Join us on July 20-25 from 1-3 PM at Ironside Newark for a week-long laser cutting and digital design workshop hosted by Damien Davis!
About This Event
This is a six-day intensive course. Only six slots are available. If you sign up, please note that we will follow up with additional details. The class is best suited for 16 and up, young adults, and students.
As part of PES Summer Studio at Ironside Newark, Project for Empty Space is hosting a series of free, artist-led workshops led by past and present Artists-in-Residence. These hands-on programs invite participants of all ages to explore new materials, develop creative skills, and engage with contemporary artistic practices.
Join artist Damien Davis for Cutting Futures: Laser Fabrication for Emerging Newark Artists. Cutting Futures is a hands-on introduction to digital fabrication and laser cutting designed for emerging artists interested in expanding their creative toolkit. Over six consecutive days, participants will learn how to transform ideas into physical objects using industry-standard design software and laser fabrication technology.
The workshop will take place from 1:00–3:00 PM each day for six consecutive days at Project for Empty Space (PES) Ironside in Newark. Through a combination of demonstrations, guided exercises, and individual project development, participants will gain practical experience with the complete digital fabrication workflow, from preparing files in Adobe Illustrator to safely operating a laser cutter and producing finished work.
Designed for motivated young adults and emerging creatives, the program is ideal for participants who are ready to engage seriously with digital fabrication as a creative tool. No prior experience with laser cutting is required. The workshop is accessible to artists working across disciplines, including visual art, design, illustration, fashion, architecture, and community-based creative practices. Participants will learn fundamental design principles for laser fabrication, material selection, file preparation, machine operation, and troubleshooting techniques that can be applied to future creative projects.
Throughout the workshop, students will create a series of small projects while developing the skills needed to independently pursue more ambitious fabrication-based work. The course emphasizes experimentation, problem-solving, and the creative possibilities of translating digital designs into physical objects.
As part of a broader effort to expand access to creative technology in Newark, Cutting Futures aims to build local capacity in digital fabrication while introducing participants to tools and processes that are often difficult to access outside of professional or academic settings.
By the end of the program, participants will leave with completed projects, a working knowledge of laser fabrication processes, and the confidence to incorporate digital fabrication technologies into their own artistic practice. Space is limited to ensure individualized instruction and hands-on access to equipment.
About PES Summer Studio at Ironside Newark
This summer, Project for Empty Space is transforming its exhibition space at Ironside into a gathering place for free, artist-led workshops. The series includes protest pin-making, collaborative city-building, tote-bag painting, figure drawing, digital fabrication, and more. Each workshop reflects the artist's unique practice and approach, offering opportunities for hands-on learning, creative exploration, and conversation.
Getting Here
Project for Empty Space at Ironside
110 Edison Place
Newark, NJ 07102
Please access the space through Mulberry Commons Park via Columbia Street.