Auto Artists for Ukraine sell artworks to support Red Cross
Artist Johnny Ambrose and others will devolve 100% of proceedings from artwork sales to helping in the humanitarian crisis
Nick Ambrose is an auto artist, he creates automotive-inspired sculptures and often resorts to 3D printing technologies to make them come to life. He is part of a community of similarly driven artists who have launched the Auto Artists for Ukraine initiative to create a charitable response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
The group’s aim is to sell artworks from many automotive artists, via social media, where 100% of the sale is donated to the British Red Cross ‘Ukraine Crisis Appeal. “”We’ve already been heartened at how many artist, photographer/ illustrator peers have pledged to help out so far, such as Tim Layzell, Helen Stanley & Ella Friere,” said Ambrose. “We’ve already raised £4,000 so far in the first 2 days. Over 25 artists have agreed to donate artworks, ranging from very affordable prints to larger priced items, some being auctioned. We want most works to be affordable at a set price for all to participate.”
The Auto Artists for Ukraine group, which is asking people to help by sharing their social media posts to highlight the cause, set out on this project after seeing the escalating horror in Ukraine. “We realize our initiative might only make a small contribution in the grand scheme of things, but we wanted to raise funds, and join others in uniting a love of all things automotive and to help Ukrainians fleeing the conflict.”
How the easy sale and donation process works:
1) On social media, artists post their chosen artwork/ print/ sculpture which they are donating 100%.
2) Buyer pays the artist directly.
3) Artist donates 100% to the Ukraine Appeal via their national Red Cross website. Artists send us a quick screenshot of their donation receipt, which will allow us to keep a tally of the total amount raised.
Useful links:
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/auto_artists_for_ukraine/ @auto_artists_for_ukraine
TWITTER: @autoartukraine
WEBSITE: http://autoartistsforukraine.com/
DONATION LINK: https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-crisis-appeal
Using 3D printing in auto art
Prior to his involvement in Auto Artists for Ukraine, Jonny Ambrose has been making hugely imaginative and tactile automotive sculptures, and for the last five years or so, 3D printed parts have been at the heart of his work
“What makes my automotive sculptures work is the juxtaposition of traditional techniques such as steam bending of wood alongside the use of ultra-up-to-date manufacturing processes such as CAD solid modelling and 3D printing,” Ambrse explained. “Whereas previously I would use milling when trying to create lattice structures, for example, today I use 3D printing which is able to build strong, lightweight structures with geometries impossible to achieve using traditional manufacturing methods.”
Ambrose has been working with 3DPRINTUK for a number of years since recognizing the ways in which 3D printing could be incorporated into his work. Lattices are an ideal example of how 3D printing opens up design possibilities. What makes lattices unique is how they layout materials into design elements to form an ideal structure that are made up of micro-architectures with a network of nodes and beams or struts. This format dramatically reduces weight while retaining structural integrity and giving a larger degree of control over certain characteristics. These interlinking portions can enhance various areas of performance and use less material without weakening the object or compromising its integrity.
The largest one-piece lattice that Ambrose has produced was 40 cm long, and this demanded that the team at 3DPRINTUK use all their know-how and understanding of 3D printing to accommodate the piece in the build chamber, and ensure its integrity once built. This was all about orienting the part correctly to get the best print definition and making sure that there were no peripheral distortions at the extremities of the part.
For Ambrose, 3D printing has opened up a plethora of possibilities for using lattices in his work, but that is not all that the technology allows. He says, “Beyond the creation of lattices per se, I use 3D printing because I like the aesthetic of some of the polished finishes. Also, it allows me to create more intricate shapes and features that would not be feasible for me to do by hand. I find the aesthetics of parts produced via selective laser sintering (SLS) or via Multi-Jet Fusion (MJF) extremely attractive, and it complements the woods, metals, or carbon fiber I use in many of my works. For me, 3D printed parts are just another material, but a material that brings new elements to my works that I cannot achieve via alternate means.”
