Art and Design Commons^™

Building Coleus Academy, Janessa Unseld

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Coleus Academy, a nonprofit e-learning platform, has been created to address the deficits left by the de-emphasis and, at times, outright omission of practical skill-centric education in American curriculums. There exists a gap between the degree of knowledge necessary to engage with adult life and the extent of that knowledge that is actually possessed by emerging adults. Prominent legislations are among the numerous efforts to address this issue. However, there is a deeply fractured market where resources are proving too expensive, too sparse, or hyper-specific to the point of limited usability. Compounded with disparities in when, where, and to whom …

The Oceans Above Us: An Augmented Reality Experience, Chris Nalani Dimeo

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Augmented reality holds the potential to be the new fabric of our everyday lives.

Also known as AR, augmented reality is any technology that superimposes graphical information over a real-world environment, whether it be through a smartphone screen or visually projected onto the environment. Though it has existed in various forms for decades, augmented reality development is still widely considered the work of experts in technology-related fields.

In November 2019, however, Adobe unveiled a new augmented reality development platform, Project Aero, along with boasts that the app’s intuitive design and integration with other Adobe programs would place AR creation into …

Perception: Exploring Cognition And Consciousness Through Visual Art, Summer Shepherd

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The concept of consciousness has perplexed humankind for thousands of years. Countless scientists, philosophers, and artists have devoted their lifetimes to solving humanity’s questions about our relationship with the world we live within. The creative arts, such as music, theater, and visual art, can facilitate critical thinking and meaningful interpersonal communication. This paper explores the visual artwork of the author, Sunny Shepherd, through examination of historical and contemporary artistic influences on the work, as well as the psychological and philosophical concepts that fuel it. Months of research, planning, and creating went into the manifestation of the final exhibition, Metamorphosis , …

Through Children's Eyes: Teaching Inclusivity And Understanding Of Communication Disorders With Children's Books, Rachel Peavler

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

“Through Children’s Eyes” is a series of children’s books that focus on describing different aspects of four different communication disorders. The topics covered in the books include augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), dementia, and dysfluency. The illustrations were drawn and colored by hand, and the text and background were added digitally. The goal of this project was to create materials to effectively inform and instruct children about the nature of various cognitive, speech, and developmental differences to foster greater understanding of and tolerance towards people with communication differences.

A Thousand Words: Celebrating The Power Of Visual Language In Picture Books, Emilie Gill

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

In a culture which depends heavily on verbal and written communication to satisfactorily interact with our peers, communicative formats such as picture books are often categorized as being accessible only for immature audiences who cannot understand text without the assistance of pictures. The assumption that these ‘children’s stories’ do not contain intellectually stimulating messages can result in many voices and perspectives going unrealized. On the contrary, successful picture books combine multiple language techniques through text, image, color, and style to portray often daunting themes and emotions to a range of audiences who might not have received them or accepted them …

The Fine Arts In Architecture: Creation Of The Wku College Of Fine Arts, Austin Young

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Over the years, the fine arts have served as the embodiment of a cultures beliefs and practices. From Art and Music to Language and Communications, the fine arts have shaped the way we interact and live our daily lives. Architecture is considered one of the many fine arts. Architecture has served as a physical monument of the representation of these ideals. Many artistic principles such as rhythm and repetition are prevalent in the detail orientation of architecture, and other principles such as performance and expression, showcase the beauty behind design that influences people’s thoughts and feelings. This research will establish …

Perspectives Of Italian Fresco: Creation And Conservation, Sarah Linder

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The purpose of this study is to survey the history of Italian fresco technique and tradition and modern conservation practices employed to preserve works. Fresco, a medium used by masters, such as Michelangelo, is a method of painting directly onto wet plaster. This method incorporates pigment and surface as one. This project analyzes the most prevalent examples of traditional fresco found in Pompeii and nearby villas in Boscoreale, Italy. Since their discovery, these locations have undergone and continue to exist under varying conservation projects. In order to further the study of modern conservation techniques, I attended the Ortolan Studio in …

All Is Fair In Love And War: An Exploration Of The History, Tactics, And Current Status Of The Guerrilla Girls, Elise Blankenship

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Founded as a response to a lack of female artists in an exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art, the Guerrilla Girls have been an active voice in the art world for over thirty years. The Guerrilla Girls have a history that is filled with both internal and external power struggles and issues of having one’s voice heard on a variety of platforms. When successful in having their voices heard, the Guerrilla Girls use several tactics. The Gorilla masks, the overtly feminine clothing, and the use of the names of dead female artists and juxtaposed with the use of verified …

Integrating Art Into The Classroom: A Necessary Component Of A Well-Rounded Education, Kate Latham

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This thesis includes a combination of research and visual arts integration lesson plans. Research covers the benefits of exposure to the visual. Lesson plans were specifically designed for the core content area subjects: English/language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Each of these lessons was designed to meet local and national standards for the core content area and for visual arts. Additionally, each lesson plan includes a component of art production. This thesis can be utilized by a variety of individuals, including educators who strive to incorporate art into their classrooms. The research aspect can be utilized by those struggling …

Stitched Past, Sawyer Smith

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

“Stitched Past” tells the stories of vulnerable women in Lima, Peru. Despite the emotional and physical impacts of poverty, the women seek mentorship, education, and job security through Krochet Kids International. Krochet Kids, a U.S.-based non-profit organization, offers women in Peru and Uganda the opportunity to create knitwear to be sold online. In addition to gaining a new job and skill, the women receive counseling, affordable childcare, and supportive community. Krochet Kids approaches empowerment from a holistic perspective. The mentors encourage growth in five categories: financial, intellectual, physical, social, and psychological. This model of personal development ensures that the women …

