IAP Independent Activities Period
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IAP 2008 Activities by Category

Crafts, Hobbies, and Do-It-Yourself

ATS Asian Arts and Crafts Festival
ATS Exec, Angela Chang, Justin Lo
Sat Jan 26, 02-05:00pm, Baker Dining

No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event

Looking for something fun to do on a Saturday afternoon? Come make arts and crafts with ATS! Learn how to:
- Play the chinese yo-yo
- Make lanterns, origami, and other paper crafts
- Do calligraphy and brush painting
- Tie intricate chinese knots
- Make really cool beaded crafts
- and more!
Contact: ATS Exec, ats-exec@mit.edu
Sponsor: Association of Taiwanese Students

Bad Ideas Competition
Sarah Hopp, Andrew Westerdale
Fri Jan 25, Sat Jan 26, Sun Jan 27, 12pm-12:00am, EC Talbot Lounge

No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event

You've heard of the IDEAS competition, but what about the Bad Ideas competition? We're not aiming to change the world or follow textbook engineering practice, but to have a little fun.

Come to the 2008 East Campus Bad Ideas competition, where your ideas can really take wing and crash straight to the ground. The weekend will also be packed with numerous smaller events, so come by any time, grab some free food, and join us in a celebration of bad ideas. No skills required, tools and materials provided. All members of the MIT community are invited! Stop by any time!

(sponsored by the Dormitory Council, East Campus, LEF, Weekends@MIT, and the deFlorez Humor Fund).

More smaller events are listed on our website.
Web: http://mit.edu/ec/www/bad-ideas/
Contact: Sarah Hopp, hopp@mit.edu
Sponsor: Dormitory Council

Basic Camera and Darkroom Techniques
Thery Mislick
Mon Jan 7, Tue Jan 8, Wed Jan 9, 16, 04-07:00pm, w-20-428

Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Limited to 9 participants.
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Prereq: none
Fee: 45.00 for materials, instructor pay

Learn the basics of photographing with a manual 35mm camera. Learn your way around the darkroom: how to develop film and print photographs.

Bring two rolls of'Ilford HP5 Plus 36 exposure' black and white film to first class. Cameras available for student use during class-time.

Students supply film and paper. Non-class darkroom use included.

Limited enrollment. Meets 4 times starting Mon., Jan. 7th.
Ilford HP5 Plus 35mm, 36 exposure, black and white film.

Ilford Multigrade Delux 8"x10" RC (Resin Coated) paper, 25 sheet package.
This paper comes in the following surfaces: Glossy, Pearl, Satin.
Which one you pick is your choice.
Contact: register at saa.mit.edu / sam magee, w20-429, 253-7019, sammagee@mit.edu
Sponsor: Office of the Arts
Cosponsor: Student Art Association

Beginning Pottery
Marc Mancuso
Wed Jan 9, 16, 23, 30, 05-07:30pm, w-20 431

Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Limited to 12 participants.
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Prereq: none
Fee: 45.00 for materials, instructor pay

In this class, you will learn to use a potter's wheel. Centering, building, glazing and finishing vessels will be covered in the four sessions.
Contact: register at saa.mit.edu / sam magee, w20-429, 253-7019, sammagee@mit.edu
Sponsor: Office of the Arts
Cosponsor: Student Art Association

Ceramica Botanica
Darrell Finnegan
Tue Jan 8, 15, 22, 29, 04-06:30pm, w-20 431

Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Limited to 12 participants.
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Prereq: none
Fee: 45.00 for materials, instructor pay

Nature is a wonderful source of inspiration. Both wheel thrown and hand-built vessels will be stretched, altered and manipulated in various ways with a nature theme. Exploring numerous surface techniques, we will transform your vessel into a functional form or sculptural object. Think large leaf platters, perhaps plump peach pitchers or over-sized sculptural pears.
Contact: register at saa.mit.edu / sam magee, w20-429, 253-7019, sammagee@mit.edu
Sponsor: Office of the Arts
Cosponsor: Student Art Association

Electro-Textiles Workshop
Angela Chang
Wed Jan 30, Thu Jan 31, 04-06:00pm, E15-483a, Reef room, left on 4th floor

Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Signup by: 30-Jan-2008
Limited to 12 participants.
Repeating event. Participants welcome at any session

