Benjamin Caras

Education and activities

Biography

Born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1973 to parents with artistic and technical backgrounds, Benjamin R. Caras became familiar with the components of the artistic process at a young age. His mother was a painter, and, through the paternal line, Benjamin was exposed to the use of metals for various purposes. His late grandfather owned a tool-and-dye company and his father owns and operates a metal fabricating business. From the age of nine on, Benjamin created objects out of various metals, becoming increasingly sophisticated over time as a craftsman. He has moved beyond the shaping of metals for strictly utilitarian purposes to exploring the medium’s aesthetic possibilities, particularly in the area where organic forms meet industrial design.

After high school, Benjamin worked in several jobs that prepared him for the technical aspects of making sculpture via progressive metal craft and contemporary architectural fabrication methods.. He then attended Ormond College in Kilkenny, Ireland in 1997 to study the arts. There, he received an NCVA award in art and design. In 1999 he attended West Virginia University on an Art Department Performance Grant to complete his BFA in sculpture.

Benjamin spent his childhood around the inlets and harbors of Cape Cod, becoming fascinated with shell forms and how the sea creatures’ construction of shells was both like and unlike fabrication and welding. This interest shaped two of the sculpture series that he has produced in the past years: “Mechanical Selection”, “Young Machines.”, and "Reconstructing Nature"

Benjamin has had many solo shows and number of group shows. His work has been shown in a number of galleries, including The Brick Row Restaurant (2000) and the Blue Moose Cafe (2001). In June of 2001, his work was permanently installed in the Vice Versa dance club. His recent solo exhibition entitled “Mechanical Selection” was shown at the Top of Tucker Gallery in Thomas, WV in February 2002. “Young Machines” was displayed at the Garo Gallery in Morgantown, WV in 2003. His Masters Thesis Exhibition "Reconstructing Nature" will be on view May 9-16 at the Herter Gallery University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Benjamin is currently at work exploring the concept of CNC application and the creation of ideas that lead to fine art.

Exhibitions

BENJAMIN R. CARAS
310 East 4th Street, Apt. 1B
New York, NY 10009
(978) 430-4465
benjamin.caras@gmail.com

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS, Amherst, MA
Masters of Fine Arts Candidate—Sculpture (Degree Expected Spring 2008)

WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY, Morgantown, WV
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts – Sculpture (2003)
Awarded Full 3-Yr Art Department Performance Grant
Co-chair of the WVU Student Art Association (2000 – 2001)

ORMAND UNIVERSITY, Kilkenny, Ireland
NCVA Diploma in Art, Photography, and Design, With Distinction (1998)

EXHIBITIONS & HONORS

Honors
Dedalus Foundation Fellowship Nominee, New York NY (2007)
“Art That Ate New York Competition” - Finalist, Thomson Street Gallery, New York NY (2007)
Five College Film Festival - First Place, South Hadley MA (2005)
Fairmont Watercolor Society Annual Juried Competition - Second Place, Fairmont WV (2003)
Society of Arts and Letters Small Sculpture Competition - Third Place, Two Honorable Mentions (2001)
Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Robotic Competition - Second Place (1991)

Solo Exhibitions
"Reconstructing Nature" MFA Thesis Exhibition NYC (2008)
“House of Cards” - University of Massachusetts, Amherst MA (2005)
“Flying Conch” - Discovery Museum, Acton MA (2005; Permanent Installation)
“Young Machines” - Garo Gallery, Morgantown WV (2003)
“Mechanical Selection” - Top of Tucker Gallery, Thomas WV (2002)
“Recent Works” - Morgantown WV (2000)

Group Exhibitions
“Recent Works” - D’Art Gallery, Easthampton MA (2007; Ongoing)
“Valley Artists” - Open Square Gallery, Holyoke MA (2007)
“Role of the Father” - SUAG Gallery, Amherst MA (2007)
“Counterpoints” - University of Massachusetts, Amherst MA (2007)
“Boston Young Contemporaries” - Boston University Gallery, Boston MA (2006)
“RISD Graduate Exchange” - Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI (2006)
“In-House” - University of Massachusetts, Amherst MA (2005)
“DeCordova Museums Annual Juried Art Auction” - DeCordova Museum, Lincoln MA (2005)
“Blue Prints” - University of Massachusetts, Amherst MA (2004)
“Powers Gallery Spring Exhibition” - Powers Gallery, Acton MA (2004)
“Institute for Contemporary Art Juried Auction” - Institute for Contemporary Art, Boston MA (2004)
“DeCordova Museums Annual Juried Art Auction” - DeCordova Museum, Lincoln MA (2004)
“WVU Art Department Senior Show” - Messaros Gallery, Morgantown WV (2003)
“Small Sculptures 2001” - Society of Arts and Letters, Parkersberg WV (2001)
”Struggles, Starts, Strides” - County Council Building, Kilkenny Ireland (1998)

