CERAMICS ROOM
The ceramics room is located in Don Morris 136, and (as the name implies) contains the department’s equipment and workspace needed for the production of ceramics. Behind the classroom is a covered outdoor area (the Ceramics Yard) where the kilns are located. Students enrolled in ceramics classes are expected to use the ceramics lab for class projects when it is not in use by a class, but note that hazardous tasks such as mixing clay, preparing glazes (glazes are often quite toxic) and use of kilns are only to be performed in accordance with instructor after the appropriate training, instructor authorization, and supervision have been obtained. As the ceramics instructor, Robert Green is responsible for providing guidance and student oversight in the use of the ceramics lab.
SCULPTURE ROOM
The sculpture room is located in Don Morris 140 and houses a considerable amount of equipment for the production of sculpture. In addition to a large assortment of power and hand tools, the sculpture room contains a bronze foundry, welding equipment, and hoists for large-scale work. In the rear of the sculpture room is the sculpture yard and loading dock for large pieces and supplies; this area adjoins the ceramics yard. The sculpture room is available for sculpture students only! However, nearly all the equipment in this area can be extremely dangerous if mishandled. You should never attempt to use any piece of equipment without the proper training, guidance, and permission as given by an instructor; all equipment is strictly off-limits without due authorization. Geoff Broderick is primarily responsible for providing guidance and student oversight in the sculpture area. Please do your part to keep this room neat and always return tools to their proper places when finished. Beginning this fall, Professor Broderick has instituted a new policy in regard to student access to this room. It will be locked outside of scheduled class hours and only available when a student worker is present. It is hoped that this will not only provide security for the tools but create a safer working environment for you as the student worker should be help you with unfamiliar tools and operations. The room will be open on weekends and during evenings but only at specified times that will be indicated on a schedule posted on the sculpture room door. Be aware that these hours will in all probability vary over the academic year so plan ahead should you have a project due that requires room access
WOOD SHOP
The Wood Shop is located in Don Morris 138 between the ceramics and sculpture rooms. This space is shared by all students enrolled in studio art classes. This room is normally kept locked for safety reasons. A student shop assistant is available for help during posted hours to help with class-related projects. The sculpture room student workers may also be of assistance to you outside regular class hours. If you wish the shop assistant to provide cheerful and prompt assistance, it is suggested that you be meticulously neat, as shop assistants do not appreciate cleaning up other people’s messes. Please note that it is not uncommon for people to loose fingers and other body parts while using power saws – furthermore, most of these people seem to end up teaching middle school shop class. If you wish to avoid such a fate, it is suggested that you pay careful attention to all the safety guidelines, no matter how overcautious they may seem. In addition to the general safety rules below, you should take the time to familiarize yourself with safety procedures for each of the tools you plan on using before starting to work.
General Safety Rules: Never use any tool that you are not thoroughly familiar with or have been checked out on. Also, never attempt an unfamiliar procedure without guidance and instruction, even on a machine with which you are very experienced. Always wear eye protection. Face shields are located in both the Wood Shop and the Sculpture room. Be sure that the transparent shield is clean so that you can see clearly when wearing it. You must wear eye protection! Do not wear loose clothing. Keep your shirt tucked in and sleeves rolled up. Tie back long hair and remove jewelry (rings, bracelets, watches, etc.). Do not operate the tools while under a medication that affects concentration or alertness. Keep the work area clean. Brooms, dust brushes, and dust pans are provided for this purpose. If a tool is not functioning correctly, place an out of order sign on it and/or inform your instructor. Never use wood embedded with sand, rocks, nails or other foreign objects. Avoid painted wood. Make sure that all machine blades are sharp enough to do the job. If it requires excessive force to push material through the saw blade, or if the wood smokes or burns, a new blade is required. Make no adjustments on a tool before turning the power off. This means unplugging the machine from the wall outlet or switching off the breaker at the wall mounted breaker box in the Wood Shop, if your hands will be in the proximity of the blade or belts. Always be certain that a tool is turned completely off before leaving it. Never work alone or without someone in close proximity that could come to your assistance. Outside of regular class hours, this would ordinarily be the shop assistant. Guards should be in place and used at all times. Be aware that the on/off switches are color coded, red is off and green is on.
MAC LAB
This Mac Lab was completely upgraded and refurnished the summer of 2011. Located in Don Morris 224, this lab contains 27” Macintosh iMAC computers with graphic tablets. The lab is also equipped with two flatbed scanners, a black-and-white laser printer, and a new tabloid size full-color laser printer. All computers are loaded with Adobe CS5: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Flash, Dream Weaver, AfterEffects, Lightroom, as well as other art and design software packages. Please take good care of this equipment as it will need to last until it will be upgraded again. Rules to be followed in this computer lab are the same as any other computer lab on campus (as per the University’s computer use policy that students must agree to before being given access to ACU’s systems). In addition to these policies, please note that food and drink are not allowed, that the lab is off-limits to other students while it is being used for class. While prints made on the standard black-and-white printer are charged to student accounts via the campus-wide uni-print system (students are granted $15.00 of “free” copies every semester; consult student technical support at ext. 5555 if you have any questions about this system), students are required to record the type and number of color prints made in the provided ledger (put ss# in the ledger) and appropriate charges will be made to your account periodically. Bear in mind that prints made illicitly often impose a significant financial burden on the department, straining resources badly needed for the maintenance and improvement of other equipment. When entering the lab, slide your card and CLOSE the door behind you. Make sure the door closes upon your leaving the lab.
