The 2022 Alkek One Student Gallery installations are now up and ready for visitors to experience. These awesome projects demonstrate how digital technologies and creativity align. Five student projects were selected among the entries to this second-year of the competition to have their work installed in the first-floor lobby of the Alkek Library. Library staff partnered with the Common Experience team and selected the winners that represented the 2021-22 theme of Compassion. The article below profiles one of the participants whose work was selected for the gallery.
Marketing senior, Brooklin Harris has a passion for art and creativity. She is also eager to try new mediums as she creates artistic experiences everyone can enjoy, regardless of their differences. Her younger brother, Nate, has broadened her scope and ignited her passion for “inclusivity for all” when it comes to people within the disability community.
Why has Nate been a driving force for her passion to include everyone? Well, because Nate is a person with vision impairment. Having a brother who is blind allowed her to understand that he is not able to experience a piece of art in the same way she does. Knowing that he experiences things through touch also afforded her the ability to think creatively to find ways everyone can enjoy physical pieces of art in similar ways.
The original idea for her Alkek One project was “to create a textured piece that everyone can touch to fully enjoy,” said Harris. With help from the Alkek One MakerSpace staff, her idea morphed into something more than she ever thought possible. The staff showed her how to use the Fusion Pro laser cutter to cut the various layers in her piece. She didn’t need any previous experience and was able to schedule training with the MakerSpace manager. The equipment and training are available to anyone at Texas State, just schedule a simple training to get started. She is grateful for the staff who encouraged her to do more and helped to achieve her goal.
After learning how to use the laser cutting tool, Harris was challenged to create a multilayer acrylic 3D topographic map of a portion of the San Marcos River. Her piece includes a range of colors, layers, and grooves. All of which allows individuals to physically touch the multiple layers and grooves of the map. Then she added Braille so anyone who is visually impaired could not only experience the art, but also the message within the art itself. The Braille on her project reads:
“There is more in this life than living for ourselves. Compassion calls us to walk alongside our neighbors and make them feel loved, included, and welcomed. Do all that you can to live this life with compassion for others.”
Harris hopes this piece encourages others to be inspired, loving, inclusive, and accepting of our many differences.
This article was contributed by Rebecca Ormsby, communications specialist in the Division of IT Marketing and Communications office.