Community Building: 3D Print a Sculpture Garden

Attention: This post is over 2 years old and the information may be out of date.Attention: This post is over 2 years old and the information may be out of date.

Are you interested in 3D printing? Looking to design something fun and unique? Join us this summer as part of Make Summer Yours: Start with Art and make your own miniature sculpture for our community sculpture garden. 

Using free, 3D modeling programs such as TinkerCad, you can create, design and print a sculpture that will be part of our community sculpture garden display. Share and submit your design to have it printed at one of our print pick-up locations and be a part of this fun collaborative citywide movement. What sculpture will you design?  

How Do I Participate?

  1. Create an account on Tinkercad with the help of a parent or caregiver if you're under 13.
  2. Watch the tutorial videos to help you create a sculpture.
  3. For further assistance, sign up for one of our Zoom 3D printing workshops.
  4. Fill out the form below to submit your design.Your 3D design can be printed. You can pick up a print of your design at one of 16 CPL locations. 

How Can I Get Help?

Register for one of our online workshops to see a 3D printing demonstration or get hands-on practice and helpful suggestions for using Tinkercad.

You can also watch our Tinkercad video tutorials and view, step-by-step, how to get started on creating a sculpture. Also, you have access our CPL kids classroom TinkerCad account to see examples of sculptures, access various templates, or design your own sculpture. Follow these steps to access the account:  

  1. Go to the Join Class page on Tinkercad. 
  2. Enter your class code:T2TU 4PA3 KKFP
  3. Enter the nickname: SLC2021
  4. To use the template designs, please create a duplicate and then make edits. This ensures the templates are available for everyone. 

Additional Information

  • Please only submit a sculpture for printing. We will not be able to print other designs at this moment.  
  • Each participant is limited to four prints maximum.
  • Please give us one to two weeks to print your design. Depending on the size of your design, we may need to make adjustments.
  • Wanted to put your sculpture on a pedestal? Upload this design to TinkerCad to use this template.
  • In order to prevent long print times, please make sure your print isn’t too large and fits in a 60mm x 60mm x 60mm cube. 
  • While supplies last, earn a 3D printed art tool when you submit and pick up your print design. 

Submit Your Design

Kids, please ask your grown-up to fill out this form. Chicago Public Library cannot collect personal information online from kids 0 to 13.