Patrons look at Judith Leiber Handbags's collection on the second floor in the Shaftman Gallery. Held in the "arms" of an off-white colored tree-like sculpture are orbs which hold clutches and other accessories in the shapes of a piece of candy, a rose and a monkey's head. Each piece has been decorated with tiny crystals that sparkle in the light.
Junior computer science major Sabrina Kilian collaborated on an art project that is now being exhibited in the same museum as works by Norman Rockwell and Jasper Johns. The museum is Roanoke's newest addition to the art community, the Taubman Museum of Art.
Kilian and a group of artists, musicians and computer scientists of the Digital Art Research Collective at Virginia Tech have created an electronic arts exhibition, titled "Revo:over," which is currently displayed in the MediaLab on the second floor of the museum.
"Revo:over" is a work that reveals itself through participation. There are five works of art inside the dark room that is the MediaLab. Each work of art interacts with the others and responds to actions including touch, motion, sound and silence.
Kilian contributed to the "Dome Garden" part of Revo. The Dome Garden looks like half a dome that has been placed on top of a cylinder. The dome is made out of skylight glass and measures approximately four feet across. Inside the dome are digital fish that "swim" to whoever happens to be moving over the glass.
Kilian began working on this project this past summer.
"I've been thrilled to work on it," Kilian said, who went to the Taubman's opening day. "I have a piece in a museum opening. It's going to be one of those days I hold onto for a long time."
Kilian was responsible for the technical aspect of the project and wrote code for Flash player to create the fish program and said while this code isn't the longest she's ever written, it was the most challenging. There's a camera positioned above the dome that sends a signal to the fish telling them to swim if the camera senses movement.
On the museum's opening day, Kilian watched as people interpreted the dome in different ways. She said there is no correct interpretation.
"I think it's about gesture," Kilian said of the art project. "...People want to understand art. People say they get art. I don't know if this has an 'it.'"
Kilian worked alongside Simone Paterson, an assistant professor of new media, to create the finished dome. Paterson taught Kilian and asked her to come on board after seeing her work.
Paterson worked on the concept design, 3D modeling and graphics as well as the sound and music of the dome. The concept of the dome comes from rock pools that are found in Paterson's native country, Australia.
"Looking into a rock pool is like looking into a different world," Paterson said.
Paterson created the 3D fish and had to keep the fish simple so as not to overload the computer with information. She also supplied music for the dome. When the dome senses movement, you can hear the sound of Paterson playing the harp. She said the process of creating the dome was both challenging and enjoyable.
"This is a world-class venue. It's crazy it's here in Roanoke," Paterson said of the museum. "I think it will improve the profile of art in the area. Boost the art economy. Think of a place like New York where arts invigorate the community. They increase the value of the property. Art can do a lot for a community."
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