Graduating digital media art students show their best work at Gala

By Jenee Gregor

Staff Writer

WCC sends graduates each year into many different design fields. Each year these graduates showcase their work in the Digital Media Arts Annual Student Gala in hopes of creating connections and potentially landing a job.

Graphic design, photography, 3-D animation and digital video graduating students displayed their work at the Gala in the Morris Lawrence building last Wednesday, April 27.

“These students work all semester to show their work at the end,” said Ingrid Ankerson, Digital Media Arts Department co-chair. “Each area has reviewers from the industry.”

The reviewers work in the fields and can offer helpful advice for students heading out into the world after college is over, or while transferring. This opportunity allows the students to get exposure and experience displaying their work.

They can give out resumes, give feedback, and connect with employers and people in the field, Ankerson mentioned.

Each student had their own set-up on tables around the lobby, except the video and animation displays taking place in other rooms.

At a table with jewelry and large structures of empty bottles and large printed photographs, Shady Katie, or Katie McCormick displayed her work she created while attending WCC the past three years for photographic technology and business.

“The opportunity they provide to make it easy to access what you need, the staff is so kind, cooperative and unbiased about what you do with your work,” McCormick said, talking about the benefits of attending school at WCC. “I couldn’t have afforded this set-up if it wasn’t for them and the inexpensive printing.”

McCormick will be displaying her artwork at the Coffee Bean in Plymouth for the month of July, taking her work to the next step and bringing it to the public.

John Dykstra, a graduating photo technology student showed his photos with his unique techniques. He uses a style called, “anamorphic illusion,” where he uses paint instead of Photoshop on his work.

“You’re going through this to see your vision and to use proper technique,” said Dykstra, talking about the classes and program. Dykstra also mentioned about learning how to connect with the audience and have a social media presence to create and maintain a following.

John Dykstra will be displaying his art at Galerie Camille in Detroit  in September.

Matt Zacharias, a digital arts and business and computer technologies faculty member, narrated the 3-D animation students’ projects and short clips.  He talked about student Ben Baker’s clip of created work.

“Ben used a ‘dynamics engine’ that uses forces to create art,” Zacharias said.

He explained a little about the work that went into creating these clips as the slides continued.

“Dillion Kilroy created video game environments,” said Zacharias, which were an airplane cockpit and detailed depiction of a dim, dingy room.

Matt Lang, a reviewer for the graphic design student section of the Gala, is a part-time graphic design instructor.

“I was really impressed. The program is producing top-notch work,” said Lang. “They have a good grasp on fundamentals with their own spin. All I have reviewed are ready for the next step.”

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