Andy Yoder is a sculpture professor at the School of Art and as much as he loves teaching, Andy is an active artist constantly creating and exhibiting his own work.  

“These leaves were created using ⅛” mirrored acrylic, laser cutters, and lots of expert assistance from the MIX staff. I had a blast doing it, because I love making work using materials and techniques I’m not familiar with. Last fall I collected a wide variety of leaves, then photocopied them on the self-serve machines at Staples (don’t ask/don’t tell). Next, I traced the outlines of the leaves and the interior veins, then scanned the tracings to create computerized files (it was important to me that the images were taken from real leaves, warts and all, to make them look as convincing as possible). After the files were cleaned up I learned how to enter them into the laser cutters. It still amazes me to watch the laser racing around cutting and engraving, like a sorcerer’s apprentice! Finally, I used a heat gun to see if I could make the flat, mirrored leaves more three dimensional. They not only softened up, but cracks, blisters and bubbles appeared. At first I thought it was a fail, but soon realized these things added interest and made them much more convincing. I ended up making well over 500 golden leaves, heating them with oxy-acetylene torches, for a two-person gallery exhibition in Baltimore. Huge, enormous thanks to the staff at the MIX. Their enthusiasm and support were contagious, and this project wouldn’t have been possible without them.”