Creativity through three lenses

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Jason Doblin crafts his ceramic masterpieces in a studio at Garland Hall. Michelle McGaha studies Industrial Engineering up the street in H. M. Comer. Dr. Cassandra Faulkner's students learn the techniques of Interior Design across campus in Doster. For the month of January, however, these students' creative products share a home in the gallery at Maxwell Hall.

"Luminaires, Pottery and Engineering" opened with a reception on January 10. Dr. Hank Lazer, associate provost for academic affairs, said that the exhibit beautifully encapsulates what Creative Campus Initiative represents: collaboration and the demonstration of creativity across diverse disciplines.

Faulkner's CTD371 (Lighting for Interiors) class generated a wide variety of creative energy with their luminaire projects. The course is intended to teach interior design students the principles of lighting design. Early in the fall semester, students created a conceptual drawing for their projects, which they later had to translate into a working light source.

Individual student's personalities shone through in their work, which ranged from glass bottles grouped under a cowboy hat and hung from the ceiling with rope to a Disney-Pixar "Cars"-themed shade atop a floor lamp with Matchbox car track as its base.

Members of Creative Campus viewed the luminaires at Doster in the fall and voted to crown a winner, Chelsea Frazer of Nashville. Jessica Smith of Huntsville claimed second prize. Frazer said nature inspired her luminaire, which consists of tall, dramatic twigs spiraling out of an urn.


Doblin in studio, discussing his work methods.

Doblin draws inspiration from his young son for his work with ceramics. A graduate student in the Department of Art and a graduate assistant for Creative Campus, Doblin said that he has been re-learning how to see things through the eyes of a child. Several pieces of Doblin's pottery are part of the exhibit.

McGaha, a senior, contributed a transportation study. During the opening reception, she discussed her recent technical internship in Honolulu, where she assisted in the development of the Hazard Education and Awareness Tool and its accompanying Web site.

“Luminaires, Pottery and Engineering” beautifully encapsulates what Creative Campus Initiative represents: collaboration and the demonstration of creativity across diverse disciplines.