Amanda Fizzard would like to some day work at a museum, where she can combine her love for visual art and science.
While that day may be a while coming, the first-year fine arts student at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University is more than excited to now have a chance to better incorporate her two passions by using the school’s new 3D technology.
Around three weeks ago, the library at Grenfell took possession of a printer, scanner and pen that all have 3D capabilities.
The printer is able to create small three-dimensional objects from a spool of plastic tubing. While the printer can make objects from images created by software or found online, the scanner can capture images that can be fed to the printer.
The pen, using a slightly different plastic, allows the user to draw images that are slightly raised off the surface.
Fizzard’s artwork incorporates all sorts of biology, so she likes being able to make models she can study more closely before incorporating them into her work.
While she has printed the skulls of a lion and a tyrannosaurus, she is looking forward to making some items that exist solely in her imagination too.
“I have created some creatures that I would love to design on software and print them in 3D because it is hard to reproduce all the little nuances of them when they are only in my head,” said Fizzard.
She believes there is a tremendous opportunity for the fine arts and science divisions at Grenfell to forge an interesting working relationship through the use of this technology.
Crystal Rose, Grenfell’s public services librarian, has been learning the ins and outs of the technology since it arrived.
She said there are plenty of educational, artistic and recreational opportunities available through the use of the technology.
“People think a 3-D printer is only good for science, but that’s not true,” said Rose, adding she plans to build miniature busts of some of her co-workers.
The 3D printer, scanner and pen are all available to the public for projects deemed appropriate by the library.
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