Lithobox: Creative Practice at the Intersection of Craft and Technology

The integration of new digital and physical fabrication tools with fine arts has the potential to provide new outlets for artistic expression, while at the same time raising questions about the role of material and process in artistic practice. In this work, we present Lithobox, a system that translates the traditional ceramic and lighting technique of lithophanes into a means of creating illuminated 3D models through a creative approach that utilizes both digital and tangible construction. Through work sessions with nine artists, we explored how the Lithobox fabrication process impacted the way artists manifest design ideas and engage in creative exploration in crafting. At the TEI arts track, we plan to show our system and the physical lithophanes from our work with artists. The attendees will likely discuss the design, material, and artistic aspects of our exhibit. From these discussions, our goal is to gain insight into beneficial directions for integrating digital technology into traditional fine arts practices.