Projects in Authorship
Projects in Authorship are a series of workshops incubating autonomous processes at the intersection of art, design, and narrative. PiA aims to center developmental and multidisciplinary approaches to creative exploration as storytelling. The series surveys the nature of archive, means, and material exploration as intersectional and referential through research, collective history, and experimentation. Sessions in PiA are not meant to teach participants how to be an artist or designer in the conventional sense, but is meant to cement greater thought behind the ways we express ourselves. For this reason, participants don't need to have prior experience in art, craft, or design as emphasis will be placed on exploration, experimentation, and safety.
Orchid Sylvester | edu@orchidesyl.com | Schedule: Varies per Workshop; February - May; August - November 2025 | Location Varies per Workshop
Syllabus
Workshops series are divided by topic, practicality, and vary by intensity. Some workshops are enriched by an inclusion of a lecture, while others give sole instruction through demonstration. Although attendance to all workshops and sessions is not required, programming is curated to highlight the interconnection of medium, process, and resource. The following workshops are in no particular order and are contingent on hosting community organization's schedules, weather / climate, and population needs.
Zines, Radical Ephemera, and the Politics of Print
Workshops in this collection are curated for local activists, artists, and coalitions on making publicly accessible and visually dynamic printed matter. Although the workshop is designed for fund-restricted collectives, people interested in book design or illustration are welcome! Local history, counterculture, indie comics, and scalability will be explored.
Xerography and Scanography
Participants will engage with appropriation, translation, and distribution in creating collage publications. Aside from scanning and printing, workshop focuses on low-fidelity methods. People are encouraged to bring texts / books, pictures, or drawings to make copies of for projects.
Month/Day (RSVP) | Reserved Hall (Room # if applicable) at Newark, NJ
Lecture
- Writing as Authorship
- Invention of Type
- Literacy as Liberation
- Exercises in Expression
Demo
- Single-Sheet vs Multi-Sheet Layouts
- Scanography
- Collage
- Xerography
- Machine Vision (Considerations for Resolution, Contrast, and Texture)
Power to the Pulp: Comics as Medium
Analyzing the spectrum of indie publishing in alternative spaces to editorial syndication in anthologies, this workshop celebrates comics as Trojan horse within fine arts and commercial media. Examples showcased highlight BIPOC, gender-minority, people with disabilities, justice impacted, and/or Newark-affiliated illustrators and cartoonists. While shown images will take care to be suitable for all audiences, content includes work that showcase material of a graphic nature which includes violence, exploitation, crude language, and substance dependency.
Month/Day (RSVP) | Reserved Hall (Room # if applicable) at Newark, NJ
Lecture
Focus will NOT center major publishers like Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, WebToons, Kodansha, or VIZ Media, but the relationship comics have to people, social movements, protest, and counterculture.
- Anatomy of Comics
- Moral Panic and Propaganda
- Parallels as Citation
Demo
While there is no set way to make comics, the following are techniques that the instructor considers beneficial and is meant to provide guidance.
- Consider Format and Tools
- Advice on Style
- Sketching / Penciling
- Inking / Coloring
- Scanning and Digitization
- Text and Lettering
- Covers, Spreads, and Illustration
- Advice on Distribution
Painting with Light + Phytography
Attendees will create their own photograms with cyanotype. Commonly known as "blueprints," cyanotypes are deep blue copies made from film, enhanced with optional dyes, and light sensitized paper. While more labor intensive than digital printing solutions, it takes less time and finesse to get attractive results when compared to other traditional printmaking methods. Participants are invited to bring personal and local ephemera (like plants, drawings, photos, and library sourced printed matter) to learn about his archaic medium.
Cyanotype is one of the safest forms of photographic chemistry, but compounds may cause skin irritation, so PPE will be provided.
Month/Day (RSVP) | Reserved Hall (Room # if applicable) at Newark, NJ
- Cyanotype as Photographic Printing
- Positive vs Negative Plates
- Chemistry as Medium
Phytography
A portmanteau of phyto- ("plant"), and photo/graphy ("light," "study of"), "Phytography" is a nature-intensive version of "Painting with Light." In the spirit of sustainable process, this workshop is contigent on warm weather and sunny weather conditions.
Month/Day (RSVP) | Reserved Hall (Room # if applicable) at Newark, NJ
Demo
- Art with Plants
- Reactive Ink
- Pigments in Nature
Dimensional Thinking
In a collection of computer-based workshops, participants learn of process and movements in design technology. Not only is this in direct engagement with the budding initiatives in Newark that engages with New Media, this series is especially in homage to the modernist art and social culture that exist within the city's history.
Intro to Blender
An introduction to 3D Graphics in Blender. Topics include simple instruction in modeling, sculpting, and shading. Knowledge of basic computer navigation, including understanding keyboard shortcuts, mouse buttons, and file explorer, is strongly suggested, but computer beginners who express interest are still encouraged to attend.
Month/Day (RSVP) | Reserved Hall (Room # if applicable) at Newark, NJ
Demo
This workshop is catered to someone new to Blender, or may need a simple refresher. Blender is a free, open source software that is similar to specialized 3D graphics programs.