Have you ever wondered what the clothing of the future will look like and how it works? This is a hands-on seminar about the convergence of textiles and computation. Students will design and get assistance in producing a small prototype that they can take home with them.
Wed. Jan 30th- Basic textiles/simple electronics. Needlework, crochet, knitting and basic electronics. Materials available for craft, and students can ask for project help.
Thu. Jan 31st- ElectroTextiles - We'll cover more sophisticated textile projects and give a brief overview of the technology. We'll continue working on projects.
Preference will be given to female undergraduate students interested in becoming UROPs at the MIT Media
Mab in the Fall. Sponsored by the MediaWomen group. Enrollment limited to 12.
Contact: Angela Chang, E15-347, (617) 230-8731, anjchang@media.mit.edu
Sponsor: Media Arts & Sciences

Floating Color: The Art of Marbling Paper
Nancy Schrock, Ann Marie Willer, Mary Broadway
Fri Jan 18, 09:30am-12:00pm, 14-0513, Wunsch Lab

Enrollment limited: advance sign up required (see contact below)
Signup by: 11-Jan-2008
Limited to 8 participants.
Single session event
Prereq: None

Marbling is the ancient art of floating colors on thickened water, swirling patterns, and transferring the design to paper. Today marbled patterns are found on fabric, inside boxes, and on notepaper. This workshop will reveal the mysteries of this once secretive art. Participants will learn about the history of marbling, see a demonstration, and have an opportunity to try their hand at the craft. Each participant will make 2 or more sheets of marbled paper which they can pick up the following Tuesday. See the URL below for directions to the Wunsch Conservation Laboratory.

NO WALK-INS ALLOWED.
Web: http://libraries.mit.edu/preservation/aboutus.html
Contact: Nick Szydlowski, 14-0513, x3-5282, nick_s@mit.edu
Sponsor: Libraries

Home Repair Basics: Basic Residential Wiring
Doug Boyer
Wed Jan 23, 09am-12:00pm, E19-127

Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Limited to 20 participants.
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)

Learn how to rewire a lamp, install an electrical outlet, and get a better understanding of household wiring from MIT’s Electrical Shop Supervisor.
Contact: Melody Craven, 452-2407, mcraven@plant.mit.edu
Sponsor: Department of Facilities

Home Repair Basics: Window Repair and Maintenance
Arthur Pitari
Wed Jan 16, 09am-12:00pm, E18-169

Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Limited to 20 participants.
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
Prereq: None

Come learn all there is to know about window repair and maintenance. This hands-on class will teach you what it takes to repair and maintain window glass and screens by one of MIT’s expert Glaziers.
Contact: Melody Craven, NE49-2200, 452-2407, mcraven@plant.mit.edu
Sponsor: Department of Facilities

Household Plumbing
Dan Gustafson
Wed Jan 30, 01-04:00pm, E19-127

Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Limited to 20 participants.
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)

Come learn the secrets of quick repairs to faucets and toilets, and how to clear a drain from one of MIT’s finest plumbers.
Contact: Melody Craven, 452-2407, mcraven@plant.mit.edu
Sponsor: Department of Facilities

Ikebana: The Art of Japanese Flower Arranging
Hiroko Matsuyama
Tue Jan 29, 02-03:30pm, E38-714

Enrollment limited: advance sign up required (see contact below)
Limited to 15 participants.
Single session event
Fee: 10.00 for cost of materials

Hiroko Matsuyama, an accomplished instructor of the Ohara school of Ikebana, will show you the basics of this ancient art as you create your own flower arrangements.
Contact: Daniela Reichert, E38-728, x8-8208, dreichert@mit.edu
Sponsor: Center for International Studies
Cosponsor: MIT Japan Program

Intentional Asymmetry
Irit Rappley
Sun Jan 20, 11am-02:00pm, w-20 431

Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Limited to 12 participants.
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Prereq: none
Fee: 40.00 for materials, instructor pay

A great pot does not have to be round. When created thoughtfully and intentionally, asymmetrical pots can be beautiful too.

In this one-day workshop, we will alter thrown forms to create new and exotic pieces. Bring your leather-hard (round) pots to the workshop, and we will learn how to make them bold and beautiful!