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Instructor and Manager of Metal Sculpture Discipline
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (2005 – Present)
Responsible for the entire curriculum and teaching of Introductory and Advanced Metal Sculpture:
- Management of the budget and inventory in the Metal Studios
- Maintenance and service for all equipment
- Maintenance of UMass Environmental Health and Safety standards
- Coordination of safety monitors and lab hours

Instructor of Sculpture / Wood Practices
Responsible for the entire curriculum and teaching of Sculpture in Wood and other Materials

Independent Study Mentor
Mentor undergraduate art students in sculpture for independent credit under the supervision of senior faculty

Head Instructor in Metal Sculpture
Snow Farm, the New England Craft Program, Williamsburg, MA (Summer 2006 & 2007)
Responsible for teaching artistically gifted teens and adults sculpture and advanced metalworking technique

Assistant Sculpture Teacher
West Virginia University Governor’s Honors Academy, Morgantown, WV (Summer 2001 & 2002)
Taught artistically gifted high school students the fundamentals of sculpture


DESIGN / FABRICATION

Artist/Designer/Project Manager/Fabricator/Welder
Benjamin Caras Design, Holyoke and Concord, MA; Morgantown, WV; New York, NY (2001 – Present)
Designer and fabricator of commissioned sculptural/architectural elements for residential and commercial clients

Welder/Fabricator/Machinist/Designer/Estimator/ Project manager
Ledgerock Welding & Fabricating, Concord, MA (1992 – 2003)
Performed a wide range of tasks involved in operating a welding/fabricating business for industrial
and residential clients

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Graphic Artist
West Virginia Family Magazine, Fairmont, WV (1998 – 1999)
Designed graphics and layout and prepared them for printing.


TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE

Technical Service Representative
Minolta Business Systems, Newton, MA (1995 – 1997)
Diagnosed and repaired the full line of Minolta Office Equipment for 300 machines in the greater Boston area

RELATED SKILLS

ART and SCULPTURE

Metal Fabrication – Advanced
-Management and teaching all aspects of industrial/architectural metal fabrication and contemporary art making
-Experience reading and drawing engineering blueprints, drafting and, brazing, oxy-acetelyn welding & cutting, plasma cutting, roll forming, forging, MIG, TIG, Computer-Aided Design (CAD), press brake operations, machine work, sheet metal forming and fabrication
-Instruction of Computer Aided Manufacturing in the classroom
-Design and construction of CNC Plasma Cutting table utilizing open source software and off-the-shelf components

Casting – Advanced
-Management and teaching all aspects of contemporary art foundry process including mold making, investment casting, ceramic shell, sand molds, chasing and finishing
-Experience designing and building a wide range of casting related equipment including crucible furnaces, iron casting cupolas, and burnout kilns

Wood Fabrication – Advanced
-Management and teaching all aspects of contemporary wood fabrication and art making
-Study and teaching of the use of wood and all of its fabrication and joining techniques
-Incorporation of Computer Aided Manufacturing into the classroom with a small format CNC router

Video Production – Advanced
-Extensive knowledge of lighting design and techniques of shooting footage
-Experience capturing and editing in Final Cut Pro and outputting professional quality DVD’s

DIGITAL and COMPUTER

3-D Digital Design and Output – Advanced
-Experience with all facets of 3 dimensional digital design and manufacturing
-Design and construction of CNC digital manufacturing machines
Software: Autocad, Solidworks, Sketchup, Revit, Electronic Machine Control 2, G-Code, CamBam and MACH-3

2-D Digital Design and Output – Advanced
-Experience with all facets of 2 dimensional digital design
-Understanding of contemporary pre-press operations for producing professional print media
Software: Adobe Creative Suite 3, QuarkXpress, MS Office and GIF Builder.

Computer Skills – Advanced
Systems: Mac OS, Windows, Linux

MANAGEMENT SKILLS

Academic:
-Art Department and Art Studio Management
-Experience in grant-writing for academic proposals and for departmental fundraising

Business:
-Business Management; serving Industrial, Commercial and Private Clients
-Technical management of electro-mechanical equipment including metal and wood fabricating equipment, computers, office equipment, and automobiles

Announcements

MFA Thesis Exhibition "Reconstructing Nature"
May 9-16 Herter Gallery
UMass Amherst

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