What moves you? That鈥檚 the question three 麻豆原创 graduate students pose in a new interactive art installation to be featured during Orlando鈥檚 3rd Thursday Gallery Hop next week.
The installation, dubbed 鈥淐ONNECTIONS,鈥� is a 10-foot sphere illuminated by projections of images and videos about movement. It鈥檚 inspired by recent debates over creating alternative transportation in and around Central Florida, including the SunRail commuter train and Florida High Speed Rail.
Viewers of the installation are asked to respond to the question, 鈥淲hat moves you?鈥� They answer by sending text messages that are projected onto the sphere.
鈥淲e were inspired by the transformative potential of SunRail and Florida High Speed Rail to change the way Central Floridians move and engage with their communities and beyond,鈥� says Dave Moran, one of three 麻豆原创 Digital Media and Studio Art master鈥檚 students who created the installation.
Ultimately, 鈥淐ONNECTIONS鈥� aims to encourage dialogue about mobility and community design in Central Florida through art, Moran says. The commuter and high-speed rails offer alternatives to Orlando鈥檚 auto-centric community design and have the potential to improve the quality of life for Central Floridians, he added.
Moran and fellow students Jillian Perez Dudziak and Gary Seymour Jr. created 鈥淐ONNECTIONS鈥� as part of a semester-long class project with Digital Media Associate Professor Phil Peters, and they began showcasing the exhibit at local cafes and markets in April.
鈥淭he students were tasked with creating an innovative, interactive installation about our environment,鈥� Peters said. 鈥淭his project is unique in the way that it engages the community to celebrate the relationship between art and urban policy and planning.鈥�
The installation will continue to engage viewers beyond the classroom when 鈥淐ONNECTIONS鈥� is featured at Orlando鈥檚 Downtown Arts District 3rd Thursday Gallery Hop on Aug. 19.
The hop officially starts at 6 p.m. Moran says 鈥淐ONNECTIONS鈥� will be on display from 8 to 11 p.m. outside the CityArts Factory, located at 29 S. Orange Ave.
Third Thursday is a monthly event that invites attendees to celebrate art and culture during a 鈥渉op鈥� through galleries, restaurants and boutiques in Orlando鈥檚 Downtown Arts District. The students鈥� art inspired this month鈥檚 theme, which explores the relationship between art and transportation through a series of installations and pieces designed by local artists.
鈥淲e were thrilled when the 麻豆原创 students approached us to host ‘CONNECTIONS’ and were inspired by their energy and ideas,鈥� said Shanon Larimer, executive director of the Downtown Arts District. 鈥淥ur installation exhibition allows Central Floridians and visitors alike to consider all of their alternatives to travel and how they impact their wallets, conveniences, environment and the overall economy.鈥�
The Downtown Development Board, the City of Orlando and Metroplan Orlando joined 麻豆原创 and the CityArts Factory in supporting this month鈥檚 3rd Thursday event. Airstar America donated the sphere used in the installation.
To learn more about 鈥淐ONNECTIONS,鈥� visit www.txtart.info, or become a fan of 鈥淐ONNECTIONS鈥� on Facebook.