ARTS @ Work Engineering Internship
ARTS @ Work students
In February, a new cohort interns from Sweetwater High School started an engineering and fabrication program with ARTS @ Work. This is a 10-week program where students learn and work with our ARTS Artists in Residence and our Maker Workshop Specialist, Chris Schaie. These students are selected from Sweetwater High Schools Engineering Program and Welding Academy, and they all have an interest in entering into engineering and fabrication careers so we are excited to provide them with some hands on experience in the ARTS Maker Workshop!
The project they are currently working on is to refresh the front facade of the ARTS Center by creating a gathering space with seating and sculptural elements. The engineering students will use CNC technology to engrave and carve recycled lumber from locally harvested trees to create benches and the Welding student is leading the sculpture team to use upcycled metal from the scrapyard to create sculptures influenced by native species.
As part of an ARTS @ Work internship, we try to introduce students to other likeminded organizations and local resources that can advance them in their chosen fields. Earlier this month, these students participated in a field trip to Lumbercycle. This is a great organization (located right here in National City) who we have partnered with for over 4 years! Lumbercycle’s mission is to:
“reduce greenhouse gas emissions by diverting as much woody biomass as possible from the landfill. Cutting logs into lumber creates the most efficient byproduct from trees, as it can continue to sequester carbon for many more decades after the tree is removed. After the wood is milled, we work with local governments and community organizations to encourage the use of urban wood by donating lumber for public projects. The best way to support a positive future is through education as well.”
With the materials collected from Lumbarcycle and with the guidance of our ARTS @ Work mentors (and right in time for our upcoming student exhibition) we can follow up in May to see how they are able to transform the “front yard” of the ARTS Center!
Update May 25th, 2022
Here are some photos from behind the scenes from the ARTS @ Work Spring 2022 Session!
Finished Pieces - Congrats!
Gear Garden is a brand new installation located to the left of our main entrance on 12th Street. These pieces were created from scrap metal to represent a garden of native California sunflowers and saguaro cacti.
Benches can also be found in a gathering space in front of the ARTS Center on 12th Street. These benches were made from locally sustainably harvested hardwood (big thanks to LumberCycle) and epoxy. Native plant and animal species were cut into the wood using a CNC machine.