This workshop is intended for students of intermediate level. Students should expect to spend time in the studio well in advance of the workshop.
Contact: register at saa.mit.edu / sam magee, w20-429, 253-7019, sammagee@mit.edu
Sponsor: Office of the Arts
Cosponsor: Student Art Association

Introduction to Gum Bichromate Printing - soup to nuts
Thery Mislick, Graham Ramsay.
Fri Jan 18, Sat Jan 19, Fri Jan 25, Sat Jan 26, 06-09:00pm, 1/19-3-9pm,1/25-4-10pm,1/26-10

Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Limited to 8 participants.
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Prereq: none
Fee: 85.00 for materials, instructor pay

This five day intensive workshop is designed to introduce students to the beautiful, dynamic, and versatile world of gum bichromate printing. One of the earliest photographic printing processes, gum printing utilizes a contact negative to produce delicate, painterly images that use watercolor paint as the pigment of their emulsions. This class will cover all aspects of gum process: paper preparation,negative preparation, and the printing itself. Students will bring three to five black and white prints to first class session; these images will be scanned and an ink-jet negative will be produced. These negatives will then be used to produce the gum prints in class.
Contact: register at saa.mit.edu / sam magee, w20-429, 253-7019, sammagee@mit.edu
Sponsor: Office of the Arts
Cosponsor: Student Art Association

Introduction to Woodworking
Hayami Arakawa
Mon Jan 7, Wed Jan 9, Mon Jan 14, Wed Jan 16, 06-08:30pm, W31-031

Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Fee: 20.00 for Materials Fee

Introduction to Woodworking

This will be a four-session introduction to woodworking class, and will cover the use and maintenance of hand tools, clamping and gluing, and the safe and effective use of the major machines. Ending with the wood finishing. This will not be project-based class, and is intended to prepare you for a range of beginning projects after you complete the class.

The class is limited to 6 people
Fee: $20 for materials and a term membership or free with a years membership to the Hobby Shop.
Please come by the Hobby Shop to sign up. Registration is on a first paid basis.

If you have any questions,
Please contact Hayami at; hayami@mit.edu
Or all call (617) 253 - 4343
Web: http://hobbyshop.mit.edu
Contact: Hayami Arakawa, W31-031, (617) 253-4343, hayami@mit.edu
Sponsor: Hobby Shop

Machine Shop Course
Ed Udas
Schedule: TBD
Enrollment limited: advance sign up required (see contact below)
Signup by: 15-Dec-2007
Limited to 10 participants.
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)

Instruction and hands-on use of tools: Blue-print reading; grind tool bits; lathe, miller, band saw, cut off saw; soft solder copper pipe; sheet metal, rolling and bending. Each Section is limited to 10 participants. Note that there are two offerings each day, 09:00 to 11:00am, and 01:00 to 03:00pm. And two sections.
Section A: January 7-11.
Section B: January 14-18.
Schedule to be determined based on participant interest.

Chemistry students have first priority.
Contact: Ed Udas, 4-063, x3-4505
Sponsor: Chemistry

Modeling 101
Long Lam, Steve Lynch
Thu Jan 17, 24, 07-09:00pm, TBA

No limit but advance sign up required (see contact below)
Repeating event. Participants welcome at any session

Learn about the modeling industry, body image and other fun stuff!!!!
Contact: Long Lam, (408) 712-2824, llam@mit.edu
Sponsor: Long T Lam, SIMMONS HALL # 553-1, 617 452-3090, llam@mit.edu

No Scarves Allowed Beginning Knitting
Stephanie Houston
Fri Jan 11, 18, 25, 1, 02-04:30pm, w-20 431

Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Signup by: 07-Jan-2008
Limited to 8 participants.
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Fee: 35.00 for materials, instructor pay

Everyone is knitting, but you! Join the rest of us and learn how to knit. Our first project will be a three-pointed hat knit on circular needles. Our second project will be a small felted purse – perfect to hold your cell, your ID, and your keys. No experience necessary.
Contact: register at saa.mit.edu / sam magee, w20-429, 617.253.7019, sammagee@mit.edu
Sponsor: Student Art Association

Non Class Darkroom
Thery Mislick
Mon Jan 7, 14, 21, 28, 07:30-09:00pm, w-20-428

Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Limited to 20 participants.
Prereq: none
Fee: 45.00 for materials, instructor pay

Use of the SAA darkroom, including equipment and selected chemicals for black-and-white film developing and printing for people not enrolled in classes. Color use is not included. Non-class users have added responsibility in maintaining darkroom. There are no formal meetings for this class. The fee covers unlimited individual access to the darkroom and 2d studios. PREVIOUS SAA PHOTO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY WITHOUT EXCEPTION.