DONNA FOWLER, ASID LOUNGE AREA
The commemorative seating area at the second floor central stair landing honors long-time Abilene Interior Designer, Donna Fowler, who passed away suddenly in 2009. Donna was a exuberant and generous friend, and capable professional whose work enhanced the learning environments on the ACU campus as well as many homes and businesses throughout West Texas during her 30 year career. Many friends honored Donna through contributions that enabled the lounge area which was dedicated in Spring 2010. Additional funds established the ongoing Donna Fowler Award, given first in May 2010.
DSGN LECTURE ROOM
The DSGN Lecture Room is located in 201 in the South wing of Don Morris Building. This intimate space is flexible for multi-media purposes, group discussion and presentations. Tablet arm seating for 22 can be stored in the adjacent closet, allowing flexible options. the room is outfitted with a smart teaching station, a hi-resolution flat screen television and white board. Display rails and variable lighting options offer user options.
DESIGN LAB
The Design Lab was completely upgraded and refurnished the summer of 2011. The Lab is located on the 2nd floor of the Don Morris Building in room 207. The lab was outfitted with new 27” iMACs and has the newest versions drafting and rendering software including AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, ArchiCad, Artlantis, and Adobe CS5. In addition, the room contains multimedia capabilities with projector, large remote operable screen, DVD/VCR and muti-level lighting. In addition to the workstations there are large tables for model building and storage facilities for working drawings. Student have large format plotting and printing capabilities from the lab computers. The lab holds copies of numerous architectural reference books as well as product catalogues. Access to the lab is enabled through card slide access both during classes, after hours and during weekends.
DESIGN ROOM
The Design Room is located in Don Morris 209. This room is outfitted with 24 table drafting stations, white marker boards, smart teaching station, document camera, flat screen TV and DVD/VHS player, many trade magazines, reference books, and critique pin-up space. Additional gallery/pin up space for Interior Design and Pre-Architecture is located in the hallway immediately outside the lab.
RESOURCE ROOM
A myriad of interior finish samples and materials are at the student’s disposal in a nearby resource room.
MAT CUTTING ROOM
Located on the 2nd floor of the Art & Design department, the Mat Cutting Room contains a large mat cutter and light tables. This equipment is available to all students enrolled in art and design classes. When using the mat cutter, please be extremely careful (remember that dull blades are more dangerous than sharp ones)—it may look harmless, but improper use of the mat cutter has resulted in more unscheduled visits to the emergency room than any other piece of equipment. Be sure to use the mat cutter only if you have been trained in its operation! If the blade is dull there are usually replacement blades in the office. Please do not use aerosol sprays in this room.
SPRAY ROOM
This room is accessed through a short hallway on the third floor (DM 323). The spray room may be used for all kinds of spraying (spray paint, adhesives, fixatives, etc.). The ventilation hood is turned on via a switch in the adjoining room. Please be sure to isolate fumes by closing the doors leading into the spray room, and please keep the vent hood running for a minute or two after you have finished spraying (to clean out excess fumes).
This is the only area of the building which has the appropriate ventilation for this kind of product (turn on the exhaust fan before starting to work); please do not use these sprays in any other part of the building. If you would rather spray outside, there is an area between the ceramics and sculpture yards dedicated for this purpose (use the shelf). These places are the only ones acceptable to use sprays; if sprays are used elsewhere, you will be charged for the cost of overspray removal.
STUDENT STUDIOS
Three studios (two accommodating two artists, and one solo space) are located on the third floor of the Don Morris Building; these are awarded to outstanding Junior and Senior students according to the student’s need for the space and the likelihood that it will be used. Typically, only those pursuing a two-dimensional emphasis in their degrees are considered for studio space, as graphic design and sculpture students spend most of their time working in labs dedicated to these purposes. Currently, Robert Green supervises studio usage; inquire with him about availability.
PHOTOGRAPHY DARKROOM
Located on the second floor, the darkroom is equipped with several photo enlargers which allow for the development and printing of black and white photographs.
PRINTING PROCESSES ROOM
Located on the second floor, the Printing Processes Room is equipped with light tables, an etching press and various other types of equipment and resources that are necessary to support such time-honored processes as woodcut, etching, drypoint, and aquatint.
LOCKERS
Lockers are located on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Art & Design Department; these are useful for storing artwork and equipment used in classes. You can maintain this locker for one year.
Procedure for maintaining a Locker.
1. Buy a lock.
2. Put your lock on a locker that is empty.
3. Write your name and number of the locker in the “Locker Assignment Notebook” located in Don Morris 142.
Please clean out your locker before you leave for the summer. Locks are cut and lockers are cleaned out in August before the fall semester starts.
DEPARTMENTAL NEWS
Important news and information is frequently posted on the department’s Art & Design blog.
Check out the ART/DESIGN BLOG at www.acuartanddesign.com You can find information about news and events, senior shows, what’s going on at the galleries, chapel, student competitions, first second year reviews, art event credits and the Student Handbook. Check the blog frequently—you will be responsible for being aware of the information posted there! And speaking of checking the blog, it’s also important to check your email everyday for vital information from the department. You will be held responsible for knowing about mandatory meetings, art and design trips, visiting lecturers and a host of other tidbits of knowledge that every art and design major needs to know.