Manasa Valipa/SPPSPatrons 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.
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."
The Taubman opened Nov. 8, and students and educators alike are hoping the museum will revitalize the art world of Southwest Virginia.
T. Truman Capone, head of the school of visual arts, said he was the "producer" of Revo and supplied a space in Christiansburg so the contributing artists could lay out their work in the approximate space they would have in the Taubman.
Capone said Revo represents how art is merging with technology.
"Five years ago, that would have been a problem," Capone said of the blending. "But now traditional is mixing with contemporary and there's e-painting and drawing."
Capone said the region is becoming more "art conscience" and after 35 years in the area, he is excited to see that happen.
He also mentioned how art can be used as an educational tool.
"Collaboration deals with a big component of education," Capone said. "How do we teach art to become critical and creative thinkers?"
As far as Tech's future relationship with the museum, "We favor it," Capone said. "They have to be flexible and we have to flexible."
Kimberly S. Templeton, director of external affairs, said the museum would like to continue its relationship with Tech.
"You guys are such a resource. We are eager to develop a relationship with Tech," Templeton said. "You are designing cutting-edge stuff."
Hokie Stone is used in the interior and exterior of the Taubman, and Templeton said it was to show off the role Tech plays in Southwest Virginia.
"We are cemented to Virginia Tech through Hokie Stone," Templeton said.
She also said she'd love to see feedback from students in the form of e-mails and speaking with the Taubman's volunteers.
Virginia resident Mark Jenkins, a Tech alumnus, is one of the artists displayed in the museum.
Jenkins creates lifelike sculptures that he fashions out of packing tape and his girlfriend's clothes. He places his creations in natural settings, such as streets in places around the world, including Washington, D.C., and Prato, Italy.
One of Jenkins' sculptures had to be removed from its original location on an outdoor terrace of the Taubman because people thought there was a person precariously sitting on the edge and flooded the police with phone calls.
Jenkins said he wasn't bothered by the removal of his statue.
"Most of my pieces have a short lifespan when they are out on the street," Jenkins said.
Jenkins said his works were intentionally not given their own gallery to make viewers experience the full effect of his art.
"My pieces don't have title cards in the museum. I'm not mentioned in many of the press releases. I wanted to play with people. I wanted to catch people off guard."
His sculpture is of a man lying down in the fetal position on the floor in a corner of a gallery of 17th century Italian art wearing tennis shoes and a plaid button shirt.
The deputy director of the Taubman asked Jenkins to display his work in the Roanoke museum. Jenkins said it was nice to have a show that was located in close proximity to Blacksburg.
"They bring in a wide range of artists," Jenkins said of the museum as a whole. "This opens up a lot of room for things to grow."
Aimee Drysdale, a fifth-year senior graphic design major, was one of the 10,000 people who visited the Taubman on opening day.
Drysdale said the museum was neat and housed some unique art, including the exhibit Pens and Needles: Drawings for Tattoos.
The exhibit features different sketches for potential tattoos -- including nautical themes, such as topless women and mystical creatures such as dragons. Hung up on one wall of the gallery is various tattoo drawings that includes the work of two tattoo artists from Blacksburg's Hot Rod Tattoo.
"You don't normally recognize tattoo artists," Drysdale said.
She said she thought the museum would have more galleries. She said would make return visits if she knew there would be new art.
Drysdale said she hopes the museum would help make Tech's graphic design program more prominent.
"When I first got here, graphic design was small and no one cared about it," Drysdale said. "Maybe people will start looking at our program."
Senior art major Elyse Ward also visited the museum on opening day and said her overall impression of the museum was favorable.
"They had a variety of art," Ward said. "Hopefully, people who aren't into museums will go and see other people's art."
Ward said she liked seeing the work of more renowned artists that she was learning about in class alongside works by local artists. She has had dinner at the home of one of the artist's currently displayed in the museum.
"It's an amazing space," Ward said of the 81,000 square foot building. "The architecture was phenomenal."
When you first step inside the Taubman on the corner of Salem Avenue and Williamson Road in Roanoke, you find yourself standing in a 4,300-square-foot atrium. Above you is a triangular roof that is made out of a glass-looking material -- which allows the light from outside to fill the lobby. The first floor also houses an auditorium, café and gift shop.
The floors of the atrium are a soft brown color and the whites are white. After you visit the front desk on your right when you first walk in, there is a glass composite staircase beside the counter that leads up to the second floor of the museum. The staircase wraps around from the second floor to the first floor lobby, and when there is less light in the atrium, the stairs become gently illuminated by light underneath each step.
The walls of the second floor are bright white, except a few of the galleries -- which are painted to complement the artwork inside.
Ward said she liked the Judith Leiber Handbags's collection on the second floor. Leiber's works are displayed in the Shaftman Gallery whose walls are painted black and contrast with the bright white light of the title card near the entrance of the gallery.
When asked whether she thought the museum would bring more art to Southwest Virginia, Ward said, "One can only hope."
You might be interested in...- Photo Gallery: Warner rally in Roanoke
- Video: Obama speaks to Roanoke - Highlights
- Video: Obama's full speech in Roanoke