MANDATORY REORIENTATION: January 7th, 7:30 PM
Contact: register at saa.mit.edu / sam magee, w20-429, 253-7019, sammagee@mit.edu
Sponsor: Office of the Arts
Cosponsor: Student Art Association

Nuno Felting
Stephanie Houston
Sat Jan 19, 12-04:00pm, w-20 431

Enrollment limited: advance sign up required (see contact below)
Signup by: 07-Jan-2008
Limited to 8 participants.
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Prereq: none
Fee: 45.00 for materials, instructor pay

What do you get when you combine silk fabric, wool fleece, and hot water? You get a beautiful piece of felted fabric. No sewing or knitting experience required, just show up and leave with a piece of wearable art.
Contact: register at saa.mit.edu / sam magee, w20-429, 617.253.7019, sammagee@mit.edu
Sponsor: Student Art Association

On beyond 35mm
Jon Proulx
Thu Jan 10, 17, 24, 31, 07:30-10:00pm, w-20-428

Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Limited to 8 participants.
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Prereq: none
Fee: 50.00 for materials, instructor pay

Dare to go beyond 35mm, and use our cameras to do it!
"Medium format" covers a broad range of cameras. This class will cover processing and printing medium format B&W film and a survey of the different medium format camera types.
Camera types we will cover include:
Modern SLRs such as the Hasselblaad and Mamiya RZ cameras SAA has available. These produce incredibly sharp detailed images that can be enlarged to much bigger prints than 35mm negatives.
The third class of camera we will look at are antiques.

The Delta400 is required but feel free to get more film! We will only be able to process and print B&W in class but if you'd like to get some color print or slide film there are a couple of local labs that still process it.
You will need some B&W paper to print on.
Contact: register at saa.mit.edu / sam magee, w20-429, 253-7019, sammagee@mit.edu
Sponsor: Office of the Arts
Cosponsor: Student Art Association

Pots with Eyes and Ears
Irit Rappley
Mon Jan 7, 14, 21, 28, 07-10:00pm, w-20 431

Limited to 15 participants.
Prereq: none
Fee: 45.00 for materials, instructor pay

A pot can say a lot about its creator. In this class, we will make pots that speak with their own personality -- using simple techniques to give faces to our creations. Pots can be thrown or handbuilt, functional or not, simple or complex.

This class will not teach you how to make a pot. Students should feel comfortable throwing a cylinder or making a handbuilt pot. We will learn how to add, carve, distort, and alter our pots to create faces in the clay.
Contact: register at saa.mit.edu / sam magee, w20-429, 253-7019, sammagee@mit.edu
Sponsor: Office of the Arts
Cosponsor: Student Art Association

Sleight of Hand - Card Magic & Beyond
Omar Molina Jr.
Fri Jan 11, 18, 25, 1, 05:30-07:45pm, 56-169

Enrollment limited: advance sign up required (see contact below)
Signup by: 05-Jan-2008
Limited to 12 participants.
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Prereq: none

This class covers basic sleight of hand card magic. You will learn various maneuvers, secret techniques, pattering, and overall cohesiveness of an effect. Magic is an excellent ice-breaker in awkward situations and boosts self-confidence when approaching strangers. Benefits of public performance permeate the realm of magic into everyday life.

There are 2 sections. The first section meets from 5:30-6:30pm and the second from 6:40-7:40pm.

