STORY BY HANNAH KAMPITAN, DIGITAL EDITOR
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY HANNAH KAMPITAN, DIGITAL EDITOR
Cypress College’s Media Arts Design (MAD) Department had its second projection mapping show, Illuminated Visions 2.0, on Nov. 7, 2024, with designs from artists internationally and locally–including students in the MAD program. With the help of Panasonic projectors and sponsorships with Synesthesia and GarageCube, art pieces were mapped out to project on three campus buildings: the college tower, the Theatre Arts building, and the Wedge on the CCCPLX building. The MAD department is the first to offer projection mapping education among the community colleges in America; the department handled the mapping process and gave students creative freedom with their pieces.
The event was organized by Kati Angelov, a professor and the Chair of the MAD department. Before the event began, performances from the campus dance department, interactive selfie stations, projection installations, and free food were available for attendees. Before the event’s date, Angelov’s team of four sent out an open call for submissions. There wasn’t a specific theme for participants to abide by; however, submissions required original audio and visuals to prevent copyright violations. Since it was a family-friendly event, messages of violence and discrimination on the submission were prohibited as well.
“We received art from all over the world; we did an open call on international forums,” Angelov said, “we provided artists with a 3D model and asked them to design art for [the Wedge and the Tower’s] certain shapes. This was our idea to show people what digital media can look like, and how it can transform a building’s appearance.”
Brian B. Decker, one of the participating artists in the show, said that he used a variety of elements in the creative process behind his piece, “Traffic Melt Subway Whistle.”
“My project is derived from footage I shot in traffic and in streets, as well as water. I’m colliding different textures to show a more natural and organic tone versus machine or artificial.”
The title of every piece, the artist’s social media, and the artist’s country were projected on the left or top of their visual. Projections on the Wedge, different from the Tower, presented QR codes adjacent to the visual; audience members had the opportunity to refer to an artist’s portfolio or personal websites.
Rudy Bonilla, a third-year student majoring in 2D animation, hopes the MAD department hosts more projection mapping events.
“It’s so colorful, beautiful, and surreal. It’s great that students can show their creative talents.”Illuminated Visions 2.0 provided students, faculty, and the general community a free look into what the MAD’s projection mapping program is capable of.
