NAMII, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, awarded on August 2012, and driven by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM), announced that it is one of several organizers to bring a free exhibition, Re-Shaping Ideas, Ingenuity in 3D Technology, to the McDonough Museum of Art on the campus of NAMII member, Youngstown State University (YSU).

“NAMII is very proud to be one of the organizers to bring this free and important exhibit to the McDonough Museum of Art and the Youngstown community and surrounding areas,” said NAMII Director Ed Morris. “Additive manufacturing and 3D printing technologies, while not new, have begun to gain more traction and permeate well beyond the manufacturing industry. Additive manufacturing and 3D printing technologies are not bound by design complexity and have a broad application across industries. The exhibit is enormously successful in showcasing both aspects. I believe visitors regardless of their level of familiarity with 3D printing will enjoy and appreciate the exhibit.”

The exhibit, which opened on Friday, June 14 and runs through August 2, 2013, gives visitors a hands-on understanding of 3D printing and additive manufacturing. Other organizers of the exhibition include the McDonough Museum YSU’s Center for Contemporary Art; NAMII member, AST2; and Applied Systems and Technology Transfer.

“The potential of 3D printing and additive manufacturing technologies has really captured the public’s curiosity and interest,” added Darrell Wallace, Ph.D., NAMII Deputy Director of Workforce and Educational Outreach. “The exhibit at the McDonough is providing a great opportunity for the public to learn more about the evolution of additive manufacturing in the last 25 to 30 years, but more importantly, to interact with and appreciate the aesthetics of 3D printed designs and objects.”

The exhibit is divided into four galleries. Three galleries cover the past, present, and future of 3D printing presented in text, image, and video. The fourth gallery is called “Innovation Creation Space” and is an extension of AST2’s Inventor Cloud Program. It is a hands-on 3D printing lab open to the public for all ages. Individuals and groups, however, must schedule time in the lab in advance. Lab hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. To make a lab reservation, call 330-941-1400.

In summarizing the event, Leslie A. Brothers, Director of the McDonough Museum of Art and Curator of the Re-Shaping Ideas, Ingenuity in 3D Technology Exhibit, stated “Our intent with the exhibit is to build public awareness, understanding, and interest in advances in additive manufacturing that are changing the world we live in. This exhibit is the fourth in a series of community-based projects organized by the McDonough Museum to extend its service as a unique center for public engagement and to further articulate the expansive value of creative thinking in everyday life.”

Additionally, NAMII is planning on hosting a reception next month at the McDonough to celebrate the exhibit. Details on the reception will be made available soon.

The McDonough Museum of Art is located at 525 Wick Ave. on the campus of YSU in Youngstown, Ohio. Hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed on major holidays), and admission is free. For more information, call 330-941-1400 or visit www.mcdonoughmuseum.ysu.edu.

NAMII
www.namii.org

The John J McDonough Museum of Art,
www.mcdonoughmuseum.ysu.edu.

YSU
www.ysu.edu