For the second time, the University of Liechtenstein is offering a Summer School whose aim is to strengthen and enhance artistic as well as craft aspects in education. This Summer School has been established as a collaboration between the Institute of Architecture and Planning and the Sitterwerk Foundation: Art and Production in St. Gallen in Switzerland. The program consists of two weeks in total, which will be dedicated to one week of art and one week of craft, with participants attending both.

The first one, the art week, focuses on the production of cast sculptures as a direct medium for designing and communicating. The second, craft week, enhances understanding of materials and their manufacturing methods by building mobile bicycle shelters at 1:1 scale. The two weeks are supplemented by various visits to artist’s studios as well as to related contemporary architectural sights. The practical course will provide international students with the opportunity of developing a better understanding of the dynamic aspects and the role of art and craft in the field of art and architecture in the past, present and future.

One of the most powerful approaches of this unique program is that it does not limit learning to the computer and classroom. Students will enjoy working and interacting with local, well established craftspeople during the program, and they will be able to learn through the experience of 1:1 scale. The first week will be hosted by the Sitterwerk Foundation, a place where producers of art, craftspeople, academics and scientists from various disciplines as well as an interested public can meet. The second week will take place in Vaduz at the University of Liechtenstein, in combination with construction companies involved in the production of the bicycle shelter. A final exhibition of the art and craft results will conclude the Summer School 2016, and participants will receive a certificate.

The Summer School is integrated into the daily life and local architecture of a region well known for the high quality of its craft traditions and careful use of resources, both major factors in sustainability.

Fact sheet

Period: July 6 - July 22, 2016

Participants: International students of architecture and related fields of study > 30 participants maximum

Teaching Language: English

Credits: The Summer School is equivalent to 4 ECTS, being represented in the certificate

Registration and Fees*:

Early Bird Fee 1850 CHF
Registration and payment closes February 29

Standard Fee 1950CHF
Registration and payment closes May 31

*The standard fee of 1950 CHF is divided into two parts:
1250 CHF for tuition, the social program, transportation to workshop-related locations and field trips to internationally acclaimed architecture. 700 CHF for the material costs of the art cast object, which the participant will be able to take home. Registering during the early bird period will reduce the total price by 100 CHF.

Scholarship:

Fee including Scholarship 1450 CHF

Application after registration with portfolio, letter of recommondation and motivation

Accommodation and Lunch (optional):

Fee for Accommodation and Lunch 850 CHF (optional)

During the Art Workshop participants will be accommodated for 8 nights in a short distance from the Sitterwerk Foundation: Art and Production. Lunch and breakfast are included. It may be necessary to bring your own sleeping bag for this workshop part.

During the Craft Workshop participants will be hosted for 8 nights at our student dormitory in Vaduz (LI), which is conveniently located within walking distance. Each room houses two students. Students can use laundry facilities and a shared kitchen. Lunch is included.

ART - Sitterwerk Foundation: Art and Production

The Sitterwerk, located at the premises of a former textile dyeing works, is a non-profit foundation that was established in the surroundings of the Kunstgiesserei St.Gallen in 2006. It is an institutional center for art and production and the umbrella organization for four public institutions. These include the Art Library with its some 25,000 books on art, architecture, and design, and the Material Archive, which is further developing its collection of materials in collaboration with the Netzwerk Material-Archiv. The Studio House, another part of the foundation, comprises two habitable art studios; in recognition of their work, the Sitterwerk invites producers of art to come for a residency at various points during the year. The Kesselhaus Josephsohn is also open to the public and presents a regularly alternating selection of the works by the sculptor Hans Josephsohn.
www.sitterwerk.ch/en

CRAFT - University of Liechtenstein

The University of Liechtenstein, located in the small principality, against the backdrop of a unique cultural area in the Alps, has gained an international reputation derived from its outstanding performance in the field of architectural research and its lectures. The activities focus on innovative solutions to the challenges of space, resources and society. The Institute of Architecture and Planning offers studio space for about 100 bachelor and 60 master students. Characteristic features of the studies are the small groups, as well as the personal support from international and regional lecturers. The academic achievement at the University of Liechtenstein is recognised according to the guidelines of the bachelor-master-doctorate-system.
www.uni.li/architecture

Content of the ART Workshop

In the first week students will be designing, experimenting and finally casting their personal metal sculpture based on sketches and models. The process of developing and fabricating the sculptural objects will be supported and supervised by the artist Anita Tarnutzer and David Andermatt. Each object will be individually formed and shaped for the cast, depending on the participants’ own ideas and concepts.

The objects will be created during the Art Workshop in close collaboration with employees from the Sitterwerk artwork foundry. The benefits of Sitterwerk’s expert knowledge in creating art objects of all types and sizes for internationally renowned artists will be made available to participants in creating their own objects. To ensure that the students will be able to take the art objects home at the end of the Summer School, they will be limited to a maximum height of 30 cm and a maximum diameter of 20 cm.

The solid cast-metal sculptures have the objective of combining three-dimensional thinking with the craft skills required in casting art objects, providing the students with a unique and special experience in this field.
www.sitterwerk.ch/en

Selection of Studios:
To enhance individual learning outcomes, students may select between two artists for the ART Workshop:
- Anita Tarnutzer
- David Andermatt

Anita Tarnutzer lives and works in California/USA and Switzerland
"The workshop will provide us with the opportunity of following the transformation of an object from one material into another. During the process we will not only be able to observe the differing characteristics and qualities of the material, but also the material’s influence on the form both sensuously and in terms of content. "
http://artnews.org/anitatarnutzer

David Andermatt lives and works in Shanghai/China and Switzerland
"The technical necessities involved in the actual construction of creative designs open new perspectives, frequently by accident¬. These in turn lead to transformations in the creative possibilities. What a particular material possessed in functional and aesthetic properties, at an earlier stage in the production process, becomes transformed, especially by the process of casting, into a new creative language. The relevance of the interdependency of creativity and the technical in terms of design and materials is the focus of this workshop."
http://www.kunstgiesserei.ch/ueber-uns/mitarbeiter/

Content of the CRAFT Workshop

In the second week students will construct mobile bicycle shelters from various materials for an organization called “Free Velo Point” in scale 1:1. Out of a given catalogue of materials (wood, metal, plastic in different shapes and dimensions) the students design, manufacture and finally set up 5 bicycle shelters at selected sites in Liechtenstein. In collaboration with local craftspeople the students will be confronted with different methods of crafting like sawing, welding and working with resin.

“Free Velo Point” is an openly accessible bicycle lending system, which is to start in 2016. The recycled, repaired and uniformly painted bicycles can be borrowed via SMS or with the Velopoint App.

With the objective of promoting public mobility and supporting an environmentally friendly and healthy means of transport, the “Free Velo Point” organization received the Ideenkanal award and a special prize from the LIFE Climate Foundation, in spring 2015, for its first countrywide bicycle-sharing project.
www.velopoint.li

For the CRAFT Workshop no selection is necessary. During the building process of the bicycle shelter, all students will work in groups and will have contact to local craftspeople and well established companies.

Course Information

Day of Arrival:
July 6, St. Gallen (CH)
Welcome reception at 5.00 pm at Sitterwerk: Art and Production, St. Gallen (CH)

ART Workshop:
July 7 – July 13
Sitterwerk Foundation: Art and Production, St. Gallen (CH)

Excursion Day:
July 14
Switzerland and Liechtenstein

CRAFT Workshop:
July 15 – July 21
University of Liechtenstein, Vaduz (LI)

Final Exhibition:
July 21

Day of Departure:
July 22