Graduate Degree Exhibition

Silent Messenger is my contribution to the 2021 Cranbrook Graduate Degree Exhibition. My message "it could be worse" was pulled from academy communication over the course of the pandemic and was often the response to criticism. The phrase "safe space" comes from a letter sent to the student body in response to inequality within the institution; meant as a response to the BLM movement, social unrest, and calls for equality in the summer of 2020. 

Silent Messenger will also display messages from the community. Viewers have the opportunity to fill out graphic layout cards throughout the exhibition. Select designs will be added to the sign over the course of the show.

Obligatory goofy pose with completed work

CRANBROOK 4D!

First class in the new 4D department at Cranbrook Academy of Art.
Away we go!

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The 4D-Arch entry into the Raft Regatta was one sweet ride! 20 bucks and 24 hours. You ROCK! @cranbrook_art @cranbrook4d #cranbrook4d #raftregatta

A post shared by Cranbrook 4D Design (@cranbrook4d) on Sep 21, 2019 at 1:44pm PDT

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~ We are a handsome group of nerds ~

A post shared by Cranbrook 4D Design (@cranbrook4d) on Oct 2, 2019 at 7:21am PDT

6 month, 5 Axis Saga

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Got the opportunity to save this #5axis #Thermwood cnc router from the scrappers. Thanks to @waltermakes, @mechineering and @haul.things_considered for making it happen on short notice. I look forward to getting it set back up when the weather breaks. #polarvortex #movingbigthings #teamworkmakesthedreamwork

A post shared by Steven Kuypers (@sculptureguy) on Feb 2, 2019 at 7:05am PST

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We got the #thermwood #5axiscnc in place today. Thanks to @waltermakes @whoiskevinmccoy & @daaronc for the help and all the other residents for putting up with the transition. #fortressstudiosdetroit

A post shared by Steven Kuypers (@sculptureguy) on May 16, 2019 at 4:18pm PDT

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#home #tightspaces #woot

A post shared by Steven Kuypers (@sculptureguy) on Jun 23, 2019 at 4:54pm PDT

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First real test of the #5axis #Thermwood router. Found a scan of a 100 year old dog sculpture online. Perfect test. Tomorrow I will run the finish passes. #fortressstudiosdetroit

A post shared by Steven Kuypers (@sculptureguy) on Jul 10, 2019 at 5:27pm PDT

Visitor Center Artist Camp

I got the opportunity to spend 2 weeks in the Upper Panensilla meditating on my art practice and the future of my VW Bus.  Time was spent setting goals for the next 5 years.  Travel is a new, exciting priority!

IGNITE at Galerie Camille

Where do we go from here? a work that captures my feelings in this moment.

Playground Detroit grand opening!

Steve McShane and I got a chance to show Revolving Exchanges for the first time in the city at Playground Detroit's new gallery space on Gratiot Ave.

Let there be light!

The sculpture pad mobile gantry is up and running.  This will be a great asset for foundry pours and large fabrication projects. Back to work!

Forging at the Scrap Art Festival in Midtown.

NOMAD Hot Metal Cart out and about.

Detroit Rotterdam Exchange

Jacob's Ladder Duet was a piece created during a concept exchange show between Detroit and Rotterdam.  The concept I received requested a performance take place between a few people playing variations of a "slap stick" instrument.  The sound that instrument makes reminded me of the childhood classic riffed on here.

Another first! Ceramics.

These are my first ceramic pieces since high school.  The first wheel thrown ones ever.  We fired them with waste oil to cone 11 in 3 hours. That's what happens when you put metal artists in charge of the firing. 

House on Horton updates

The House on Horton is looking good after a couple months work.  New windows on the second floor, paint all around and a fresh mural by Kevin McCoy.  More demolition this winter and hopefully it'll host its first show in the first half of 2016. 

Fortress's First Iron Pour!

Thanks to Scott Berels and Steve McShane for helping get the cupolette together.  I look forward to many more pours with this beast!

TechShop Snow Speeder!

The X-Wing is no more. This Snow Speeder was built on a much more suitable base and will be doing events for years to come. T-Shirt cannon is fully functional.  Sounds and lights are future upgrades.

Sculpture Materials...

Being an artist is really just an excuse to collect all the things I find interesting.  It's a pretty great gig. Highly recommended.

Molten Fe Coming Soon!

Burning in the refractory of the Fortress cupolette. Now all we need is about 2000lbs of empty molds to fill... and some more tools... and iron... and coke. Maybe by fall.

McGEE PIECE DONE!

Delivery day for the final three figures.  It took way longer than I had hoped, but it feels good to get them on their way.  Now it is up to the painter to realize Charles's vision.  This piece is going to be intense!

The Fortress @ Oakland University

Installing the Fortress Show

 Today we moved all of the art to Oakland University for the Fortress Show.  We got a jump start on the installation as well!  It's all going a little too smooth.  Opening on the 7th!

The making of the Fortress Show @ Oakland University

 

Three months of preparation and construction and there is so much left to do! 

Opening is March 7th! Back to work!!!

Plasma cutting logos

Signage for a new distillery opening in Eastern Market.