Robotic cow tongues, music created by fermentation and robots that can sweat. These are just a few of the pieces created by students in the art and technology program at Ohio State. Using some of the most cutting edge design technology, students have created works of art inspired by culture and science.
On June 4 and 5, the department of art will showcase the works of about 200 of these graduate and undergraduate students in the two-day juried exhibition "Anthropocene." The pieces featured in the exhibition reflect technology's impact on the environment and the relationship between the two. The poster for the event, created by art student Nicole Lemon, shows a giant mechanical, walking house leaving its carbon footprint on the world.
The Department of Art holds an exhibition for art and technology students at the end of each quarter to celebrate their work and innovation. The exhibitions feature work in a variety of media, including video, holography, 2-D and 3-D animation and modeling, Web-based artwork and digital imaging.
The defining distinction between the art and technology program and other focuses within the Department of Art is the extensive use of technology. Nearly every piece is created, in part, on a computer.
"The computer is a tool that can morph into any tool," art professor Ken Rinaldo said.
Because of this, Rinaldo calls it a meta-tool.
But this tool is only a means to an end as far as Rinaldo is concerned. He tries to encourage students to think conceptually about their work, not technologically. He wants them to use the technology at their disposal to create a work of art, but they begin with a pencil and their ideas.
"Technology is only the tool," Rinaldo said.
After sketching their ideas, students in Rinaldo's 3-D computer sculpture class start to piece their work together. They combine their skills with the software and their own artistic visions. In the end, their work is sent through a 3-D printer, which actually prints their models in 3-D.
"Anthropocene" will be held in Haskett Hall Thursday and Friday and will offer low carbon footprint refreshments. It will be open Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with video screenings in Haskett Hall Gallery and Soundstage at 7 p.m. On Friday the exhibition hours are from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
To learn more about the art and technology program or its students' projects, visit artandtech.osu.edu.
April Bohnert can be reached at bohnert.8@osu.edu.
Be the first to comment on this article!