forth an active approach to art-making and activism.

Department Philosophy

Cranbrook Sculpture is immersive and experimental, bringing forth an active approach to art-making and activism.

Cranbrook Academy of Art’s Sculpture department cultivates an environment that prepares students to be translators of their culture by exposing and questioning its values. Students test out work that might disrupt physical, cultural, or conceptual systems by creating site-specific installations, temporary performances, and endurance pieces. The department is a place to explore media while considering the ever-widening constructs for expression that may more aptly convey the time in which we live.

Rebecca Ripple

The Cranbrook Experience in Sculpture

Rebecca Ripple

The Cranbrook Experience in Sculpture

Artist in Residence

Rebecca Ripple

Rebecca Ripple has exhibited throughout the United States and in Italy, at venues including Klowden Mann; the Los Angeles Museum of Art; the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena; and the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art. She comes to Cranbrook from a robust studio practice in Los Angeles, where she held teaching positions at California State University, Northridge; University of California, Riverside; and California Institute of the Arts. Ripple has received multiple awards including a C.O.L.A. (City of Los Angeles Individual Fellowship) and a Nathan O. Freedman Endowment for Exceptional Creative Accomplishments Award. Her work has been featured in Sculpture magazine and reviewed in the Huffington Post, ArtScene, Artillery, and American Craft.

Program

Critique

Diversity in students’ backgrounds, experience, and orientation to the world organically incites discussions and collaborations of differing perspectives. Students are encouraged to collaborate with one another, different departments, and beyond the academy; create site-specific installations, temporary performances, and endurance pieces; test out work that might disrupt physical, cultural or conceptual systems; or explore media, while considering the ever-widening constructs for expression that may more aptly convey the time in which we live.

The Sculpture department’s main focus for education is critique—critical conversations addressing each student’s artworks, its foundations and influences, while simultaneously challenging them through the lineage of sculpture theory and form. Critiques are conducted between the individual students with the sculpture Artist-in-Resident, visiting artists, small groups and and/or the whole department. Informal discussions about current events, contemporary culture, or daily experiences are a normal occurrence since all students and Artist-in-Residence work intently under one roof.

Install, Wide Space

Facilities

Sculpture students each have studio space within the sculpture building with 24-hour access. The department has a fully equipped wood and metal shop along with CNC, laser cutting, and 3D printing capabilities. The Central Media Lab houses video and photographic equipment and various other technology support equipment. Students have access to all departments and their tools and technologies. Easy access to Detroit and the surrounding areas provides a major resource for materials, fabrication, or any outsourcing needs.

Kori Newkirk and Students

Visiting Artists

Visiting Artists and Critics

Visiting artists and critics are an important component for students’ work development. They offer differing views and approaches to art and art making. Various local and international visiting artists give lectures, seminars and critiques. Lectures are usually open school wide so students can attend visiting artists’ and designers’ lectures from all disciplines. Visiting artist invited by the department meet with students individually and/ or participate in group critiques.