In a growing digitized and tech savvy world, North Central College’s new digital media club is presenting the Interactive Media Studies (IMS) and art student showcase to expand the definition of art, combining traditional and interactive forms of media.
With the relative newness of the showcase to the College, Digital Media Arts Co-President Marcelo Cajas said art showcases have been around forever. To offer more a variety would help in appealing to more audiences.
Digital Media Arts club adviser Hale Ekinci said that unlike traditional art showcases, this student-run event presents all student work that is entered and is meant to start a dialogue with the wider campus community.
In terms of art and how it may sometimes be perceived by the public, Marcelo added, “Sometimes I even think that art can be a little boring, but if we can add some digital artwork, it can be a little bit more interesting for everybody. “
In engaging and guiding the College’s students, professor Scott Kolbe is expected to give a presentation at the showcase’s end. About the topic of Kolbe’s presentation, Cajas said that Professor Scott “has a lot of work experience in commercial design. We just want to have him tell more people about how the real world works.” Kolbe brings knowledge about the world of commercial art to the College.
Ekinci added that Kolbe’s presentation relates to the showcase’s theme, which is “growth.”
Along with professors striving to expand students’ creative workflows in the classroom, experiences beyond the classroom have increased recently. Cajas said that IMS students do not seem to be all that connected but should work together.
In expanding on the club’s mission, Cajas said that the first order of business is to create a community for likeminded individuals. Then, networking and helping each other—in terms of brainstorming and strategizing—is another goal. Further, the showcase is one way of demonstrating to others what they can do.
About the IMS program and those interested in the digital media arts club, Cajas said that those that “are wanting to push the program forward and keep making it grow… is necessary if we want to make big things.” All of the people on the board agree and are all about that.
As for the Club’s plan for students this term, Cajas said the club will have field trips to advertising companies or studios allowing them to see what workplaces are like. He added that the club is still in the growth and development stages.
To attend the College’s IMS and art student showcase, visit lower Boilerhouse on Wednesday, April 16 from 6-9:30p.m.
