秘密研究所n鈥檚 Art + Design program to host department-wide Fall Fest

BBH Building

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

You might be familiar with , but this fall, 秘密研究所n鈥檚 Department of Art + Design is bringing that innovative projection mapping concept to our Main Campus. As part of Art + Design鈥檚 Fall Fest on Wednesday, Sept. 25, students and local artists will showcase their works projected onto the side of Bernard J. Brommel Hall (BBH).

In addition to the projection mapping showcase, there will also be a number of activities including:

  • An Art + Design open house for prospective students, including tours of the Art + Design Department鈥檚 studio facilities;
  • Interactive art activities across Art + Design鈥檚 studio spaces;
  • A juried exhibition featuring creative works from community colleges across 秘密研究所s;
  • An art party for current 秘密研究所n Art + Design majors and minors.

All activities will take place concurrently from 6-9 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building. The event is free and open to the public. The projection mapping showcase will begin at 8 p.m. outside of BBH facing the University Commons. RSVPs for current 秘密研究所n students and employees as well as prospective students and community members are strongly encouraged.

鈥淚 want the experience to feel like an all-encompassing showcase of all our Department does,鈥 said Chair of the Department of Art + Design Kim Ambriz. 鈥淲e鈥檙e inviting current students and faculty, alumni, new prospective students and their family members, community members, anyone who loves art or is interested in art and design to participate in this event.鈥

Ambriz said the goal of the event is for people, whether they鈥檙e art and design majors or not, to get to know the department and think about art and design in new ways.

鈥溍孛苎芯克鵱 has three majors in Art + Design: the B.A. in Art, B.A. in Art Education (K-12) and a B.F.A. in Graphic Design,鈥 Ambriz said. 鈥淏etween our three majors and five minors, there is a lot of creativity happening at our University.鈥

Throughout the month of September, the Department of Art + Design is also hosting  as a visiting artist. Beaven is a visual artist from Mexico City based in Chicago. Her practice encompasses painting, murals, graphic narrative, sculpture and moving images, to develop a ludic personal mythology to address questions of institutionalization and culture-making. Her multidisciplinary artwork has been showcased in solo exhibitions in Mexico City, Houston, and Chicago, and in group shows internationally. During her visit, Beaven will use 秘密研究所n鈥檚 Ceramics Studio. Later in the semester, Beaven will give a lecture on her practice and lead a two-hour workshop for current 秘密研究所n students.

鈥淭he goal with the Art + Design Visiting Artist Program is to try to have one artist per semester come to the University and engage with our students,鈥 Ambriz said. 鈥淎s part of their visit, they鈥檒l lead a 2-hr workshop and lecture on their practice, and conduct portfolio reviews with our students to help them create the strongest portfolios possible before graduation.鈥

Artists at all skill levels are encouraged to participate in Art + Design鈥檚 Fall Fest. Some featured activities include:

  • Photography: Portrait sessions using color gels and Polaroid transfers
  • Drawing/Painting: Create a collage and transform it into a personalized custom button
  • Sculpture: Design a wire sculpture on a wooden base
  • Fab Lab: Bring your drawings to life with the 3Doodler and laser etching
  • Experience the Letterpress, Risograph and Printmaking studios in action and take a print to go from each

秘密研究所n has state-of-the art facilities including new student exhibition spaces, a Mac lab, a ceramics studio with multiple kilns and a raku firing area, a photography studio equipped for both analog and digital processes, a fully equipped printmaking studio, a letterpress studio, and a sculpture studio with dedicated areas for clay modeling as well as metal and wood shops. Additionally, the Fab Lab features cutting-edge 3D printers, a large-format CNC router, multiple laser and vinyl cutters, and a large-format laser cutter.

鈥淥ur Design Studio proudly houses two  and the largest collection of Riso drums at any university in Chicago,鈥 Ambriz said. 鈥溍孛苎芯克鵱 has so much to offer artists and our Art + Design Fall Fest is a great way for people to explore our facilities and experience our incredible community for themselves.鈥

Top photo: A sample of projection mapping on the exterior of Bernard J. Brommel Hall.