Materials Science and Engineering
Multiple Courses
College of Engineering
Ray Allen
Untitled vessel
mesquite, satin wood, blood wood, rose wood, curly maple, ebony, dyed veneer
25 1/2 x 29 x 29 in. (64.77 x 73.66 x 73.66 cm);25 1/2 in. (64.77 cm);x 29 x 29 in. x 73.66 x 73.66 cm
Gift of Robert M. and Lillian Montalto Bohlen
One way to define art is the transformation of physical materials into a new form that conveys meaning. For students of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), every work of art in the museum poses interesting questions. How do artists work with the innate qualities of their materials? How do some artworks boldly show their materiality, while others cleverly suggest the presence of other materials? How does the artist’s work with the materials shape our experience of the object?
The objects featured in this section demonstrate some of the surprising ways material scientists think about art: artistic uses of imperfections in metal fabrication processes; how different materials fracture and break; micro and macro structures in nature; and an exploration of wood, contrasting its natural forms with instances of its malleability.
What it is made out of is really an important part of the piece, an inherent part of the art. This is a cool way to explain much more about a work by exploring the medium in more depth.
Brian Iezzi
LATEST STORIES
MATERIALS TOUR AT UMMA LETS YOU LOOK AT ART LIKE A SCIENTIST
Material science and engineering (MSE) and the University of Michigan Museum of Art might have more in common than you think. The new, self-guided Materials Tour at UMMA is an interactive experience that lets you go through the museum’s latest installations with the eyes and knowledge of an engineer, discovering the science behind the objects.
Read More
Works included in this collection
2015/2.38
Title
Untitled
Artist(s)
Grace Farrar Knowlton
Artist Nationality
American (North American)
Object Creation Date
20th century
Medium & Support
welded copper
Dimensions
41 in x 41 in x 41 in (104.14 cm x 104.14 cm x 104.14 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the Estate of James van Sweden
Physical Description
Gigantic terracotta ball with foliage and branches sticking out of parts of it.
Primary Object Classification
Sculpture
Primary Object Type
earthworks
Collection Area
Modern and Contemporary
Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Untitled
welded copper
41 in x 41 in x 41 in (104.14 cm x 104.14 cm x 104.14 cm)
Gift of the Estate of James van Sweden
2015/2.39
Title
Sphere (Small)
Artist(s)
Grace Farrar Knowlton
Artist Nationality
American (North American)
Object Creation Date
after 1970
Medium & Support
terracotta
Dimensions
26 in x 26 in x 26 in (66.04 cm x 66.04 cm x 66.04 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the Estate of James van Sweden
Subject matter
Knowlton has been creating spheres since the 1970s. In a variety of sizes and materials, these objects are decidedly hand made but without the clear, modernist mark of the artist. The artist engages with issues of materiality in terms of its relationship to the earthly or the cosmic, rather than in an earlier discussion of modeling or carving.
Physical Description
This round terracotta sphere has a reddish tint to its rough and cracked exterior.
Primary Object Classification
Sculpture
Primary Object Type
abstract sculpture
Collection Area
Modern and Contemporary
Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Sphere (Small)
terracotta
26 in x 26 in x 26 in (66.04 cm x 66.04 cm x 66.04 cm)
Gift of the Estate of James van Sweden
2015/2.37
Title
Sphere (Medium)
Artist(s)
Grace Farrar Knowlton
Artist Nationality
American (North American)
Object Creation Date
after 1970
Medium & Support
terracotta
Dimensions
34 in x 34 in x 34 in (86.36 cm x 86.36 cm x 86.36 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the Estate of James van Sweden
Subject matter
Knowlton has been creating spheres since the 1970s. In a variety of sizes and materials, these objects are decidedly hand made but without the clear mark, modernist mark of the artist. The artist engages with issues of materiality in terms of its relationship to the earthly or the cosmic, rather than in an earlier discussion of modeling or carving.
Physical Description
This terracotta ball has a rough surface with a series of cracks.
Primary Object Classification
Sculpture
Primary Object Type
abstract sculpture
Collection Area
Modern and Contemporary
Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Sphere (Medium)
terracotta
34 in x 34 in x 34 in (86.36 cm x 86.36 cm x 86.36 cm)
Gift of the Estate of James van Sweden
2015/2.40
Title
Papier-mâché Ball
Artist(s)
Grace Farrar Knowlton
Artist Nationality
American (North American)
Object Creation Date
after 1970
Medium & Support
papier-mâché on metal frame
Dimensions
18 in x 18 in x 18 in (45.72 cm x 45.72 cm x 45.72 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the Estate of James van Sweden
Subject matter
Knowlton has been creating spheres since the 1970s. In a variety of sizes and materials, these objects are decidedly hand made but without the clear, modernist mark of the artist. The artist engages with issues of materiality in terms of its relationship to the earthly or the cosmic, rather than in an earlier discussion of modeling or carving.
Physical Description
A metal interior frame with pieces of papier-mâché around it creating a ball. The strips of papier mache are long strips.
Primary Object Classification
Sculpture
Primary Object Type
assemblage
Additional Object Classification(s)
Sculpture
Collection Area
Modern and Contemporary
Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Papier-mâché Ball
papier-mâché on metal frame
18 in x 18 in x 18 in (45.72 cm x 45.72 cm x 45.72 cm)
Gift of the Estate of James van Sweden
1978/2.23
Title
Grazalema
Artist(s)
Miguel Berrocal
Object Creation Date
1962
Medium & Support
iron
Dimensions
24 in. x 19 1/2 in. x 6 in. ( 61 cm x 49.6 cm x 15.2 cm )
Credit Line
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Gosman
Subject matter
Grazelema is comprised of two connected sections sitting on a large rectangular base. The two pieces could come apart in theory. Berrocal's sculptures were often assembled like three dimensional puzzles and could be taken apart. Miguel Berrocal was a Spanish sculptor who worked with foundries in Verona, Italy to create his sculptures.
Physical Description
An iron sculpture with two sections of iron that are joined together by a small connection halfway up their sides. The section on the left is a four sided piece that is divided into smaller parts. The section on the right is more cyllindrical with two branches coming off on the right. The piece sits on a large rectangular base.
Primary Object Classification
Sculpture
Collection Area
Modern and Contemporary
Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Grazalema
iron
24 in. x 19 1/2 in. x 6 in. ( 61 cm x 49.6 cm x 15.2 cm )
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Gosman
2005/2.61
Title
Odd Man Out
Artist(s)
Michael Hall
Object Creation Date
1986
Medium & Support
welded steel
Dimensions
38 in. x 32 in. x 24 in. ( 96.5 cm x 81.3 cm x 61 cm )
Credit Line
Gift of Beverly Franzblau Baker in memory of Morris D. Baker
Primary Object Classification
Sculpture
Primary Object Type
abstract sculpture
Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Odd Man Out
welded steel
38 in. x 32 in. x 24 in. ( 96.5 cm x 81.3 cm x 61 cm )
Gift of Beverly Franzblau Baker in memory of Morris D. Baker
MORE COURSES IN CURRICULUM / COLLECTION
Exhibition Support
Lead support for this exhibition is provided by the University of Michigan Office of the Provost, Erica Gervais Pappendick and Ted Pappendick, the Eleanor Noyes Crumpacker Endowment Fund, and the Oakriver Foundation.