AKMarder Designs

Background

Born and raised in Brooklyn, NYC. Amanda left NYC when she was 17yrs old to earn their BFA in Metalsmithing from Savannah College of Art and Design.  After graduating early, Amanda moved to Chicago IL to work for a commercial jewelry manufacturing company known as Casting House. She then transitioned to work on vintage automobiles as a welder for Cooper Technica Inc. Lastly before leaving Chicago, she worked at Red Horse Knife works making folding knives. In 2015, she found her way back to the educational scene earning her MFA from ATEC at the University of Texas at Dallas.  During graduate school, Amanda worked within the Arts and Technology department as the Digital Fabrication Lab Manager and Teaching Assistant to Professor Andrew Scott. She helped to develop the 3D studio and the Digital Fabrication Lab for ATEC.  After taking some years off to work in the industry, she has returned as a professor at the University of Texas at Dallas within ATEC.

Artist Statement

My research revolves around digital fabrication; the process of additive and subtractive rapid prototyping. My work merges the techniques of digital fabrication with the foundation of traditional art. Working in the 3D digitally and physically with the aid of rendering helps me to achieve my vision and goals.  I am always researching new techniques, methods and technology on how to push myself and my work.

The process of which art is created has always been the root of my creations.  Working through the techniques, processes and applications of different technology and materials always has me experimenting.  Exploring with different mediums and pushing the boundaries on applications, I have been able to develop different processes unique to my style.  I specialize in working with metal but strive to work in unfamiliar mediums exploring different textures.  Never using a material as is, I focus on manipulating the structure of the material to bring out a new perspective.

Digital fabrication is commonly known to be used for mass production and prototyping.  The technology allows for swift execution in a timely fashion with precision.  Through much industry experience of working in mass manufacturing, the “art” is typically stripped.  By using the same methods of mass manufacturing and digital fabrication, I collaborate the ideals of production to bring back the “art” in creating a series of works.  This process allows for easy alterations while each can still be considered completely unique.  Using the principles of the technology to allow a visualization and planning of a piece before it is fully in the physical.  This process gives the allowance to produce work without limitations.