At sunset today, graphic designs by three Bowling Green State University students
will be projected on the side of two large buildings on Plaza Vieja in Havana,
Cuba. The presentation is part of the Havana Bienal, an international art show.
Work by students Lindsay Holtz, Anthony Asher and Aubrey Cox was selected by a review
panel for inclusion. Thanks to professional connections of graphic design
faculty member Todd Childers, an associate professor in the School of Art,
students in Three-Dimensional Graphic Design classes taught by him and
instructors Amy Fidler and Andrea (Mo) Budinger this semester were able to
participate in the show. Students created designs representing the spirit of
Cuba, and had to research what the stereotypes are, and which might be true.
After doing their own research, each student prepared a series of six images for a
sequential slide show, which would be projected into space using a point-of-view
camera (camera obscura) that shows multiple images at once, creating the
illusion of three-dimensionality and, in some cases, movement.
Childers and Fidler curated the entries, choosing several to submit to the Cuban
review panel, from which the three were chosen.
"I was really pleased with the learning outcomes," Childers said.
"This was the first time the students had to think about something on an
architectural scale, having to design to fill a very big space. They have done
many smaller things, from posters to book designs, but this called for a
different approach. It also led to some impressive installation pieces that have
been displayed around campus."
"One of the major benefits of being part of the process was sending our designs
into the unknown and hearing their feedback," Fidler said. "Although
the language was a challenge, we learned that there is a language of design – of
typography and image – and we all speak the same language."
In addition, Fidler pointed out, Budinger is German and so was in the interesting
position of teaching in America about a project in Cuba. "She has an
understanding of what it’s like to work internationally and across borders. It
was so valuable to our students to have her input when they were asking
themselves ‘Are these images accurate, and are we representing the culture
properly?’"
Their designs are featured on the Facebook timeline for the biennial
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Plan-C/107328372703703
