Welsh’s vision becomes 3D

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President Welsh holds a 3D printed bust that was presented to her by the art department.
Photo Credit / Valentina Caval

By Tina Hennessey
SC Staff Writer

On Wednesday, April 16, East Stroudsburg University’s Art Department presented the grand opening of the G3Design Lab at the Fine and Performig Arts Center.

The department hosted an entire program dedicated to the opening of the new digital design facility.

Administration, faculty, staff, students, and community members were in attendance.

The program kicked off with an introduction by Joni Oye-Benintende, ESU Professor and Chair of the Art Department.

ESU’s Vice President for Economic Development and Research Support, Mary-Frances Postupack, spoke about the journey of implementing the lab.

President Marcia Welsh, who spoke welcoming remarks, was the one with the vision and inspiration for this lab from when she was at Towson University.

She saw the great impact it had on students and wanted to make ESU a leader in innovation.

Four others gave remarks during the program including Carol Adukaitis, Director of Pathways for Career Success in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education; John Wilczynski, Program Manager at the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining; Darlene Farris-LaBar, ESU Art Professor; and Jan Baum, Director of 3D Maryland and Founder and Director of Towson University’s Object Lab.

Adukaitis, stated that ESU is one of the few schools in the state system to have a studio lab like this.

Wilczynski’s remarks were about the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining and what they are able to do through the funding of from the Department of Defense and other government organizations.

Farris-LaBar showed a slideshow of student’s 3D work of toys, cell phone cases, jewelry, ocean life, and animation.

She talked about how the lab will allow for cross disciplining and collaborations.

ESU art students are currently working with geography students in making a topographic map of ESU.

The featured speaker of the event was Doug Bucci, who is a professor at the Tyler School of Art at the University of Arts. Bucci has been involved in 3D printing for the past 20 years.

Following the program was the ribbing cutting ceremony where Benintende cut the ribbon at the entrance of G3.

Guests who were in attendance were then able to take tours of the G3Design Lab and even get their head scanned.

ESU faculty and staff traveled around the country to other institution’s studios to figure out the best fit for the university.

The lab took three months to build, from June to August.

Since then, many students have been able to see their work come to life with the 3D printing technology.

Email Tina at:
thennessey@live.esu.edu