Entrepreneurial Artist: Ryan Hoover

Ryan Hoover is a teacher at the Maryland Institute College of Art and the lead developer of a tool used for 3D printers called Xylinus. He uses the combination of many different forms of art and outside influence, such as biology, math, and new digital tools to create 3D models. Hoover takes subjects that our society deals with everyday and transforms them into a form for us to view. Due to the nature of his work, the majority of which is 3D models, his works can be recreated multiple times and shown all around the world. His UMBC talk gave great insight to how he sees the world, how old technologies can be used as information for new ones, and how information can be presented.

At first look, I will admit, a few of his creations were a little bizarre. Some of them appeared to be old machines but with updated features. They were interesting but I don’t know if I would call them art. However, I did like his GPS aided ‘maps’ which looked like elongated blobs. His way of mixing different mediums to form interesting art is inspiring. I am not the best at thinking about projects in an abstract way or using 3D space to my advantage, but seeing Hoover’s approach I can see how medium and space are just constructs to be broken.

By the definition provided, Ryan Hoover is a entrepreneur on several counts. He provides leadership by teaching at MICA, he is mobilizing the new technologies needed to reach his goals, and he is pushing the envelope in science and technology by combining them with his own form of art. Out of all of these, I find his use of a developing technology, 3D printers, to be one of the most influential. He mentioned that the medium has so much potential and I agree with him. These printers can create almost anything as long as they have the schematics and they are able to use recycled materials to do so. As mentioned before, it was inspiring to see art and science melding together and to be introduced to Hoover’s favored medium.