LASER Talks To Bring Interdisciplinary Discussions To Stark Galleries Starting Jan. 29
The Institute for Applied Creativity in the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts will host a series of interdisciplinary discussions beginning Jan. 29 at noon at the J. Wayne Stark Galleries in the Memorial Student Center.
The talks are titled “LASER” — for Leonardo Art Science Evening Rendezvous — and will be held the fourth Wednesday of each month at noon. The series is funded by the institute, the college and the Melbern G. Glasscock Center for Humanities Research.
Dr. Jinsil Hwaryoung Seo, director of the institute and an associate professor in Visualization, hopes this series will inspire artists, scientists and technologists to collaborate and present interdisciplinary research.
“Hosting a series like this has been a long-standing dream,” Seo said. “I really envisioned engaging university-level participation as a way to elevate the prominence of arts on campus. More importantly, I want to nurture a culture that integrates art, science and technology for meaningful interdisciplinary connections.”
The talks are part of an international LASER series. Seo said each one-hour talk will start with a 30-minute presentation followed by an open Q&A session. A reception will take place afterward, offering attendees an opportunity to connect and discuss the topics further, Seo said.
The inaugural talk on Jan. 29 — “Creative Anatomy Collective: Arts and Technology Discourse in Action” — will feature a panel presentation led by Seo; Felice House, associate professor in Visualization; Caleb Kicklighter, instructional associate professor in Visualization; and Dr. Michelle Pine, a clinical associate professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. They will discuss integrating art practices and immersive technology to support students in anatomy education.
Dr. Lynn Vartan, associate professor in Music Performance, curated the series and said she hopes the discussions will shed light on the interdisciplinary focus of the college.
“The LASER talks are modeled after Leonardo DaVinci, who was the great merger of art, science and technology,” Vartan said, “which is exactly what we are and what we want to do.”
Vartan said the series is also an opportunity for colleagues to meet other collaborators, develop connections and share their work. She encourages people to participate so that it becomes “a meeting place to celebrate great ideas.”
The series can also bring access to research and collaborative work to the local community, Seo said. She encourages faculty and students to attend and collaborate on creative ideas.
“Art has the power to inspire other disciplines, such as science and technology, by fostering integration that drives innovative research,” she said. “It also allows students to recognize the potential of the arts as a valuable resource they can incorporate into their studies and future careers.”
Upcoming LASER Talks
Feb. 26 at noon: Deepak Chetty, assistant professor in Visualization, cinematographer, visual effects specialist and extended reality explorer, discusses artificial intelligence and virtual production technology in filmmaking.
March 26 at noon: Multimedia artist Joost Rekveld discusses “What Can Artists Learn from a Dialogue with Machines?” The Belgium-based artist conducts research and creates abstract films and installations involving animation and light.
April 23 at noon: Nalini Nadkarni, a professor emeritus at the University of Utah, discusses “How Can Scientists and Artists Partner to Enhance Conservation of Forests?” Nadkarni will discuss utilizing tree canopies in her ecological work.
Top image, from left: Nalini Nadkarni, Dr. Michelle Pine, Joost Rekveld and Deepak Chetty.