- Menus and Navigation
- Modeling
- Modifiers
- Sculpting
- Shaders and Materials
- Importing / Exporting
The New Archive
In response to the destruction, defunding, and distortion of libraries, archives, and collective history, participants are called to engage with a new way of archive. In addition to a lecture on photogammetry and the reclamation of third space, participants learn the ethics of scanning in multiple dimensions. Basic experience with 3D software is recommended.
Month/Day (RSVP) | Reserved Hall (Room # if applicable) at Newark, NJ
Lecture
Topics relating to institutional / state violence, militarization, and ecocide will be discussed. Content discretion is advised.
- The Question of Forensics
- Frames, Borders, and Margins
- The Nature of Return
Demo
- Open Source vs. Open Access
- Autonomous Scanning
- Gamification of The Physical World
Dimensional Thinking + This Side Up
"Dimensional Thinking" delves into design research and the importance of material awareness, prototyping, and the boundaries of art / craft / design.
Month/Day (RSVP) | Reserved Hall (Room # if applicable) at Newark, NJ
Lecture
A brief discussion on drafting, design methods, and physical modelmaking.
- Elements and Principles of Art and Design
- Means, Accessibility, and Purpose
- Research
- Drawing, Drafting, and Sketching as Thinking
Demo
This is curated for people who have basic 3D modeling experience, but are inexperienced with preparing designs for digital fabrication.
- Modifiers
- Procedural Design
- UV Maps
- Rendering and Visualization
- Exporting
This Side Up
"This Side Up" is the fabrication compliment to the titular "Dimensional Thinking" workshop. Digital fabrication methods covered include 3D Printing and Laser Cutting as they are the most accessible in community makerspaces. Participants should have a simple 3D object or 2D graphic they are interested in actualizing.
Month/Day (RSVP) | Reserved Hall (Room # if applicable) at Newark, NJ
Demo
- Translation of Data
- Laser Cutting
- 3D Printing
- Sustainability
Policies and Expectations
Projects in Authorship is an intensive series making art and design methods radically accessible to the public. PiA aims to mitigate the lack of technological and instrumental availability, which includes (but is not limited to) software, hardware, supplies, and time for recreation.
Experimentation, exploration, and curiosity are at the core of learning. In technical courses such as this, results are a helpful measure of potential, comprehension, and eagerness. However, one's patience for themselves and craft is often influenced by the results of people and things they admire, regardless of experience. Just as it's important to have the courage to create projects that reflect a capability to evolve, it's important ot cultivate an environment that is equitable. There will be no tolerance for harassment of personal charasteristics, such as race, ethnic heritage, gender presentation, sexual orientation, religion, financial background, speech, health status, and disability. For accomodation requests, reports relating to safety, or any additional questions or comments, contact edu@orchidesyl.com.
Archiving, Distribution, Documentation, and Recording
Throughout the course of PiA, the instructor will take photo, video, and audio recordings during workshops. Live documentation will be used for proof of instructor's community teaching experience and for the promotion of spaces where workshops are held. An archive about PiA will include the syllabus, workshop plans, photographic documentation, initial survey responses, and participant feedback. The PiA archive will be used as part of the instructor's teaching portfolio and will be shared with organizers, coordinators, and benefactors. Any capturing of likeness, projects made in workshops, or intellectual property will be used solely for the outlined above. Projects made in workshops and intellectual property will be properly credited. Participation in the workshops is an agreement to the above. If involved people, including participants, organizers, contributors, or benefactors, would like to access any recordings or photos, contact edu@orchidesyl.com.
Responsibility and Safety
Based on demontrated need, students will be able to use tools taught for the course. This includes reservable, shared equipment usable during workshop sessions. There will be time during the course for working on projects. Although specific processes will be focused, participants are free to use their own tools as participation will equip them with fundamental skills and concepts which can be utilized in different contexts. Regardless, to ensure students in current and future workshops have unabridged use of equipment, participants are expected to handle shared tools with respect, whcih includes cleaning, safe handling, and permitted use only.
Accidents happen. Creating can be messy. Software crashing and ink spills are simple and common. Students will be guided on preventative measures that avoid the damage of personal property and loss of time. Additionally, there are demonstrations which require tools with exposed heating (material extrusion and platform preparation for 3D printing), sharp edges (scissors, staplers, dip pen nibs), chemistry (acids and salts) or physical strain (sitting or standing for long periods, bright, non-strobing light, manual dexterity). Atendees are instructed and supervised in the careful operation of potentially hazardous material while wearing provided PPE to establish safety, discipline, and build confidence in unfamiliar methods. PiA organizers, coordinators, and benefactors believe in good faith that participants respect the space, the instructor, and each other. Anyone who exhibits abusive and threatening behavior in the form of verbal, physical, and sexual harassment will not be permitted to attended any following sessions in this series.
Understanding of craft and technique requires discipline, mindfulness and care for one another. Participants will be notified of updates throughout the progression of the workshop series to accomodate unexpected events and changes. Enrolling in and endorsing this workshop series is an agreement to all that is outlined above.
Colophon
Projects in Authorship (PiA) is conceptialized and submitted for consideration in the 2024/5 Newark Artist Accelerator, which is made possible via The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts Regional Regranting Program. Continued support from workshop hosts has enabled PiA to blossom throughout the city of Newark. The vitally of this initiative not only comes from the enthusiasm of the Newark community, but grows in legacy of the faith, encouragement, and guidance of loved ones, teachers, practicing artists, and activists as community leaders.