Absolutely no walk-ins allowed and attendance is strictly enforced. Sign up REQUIRED. Participants are subject to a survey upon request to join to determine eligibility. First come, first served. See you there!
Contact: Omar Molina Jr., 423-B, omj@mit.edu
Sponsor: Homar Molina, BURTON CONNER # 423B, 617 225-8355, omj@mit.edu

Sock knitting... don't be scared.
Stephanie Houston
Fri Jan 11, 18, 25, 1, 11am-01:30pm, w-20 431

Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Signup by: 07-Jan-2008
Limited to 8 participants.
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Prereq: none
Fee: 35.00 for materials, instructor pay

SOCK KNITTING IS FUN! No, really, it is. If you have some experience knitting, then you know that sock knitting is somewhat challenging. However, anyone who knows how to knit and purl can master socks in a very short time. Due to the shortness of IAP, our sock project for this workshop will be a grown-up pair of socks fit for… A BABY. Once you’ve finished your baby socks, you’ll be fully prepared to start a pair for yourself.
Contact: register at saa.mit.edu / sam magee, w20-429, 617.253.7019, sammagee@mit.edu
Sponsor: Student Art Association

Tech Model Railroad Saturday Club Meetings
Quentin Smith
Sat Jan 12, 19, 26, 2, 05-11:00pm, N52-118

No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Repeating event. Participants welcome at any session

A usually informal meeting, where members design and build scenery, track, operate trains and more. Everyone is welcome to come see our layout, with over 600 feet of track and a fully computerized control system. We usually break for dinner from 6:30 - 8:00 PM. Students can join the club and start projects of their own, which can include everything from computer-controlled lighting systems for the layout to the construction of scenery such as scale stone-arch viaducts over raging rivers.
Web: http://tmrc.mit.edu
Contact: Quentin Smith, N52-118, x3-3269, tmrc-web@mit.edu
Sponsor: Tech Model Railroad Club

Texture Boards for clay
Stephanie Houston
Thu Jan 10, 17, 24, 31, 06:30-08:00pm, w-20 431

Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Limited to 15 participants.
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Prereq: none
Fee: 45.00 for materials, instructor pay

Ever wonder how a potter adds that cool texture to his pot? Is he carving it, or stamping it, or adding it? Well, he may in fact, be using a textured board to create that style. This workshop will concentrate on designing, making and using our own texture boards. No clay experience necessary, however, some clay experience helps. Basic
hand-building techniques will also be covered.
Contact: register at saa.mit.edu / sam magee, w20-429, 253-7019, sammagee@mit.edu
Sponsor: Office of the Arts
Cosponsor: Student Art Association

Totally Teapot
Darrell Finnegan
Tue Jan 8, 15, 22, 29, 07-10:00pm, w20-431

Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Limited to 12 participants.
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Prereq: none
Fee: 45.00 for materials, instructor pay

Oval, wavy, stretched and crazy, the teapot is a wonderful subject that teaches us a balance between creativity and functionality. In this 4 week workshop we will explore unusual forming techniques and surprising surface treatments that take us beyond the "round". Would you like one lump or two?
Contact: sam magee, w20-429, 253-7019, sammagee@mit.edu
Sponsor: Office of the Arts
Cosponsor: Student Art Association

What is upside down
Happy Goethert
Mon Jan 7, 14, 21, 28, 04:30-07:00pm, w-20 431

Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Limited to 12 participants.
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Prereq: none
Fee: 45.00 for materials, instructor pay

There is more than one way to throw a pot---bottom to top or top to bottom . This class is recommended for those who can already center with some confidence. Simple forms can be created from a different perspective.
Contact: register at saa.mit.edu / sam magee, w20-429, 253-7019, sammagee@mit.edu
Sponsor: Office of the Arts
Cosponsor: Student Art Association

Wood Bat Making Class
Hayami Arakawa
Wed Jan 23, Mon Jan 28, Wed Jan 30, 06-08:30pm, W31-031

Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Limited to 6 participants.
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Fee: 40.00 for Materials and membership fee

Spring is in the air, and if you play in a baseball or softball league or if you're interested in the process, wouldn't it be grand to learn the basics of turning on the lathe ,while learning how to turn your own bat out of wood? You will be introduced to the history, materials and machinery used in the production of this century and a half old tradition. This class does not guarantee to improve ERA but you will have fun learning, while making bats during the class. Includes practice material, and a ash wood blank.
Cost: Students - $ 40.00. $22.00 with membership.
Staff - $ 50.00. $30.00 with membership
Alumni - $ 60.00. $40.00 with membership.

Questions? Please contact Hayami at hayami@mit.edu, (617) 253-4343 Sign up at the Hobby Shop. W31- 031
Web: http://hobbyshop.mit.edu
Contact: Hayami Arakawa, W31-031, (617) 253-4343, hayami@mit.edu
Sponsor: Hobby Shop


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Last update: 30 September 2004