Students present research and animations at conference
The Creative Art session and Animation Symposium and Festival was held April 20, 7-10 p.m. as part of the 22nd annual Student Conference for Research and Creative Arts.
Chloe Diepenbrock, associate professor of writing and literature, sponsored Emily White, art major, who opened the Creative Art session with a presentation titled, “The Practicality of Art.” White discussed the importance of requiring art classes in the core curriculum.
“Art is technically considered part of the core curriculum, but it is not treated as such,” White said.
Martin Wnuk, professor of art at San Jacinto College South (SJCS), sponsored Jennifer Barg and Uyen Ngo, students from SJCS. Barg opened with a quote by Pablo Picasso, “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.” Barg mentioned that the hardest part about creating art is getting started.
“The only bad work is the one you didn’t do,” Barg said.
Barg and Ngo showed drawings and paintings they created in Wnuk’s classes. Barg and Ngo said the semester moved at a rapid pace and by the time it was through they completed 30 paintings and 45 drawings.
Anne Henry, lecturer of communication and digital media studies, sponsored several students for the Animation Symposium and Festival. Participants included DMST majors Stephanie Romero, Wardah Ajaz, April Siyue Li, Sophia Stewart McMillen, Jeanie Galvanni, Laura McMillen and Nicolas Page.
Romero, opened the symposium with a presentation titled “Package Design: Contemporary Best Practices.” Romero explained that package design is everywhere you look, which she demonstrated using a Tolberone candy bar.
Before introducing the animation portion of the session, Henry explained that it takes students two semesters to create an animation with the first semester devoted to modeling and the second semester to animating the models. The festival showcased 3-D animated shorts and 2-D motion graphics.
Galvanni showed three of her pieces, “Opposites Heart,” “Selkie” and “The Raven.” Li’s work included two pieces, “Despair Traveler” and “Memory Lane.” McMillen’s work included the opening UHCL logo animation and “My Story,” which was created using kinetic typography. Marin’s work included an ad for Volkswagen, “Circus” and “Souvenirs.” Page’s “Newsroom: America Not the Greatest Country Any More,” was another piece. Ajaz’s work included “A Deal,” “Factory” and a commercial for her board game “Dream Job.” Ajaz also demonstrated how to play “Dream Job” with a printed copy of the game.
The Animation Symposium and Festival began three years ago as an outlet for students in the animation and motion graphic classes to have an opportunity to share their work. The animations were created using After Effects, Premier and other Adobe products.
