Anticlastic forming lends itself to creating exceptionally strong, flexible, lightweight, and organic-looking forms. In anticlastic forming a flat sheet of metal is shaped by compressing its edges and stretching the center so that the surface develops two curves at right angles to each other, like a horse saddle. Students will develop a basic of the process in this three-day hands-on workshop focusing on “open” or “mono-shell” forms made from a single piece of thin sheet metal, working to create striking dimensional shapes. Decking these forms will be shown in class to demonstrate how doing so will expand the range of forms available increasing design options. Anticlastic forming dates to the Early Iron Age yet a new focus on this ancient technique has yielded some of the most interesting forms in contemporary metalwork and has only recently been explored in detail. Some facility with a hammer like “fold-forming” will be helpful.
Materials Included (tool kits available for purchase)
