NHTI Partners with NHBCA on Augmented Reality Resource
TD Charitable Foundation Grant Supports NHBCA’s AR+ Art: Elevating Artists in Augmented Reality Initiative
CONCORD – The New Hampshire Business Committee for the Arts (NHBCA) and NHTI – Concord’s Community College have collaborated to develop an augmented reality resource for artists in the NHBCA’s App AR+ art. On Thursday, Dec. 8 from 5:30-7:30 p.m., the NHBCA and NHTI will debut Drawing Inspiration: A Resource for Artists at the NHTI campus during an Artful Networking event that is free and open to the public.
An augmented reality resource for artists that highlights the school’s art programs.
As part of a grant provided by TD Charitable Foundation, the nonprofit NHBCA is partnering with its higher education members, including NHTI to produce an augmented reality experience that highlights the school’s art programs. Drawing Inspiration: A Resource for Artists is a collaboration between the NHBCA and the Visual Arts Department at NHTI to create an AR resource featuring 3-D objects that serve as an interactive tool for artists and students creating original two-dimensional works of art. The featured objects are foundational elements that have been utilized in classrooms and artist studios around the world for centuries.
NHBCA executive director Tricia Soule says, “Drawing Inspiration: A Resource for Artists is an ideal tool for distance learning. It allows teachers to offer online students free access to augmented reality models providing them with the experience of drawing from life no matter their location.” She explains further that by utilizing the in-app camera and video functions, artists can capture specific details of the augmented reality object for their compositions to complete assignments, engage in independent study and develop their professional portfolios.
Boosting creativity: art meets technology to create new opportunities.
Of the partnership, NHTI vice president of Academic Affairs Andrew Fisher says, “This cutting-edge approach of merging art and technology offers our students real-world experiences that will help them launch their creative careers.”
Soule is pleased at the level of enthusiasm NHTI leadership, faculty and students have brought to the project. “There are a lot of moving parts in this sort of collaboration. It’s exciting to work with the art faculty and see how engaged the students are in the experience.”
Artist and NHTI adjunct professor Thomas Devaney collaborated with the NHBCA’s app developers to create 3-D digital models of original art models created by Devaney for students to utilize in their various art courses, including Introduction to Drawing, Drawing, Life Drawing, Three-Dimensional Design and Introduction to Figural Sculpture. Three of Devaney’s students and adjunct professor of Photography Kiera Reese also contributed to the dynamic project. Reese assisted students in setting up lighting and photographing the tangible objects while Devaney taught them new technological skills using 3D modeling and design platforms to create still life compositions that have been rendered in augmented reality.
Augmented reality could narrow the gap between teachers, students and their goals.
Devaney says, “Online classes are more and more common today. Drawing Inspiration: A Resource for Artists enhances the student experience. The ability to offer them a way to recreate drawing from life – no matter their location – allows us to provide them a dynamic interaction with essential visual art elements. It is far superior to working from 2-dimensional materials.”
With augmented reality, there are no physical constraints or restrictions of space, security or installation logistics. It makes it possible for teachers and students to leverage technology as a means of learning in and out of the classroom. The NHBCA AR+ art app is available for iOS and Android devices. Download it for free on the App Store or Google Play.
To register to attend Artful Networking with NHTI go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/468694286227.
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NHTI – Concord’s Community College
NHTI is a dynamic public institution of higher learning that provides accessible, rigorous education for students, businesses, and the community. We create pathways for lifelong learning, career advancement, and civic engagement, offering 90+ academic programs to 4,600+ students annually. NHTI is a member of the Community College System of New Hampshire and since 1969 has been accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, a nongovernmental, nationally recognized accrediting agency.
Press Contact Amber Gavriluk | 603-230-4001 | agavriluk@ccsnh.edu
New Hampshire Business Committee for the Arts
The NHBCA is a nonprofit statewide membership organization that advocates for the value of the arts in economic, social and community development by facilitating people and projects that enhance engagement in the arts.
TD Charitable Foundation
The TD Charitable Foundation is a charitable giving arm of TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, one of the 10 largest commercial banking organizations in the United States. Since its inception in 2002, the Foundation has distributed over $254 million through donations to local nonprofits from Maine to Florida. More information on the TD Charitable Foundation is available at https://www.tdbank.com/corporate-responsibility/the-ready-commitment/funding-opportunities/.
