Animation as Art

Showcase of UTD Talent on campus and in Lubbock

The experimenta.l. lab was invited to showcase the work of its student-collaborators at the Museum of Texas Tech University in Lubbock in an exhibition titled “Animation as Art: A Multisensory Experience” in Spring 2024. Drs. Jorgelina Orfila, Francisco Ortega (Associate Professors at Texas Tech), and Christine Veras, (UT Dallas Assistant Professor), are co-curating the exhibition “Animation as Art: A Multi-Sensory Experience,” which will be held at the Museum of Texas Tech University in Spring-Summer 2024.

The exhibition aims to offer the public the opportunity to encounter animation as an experimental artistic practice and as a multi-sensory experience within and through the intersections between science and magic, the tangible and digital, arts and crafts, and technology. Animation is a cross-disciplinary practice that can also use techniques traditionally associated with the plastic arts (sculpture, drawing, painting, design) to create animated films.

The works presented here were developed in some cases for over a year, and some of the pieces were specially conceived for the 2024 show in Lubbock. In October 2023, we presented the work-in-progress version of the exhibits at the AHT Gallery to test and gather public feedback. The results were successful and the pieces were implemented. Below are the construction and behind-the-scenes images of the student progress and photos of the test exhibition, followed by an overview of each piece.

UTD students Eesha Muddasani, Nick Mahoney, Zarah Najmi, Katherine Norris, and Mickey Dolphin are featured here. Discover their process and the work they will be presenting in Lubbock in 2024.

Eesha Muddasani

Title: Bee Phenakistiscope (2022-2023)

Materials/Techniques: Animation in Procreate and After Effects, Laser Cutter Files in Illustrator, black poster board, clear acrylic, plywood, metal, and torch light.

This animation of a bumblebee flying around flowers is based on the bumblebee in the Texas Tech University Museum natural history collection. Inspired by shadow puppets and paper cut-out artists, I combined paper cut-out animation with a phenakistoscope to make an animated shadow. I enjoy the intricate patterns and small details in paper cut-out art, so I implemented those techniques in my design. I also wanted to incorporate a round Texas flower that bumblebees pollinate, so I chose firewheels for my animation.

Instructions: Turn on the flashlight and then turn the knob to spin the disks. Spin the disks clockwise for forward motion and counterclockwise for backward motion.

Details: My project involves using a light to cast a clear shadow. I would try using a directional light if the museum has or can provide one, but if that does not work, I will use a flashlight attached to the mic stand, as seen below. Measurements of my project are provided in the images below, and the podium is about 10 inches from the wall. The distance from the wall might be adjusted depending on the light source. Ideally, my piece will be in a dark room so that the shadow on the wall can be visible and clear.

Nick Mahoney

Title: Hummingbird Travels West (2022-2023)

Materials/Techniques: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After Effects, Glass Panel.

Every March, the hummingbirds come out for the Spring, traveling from Dallas to Lubbock this time! Follow the bird as it travels through these two cities and watch closely for other moving elements in the background. This piece uses a form of animated optical illusion known as lenticular printing. The method of creating lines from drawings that fit within a gap of strategically placed black bars is intriguing and fun to create and play with. The piece took several prototypes of tinkering with the black bar thickness, changing and rearranging background details, ultimately culminating in this fun, rewarding optical animation.

Instructions:  Slowly move the front panel over the background and watch for moving parts!

“Working on this unique and special exhibition over the past year has been such an honor. The environment that Dr. Christine Veras provided was a great space to toss around ideas and give each other different critiques to improve the quality of our projects. My Lenticular bird project has gone through many different stages and has required a lot of trial and error but eventually led to a project I’m incredibly proud of working on.  Being able to go to Lubbock and seeing the launch of the exhibit would be a once in a lifetime moment for me and the other students. A pivotal moment in my tenure at UTD that feels well deserved after working with the lab and this project for over a year. Seeing how different people interact with the project and explain to attendees my work is something that I would not only enjoy as the creator of the piece, but also be able to learn from and get the proper resources for my future work out of.” Nick

Zarah Najmi

Title: Mockingbird Family Portrait (2023)

Materials: Polymer clay, acrylic paint, Flipbookit, Procreate, matboard, marker.

