News . Press Releases
February 17, 2014
Animations and compositions will surround visitors in immersive experience
For Immediate Release
Contact: Ann McGuire
Director of Communications
amcguire@cia.edu
216.421.7417
CLEVELAND (Ohio) – Five animations created by Cleveland Institute of Art students will complement five original scores composed by Cleveland Institute of Music students when the two colleges present a public program, 360 Degrees of Sight + Sound: The Planetarium Project, on Feb. 25 at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium.
Swirling images and colors timed to accompany new music will surround audience members in sight and sound from all angles in the museum’s planetarium, one of the best equipped and most compelling facilities of its size in the nation. The short films are titled “Afterthoughts,” “Decided,” “Antarctica,” “Other Line,” and “Mindscapes.”
The Planetarium Project started in late summer when CIM students began composing scores for the project. They met with CIA students early in the school year to present their original music and discuss animation ideas with the art students.
Keith Fitch, head of CIM’s Composition Department, noted the project is “a wonderful opportunity for our student composers to work with artists from other disciplines, as well as continuing CIM's ongoing commitment to collaboration with institutions and artists throughout University Circle and the greater Cleveland area.”
Next, students from both University Circle-based colleges met with Jason Davis, the museum’s astronomy programs coordinator and a dome enthusiast.
“The talent that surrounds us here in University Circle is staggering,” said Davis. “Being able to bring the skills and resources of the area together to produce a program like 360 Degrees of Sight + Sound is a unique and wonderful thing. I hope Clevelanders come out and see what these students can do.”
CIA’s Animation Department Chair Anthony Scalmato said the curved nature of the dome’s surface presented interesting technical challenges for his students, who were accustomed to creating animations for flat screens. “It was the first time any of us had done anything like that so it was a lot of trial and error and test screenings at the planetarium,” he said. Scalmato pushed students to create what would be immersive visual experiences and students rose to the challenge, meeting all of the deadlines built into their ambitious production schedule.
“The students have been fantastic and I’m really proud of them,” Scalmato said. While all of the animations were created in a course offered by CIA’s Animation Department, student artists represent a cross section of CIA, coming from the departments of Animation, Game Design, Illustration, Video, Industrial Design, Ceramics, and Painting.
Public showings are at 9:00 and 9:45pm. To reserve tickets, call the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s box office at 216.231.1177.
“Afterthoughts”
CIA students Jonathan Amore, Game Design; Javae Brown, Game Design; Austin Frank, Industrial Design; Bianca Marie Gonzalez, Ceramics; Elizabeth Kirsten Hauff, Game Design; Akeem Pennicooke, Video; Natilya Ratcliff, Game Design; Emilie Ring, Game Design; Nicholas Ritzic, Illustration; Helen Su, Game Design; Paul Zagorsky, Illustration; and CIM students Arturo Fernandez, Composition; and Byeongmun Jeon, Audio Engineering.
“Decided”
CIA students Akeem Pennicooke, Video; Rachel Yurkovich, Painting; Helen Harry, Photography; Leigh Silverblatt, a Cleveland State University student; and CIM students Kyle Martin, Audio Engineering; and Alex Cooke, Composition.
“Antarctica”
CIA students Brienne Broyles, Animation; Macy Franko, Animation; Jessica Madden, Animation; Morgan Sylvester, Animation; and CIM students Corbin Moon, Composition; and Emile Hsu, Audio Engineering.
“Other Line”
CIA students Benjamin Zingo, Animation; Patricia Bowes, Animation; Asiha Reasor, Animation; Jonathan Amore, Game Design; Javae Brown, Game Design; Bianca Marie Gonzalez, Ceramics; Elizabeth Kirsten Hauff, Game Design; Natilya Ratcliff, Game Design; Emilie Ring, Game Design; Helen Su, Game Design; and CIM students Jack Hughes, Composition; Katherine Cook, Audio Engineering.
“Mindscapes”
CIA students Akeem Pennicooke, Video; Maria Ursetti, Animation; Samantha Witzorreck, Animation; Emily Yates, Animation; Anthony Zayas, Animation; and CIM students Nathanael Moffat, Composition; and Graham Rosen, Audio Engineering.
About CIA
Founded in 1882, the Cleveland Institute of Art is an accredited, independent college of art and design offering 15 majors in studio art, digital art, craft disciplines, and design. CIA extends its programming to the public through gallery exhibitions; lectures; a robust continuing education program; and the Cinematheque, a year-round art and independent film program. CIA’s public programming is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. cia.edu.
About CIM
Founded in 1920, the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) is one of eight independent music college conservatories in the country and is known for superior orchestral, chamber, composition and opera music programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The vision for CIM is to be the center for the education of the complete musician of the 21st century. Our world-renowned faculty, which includes all of the principals of The Cleveland Orchestra, are practicing musicians who perform internationally. Conservatory alumni play important musical roles as composers producing meaningful new repertoire, as eminent instrumental and vocal soloists, as world-renowned chamber musicians and as members of premier orchestras around the globe. CIM’s Preparatory and Continuing Education division offers an outlet for music creativity and exploration to more than 1,300 students of all ages. Annually, CIM presents more than 400 music events for the Northeast Ohio community, many are free of charge. cim.edu
About The Cleveland Museum of Natural History
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, incorporated in 1920, is one of the finest institutions of its kind in North America. It is noted for its collections, research, educational programs and exhibits. The collections encompass more than 5 million artifacts and specimens, and research of global significance focuses on 10 natural science disciplines. The Museum conserves biological diversity through the protection of more than 5,500 acres of natural areas. It promotes health education with local programs and distance learning that extends across the globe. Its GreenCityBlueLake Institute is a center of thought and practice for the design of green and sustainable cities. www.cmnh.org
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