Computational Arts Circle (CAC)

Example of CAC events in 2016-2017

Computational Arts Circle (CAC) is an innovative learning experience at Purdue Polytechnic Institute that comprises humanities seminars and unstructured studio work modules. Faculty provide mentoring on a weekly basis for students working on creative projects at the intersections of art, science, humanities and technology. At the CAC, we focus on the concept of “Computational Art” - the integrating of art and technology as a thematic inspiration for creativity. The group facilitates open-ended interdisciplinary explorations with no curricular outcomes or deadlines tied to a grade. We guide complete creative research projects engaging our community in divergent and convergent thinking processes. CAC students explore their practice and understand it from a sociocultural, historical and philosophical perspective. Students voluntarily chose to participate and attend the weekly humanities seminars followed by personal or group studio time. Overall, CAC is a learning community meeting weekly for 3 to 4 hours during the academic year for the past year and a half. Most students are in Computer Graphics Technology because that’s where we have advertised the most. However, because word of mouth, students from other departments and colleges are now members.

Modules

We deliver 2 types of learning experiences: Seminars and Studio. The seminars are in diverse humanities topics (specifically history, philosophy, art and design) and sprinkled on the calendar between Studio experiences. During the studio time, students develop artistic projects inspired by the themes from the seminars. The goal of the mentors (Matt Wallace, Esteban Garcia) is to help develop student portfolios and coach them on the creative process for a project to be installed on a yearly public exhibit.

View of the CAC student exhibit in 2017 at the Bindery Studios Gallery in Lafayette, IN

Sticker designs by CAC students from Fall 2017

CAC field trip to the Murakami show at the MCA in Chicago