This project aims to show a snapshot of the life of a family of mockingbirds, the state bird of Texas. This snapshot shows a mother bird stretching her wings as she looks for food for her babies so close to hatching. Under the cover of their tree’s branches, a caterpillar takes cover from the mother’s prying eyes—a lovely family portrait.
The mother bird’s body is sculpted to incorporate some of my love of working with clay. For the backdrop, I wanted to incorporate some of my culture by taking inspiration from mehndi/henna designs. Finally, the flipbook boxes give a level of interactivity to the whole piece.

Katherine Norris

Title: Garden Knock (2023)

Materials: Upholstery foam, wire, wool roving, needle felting needle, cotton fabric, needle and thread, small hook and eyes, lace, ribbon, fabric dye, fake grass, hot glue, nuts and bolts, epoxy, lights, camera, dragon frame

The concept for this work is based on the juxtaposition between an animal commonly associated with trash and disease, a possum, and the opulent gowns of the Edwardian era. I also wanted to play with the animalistic trait of opossums about how they play dead and how that could play within the social norms of the Edwardian era of strict social rules. This idea was solidified with the Texas Tech Museum dress that was gorgeous and set the scene at a garden party where ladies would chat and play croquet. In the short, someone off-screen hits a ball too hard, and Daisy, the opossum, thinks nothing of it and gets hit with the ball. She then has to play off her natural reaction of playing dead and go back to conversing after collecting herself as if nothing happened. The Edwardian era is seen as very stiff, so seeing someone dressed in the attire acting in an unexpected way helps bring back life and relatability to something that seems so far from modernity. With the display, we wanted to show people behind the scenes in stop motion how everything isn’t perfect out of the shot. And how you can see hidden techniques like the bolts in her feet that can be seen under the stage that keep her standing and still when being animated. 

“It was amazing to be in a room with my peers, getting insight into my abilities, and the assistance I needed to bring my ideas to life. When we did the test exhibition, it was amazing to interact with people and hear what our art reminded them of. To see people’s faces when they got to control their experience with the works of art. Seeing how the public views our work is not something that a student gets to experience often, if ever. Having fellow students and professors interact with our work was unique enough, so I can’t imagine how helpful the general public, people from all walks of life and ages, would be. It would be truly a once in a lifetime event for me to see.” Katherine

Mickey Dolphin

Title: Fiery Searcher in the Leaves (2023)

Materials: Cardstock, washable marker, and cellophane (for the beetle), cardboard, acrylic, and glass (for the kaleidoscope), Dragonframe (for the animation).

A brief animation of a caterpillar hunter beetle, also known as a fiery searcher or calosoma scrutator (its scientific name), scuttling through the autumn underbrush. This little beetle is hunting for a meal as the weather gets steadily colder.
Caterpillar hunters are a plentiful species of ground beetle native to north Texas, and they fascinate me to no end! The hard shells covering their wings, called elytra, can sport an array of colors, including green, blue, violet, gold, and red. While searching for an insect to use as a subject for my animation, the bright colors on the aptly named fiery searcher caught my eye, and I immediately fell in love with it. I wanted people to view this beetle’s walk cycle through a kaleidoscope to emphasize the hypnotic colors they often sport. I’ve always been interested in the anatomy of different animal species, so I took up taxidermy as a hobby during the pandemic. I wanted to blend that curiosity with my passion for animation as an art form, which is the result so far.

Instructions: Carefully hold the kaleidoscope to view the screen and watch what happens as the beetle passes across it.

“Working with experimenta.l to create this piece of art has been a dream come true. I originally joined this project not knowing exactly what I wanted to do — only knowing that I wanted to create something. The result of working alongside my peers to craft something that I’m proud of has been so rewarding! I love art and I love animals (the stranger the better), so being able to combine both of those passions into one cohesive experience makes me extraordinarily happy. I sincerely hope that viewers enjoy interacting with my piece, and maybe come away knowing a little more about this beetle than they did previously. Perhaps they’ll be lucky enough to encounter the real deal someday!” Mickey

Coming soon: Crowdfunding campaign to help us bring the artists to the grand opening in Lubbock, where they’ll personally present their incredible creations to the public. Support the journey and be a part of this artistic adventure!

Check here the feedback the students received from the public who attended our test exhibition:

To support these students’ journey to present their work in Lubbock, consider donating to their crowdfunding campaign: https://impact.utdallas.edu/project/40780