Game Specific Approaches To Monte Carlo Tree Search For Dots And Boxes, Jared Prince

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

In this project, a Monte Carlo tree search player was designed and implemented for the child’s game dots and boxes, the computational burden of which has left traditional artificial intelligence approaches like minimax ineffective. Two potential improvements to this player were implemented using game-specific information about dots and boxes: the lack of information for decision-making provided by the net score and the inherent symmetry in many states. The results of these two approaches are presented, along with details about the design of the Monte Carlo tree search player. The first improvement, removing net score from the state information, was proven …

Geekreformation.Com, Jacob Leonhardt

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Several years back, my best friend and I were discussing how there seemed to be no outlets for Christian geeks to enjoy being geeks without having to worry about inappropriate content. As there did not seem to be a place, we thought we should make one. Fast-forward to my senior year at Western Kentucky University, I am an Interactive Design major, and my friend has graduated with a degree in Film and Marketing; and what was once just conversation has now become a reality. This work explains what Geek Reformation is and how we went about branding and designing it. …

Hidden Wku: Abstract Photography As A Tool For Discovery, Logan Houchens

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

As Western Kentucky University has become a larger and more professional international school, its outward appearances have been polished to be more attractive. This creative research project focuses on appreciating the stark contrasts, visual characteristics, and beautifully authentic areas of campus that have persisted through this systematic cleaning. The result is a “reverse showcase” of the university, which aims to appreciate what is not normally considered to be attractive or worthy of attention. This project was created through the medium of abstract photography resulting in a collection of images that focus on unusual textures, colors, and shapes. These images will …

The Language Of Fashion: Communication, Conceptual Clothing, And The Runway Performance, Jarred Johnson

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Scholars have long neglected the study of fashion as anything other than a socioeconomic and cultural phenomena that reflects the more substantial political and historical zeitgeist of a time period. This study takes up Gilles Lipovetsky’s plea for a “theoretical facelift” of the study of fashion. Using an original theoretical framework that delineates the communicative structures of fashion as fabric, drape, and accessory, this work analyzes the conceptual meaning of runway performances by designers Alexander McQueen and Marc Jacobs. Though conceptual fashion shows are often described as spectacles intended to stir up a label’s recognition and ultimately bolster sales, the …

Seeing The Sacred, Emily Potter

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Seeing the Sacred is a multidisciplinary arts project exploring the purposes of sacred art and its relationship with community identity. The project highlights three common purposes of sacred art: to represent a worldview, to express identities as members of a community, and to connect with something bigger than ourselves. This Capstone Experience/Thesis Project developed through an intersection of three primary interests: visual art, community engagement, and religious studies. This project includes an overview of the CE/T’s origins and evolution, a written analysis of research goals and experiences, a review of relevant literature, a series of related artwork, and a collaborative …

Spring 2015 Apparel Line: Refined Simplicity, Rachael Y. Misiuta

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Valuing in the billions of dollars, the fashion market is one of the biggest industries in the world and most of that money doesn’t come from selling a few couture pieces to wealthy clientele, but from selling hundreds of thousands of more reasonably priced pieces to the masses. This paper is not meant as a business plan on how to penetrate the market, but rather it seeks to answer the question, “will this apparel line sell?” While creating these designs, the target market was kept in mind and what these potential customers are looking for: simple designs that are easy …

The Advertising Toolbox: Principles Synthesized And Simplified, Rachael Fusting

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This paper is a supplementary text to Duct Tape Advertising: The Quick Fix Solution to Your Promotion Problems. It serves to further cite the sources of the guide’s claims and elaborate on their importance to the field of advertising. Reasons for the creation and design of the guide are analyzed and justified.

White Space: An Overlooked Element Of Design, Samantha Coates

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

There are many different elements used to enhance visual appeal in Advertising and Graphic design. While all elements of design are important, arranging all of these components effectively, affects the overall visual appeal to viewers. The use of space may be thought of as the single, most important element of design. How things are arranged contributes to how effective an advertisement is to its audience. While space is important, it is also vastly taken for granted, specifically in the form of “white space.” Whitespace is important to visual appeal in many ways. This includes readability, viewer perception of brand image, …

Visual Tension In Graphic Design, Raven Heinstein

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

My thesis explores the use of visual tension in various graphic design areas and works. It delves into the purposes of creating visual tension and in which instances it can be most effective, as well as most ineffective. It discusses the use and creation of visual tension with design hierarchy, rhythm and dynamics, symmetry and asymmetry, negative and positive space, color relationships, and typographical design. I will define visual tension, discuss its relevance and significance, and show informative examples. I'm using mainly secondary research in the form of textbooks and examples by other designers, but I have also included a …

Painting Connections, Wesley Miller

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Painting Connections consists of five sections. This includes four essays, one of which introduces my work, and three that explore, at greater length, different influences on my work. The final section is composed of plates with images of my drawings, paintings, and prints. The Introduction briefly outlines the three essays that follow, as well as gives a brief overview of how the project was conceived. The Initial Shock explores how South African contemporary artist William Kentridge has influenced my thinking about art and development of imagery. Daydreams: Learning from Gaston Bachelard and Neo Rauch delves deeper into the roles that …

"Lord Keep Us Safe This Night": Religious Imagery In Depression-Era Rural Quilts, Kelsey N. Mattingly

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This thesis investigates specific quilts from rural areas during the Depression era in relation to their religious imagery. Databases from the Kentucky Historical Society, International Quilt Study Center and Museum and the Quilt Index provide records of assessment. This analysis focuses on religious imagery in quilts, but I will look at the religious communities that collectively created them with a specific attention to the roles that church groups and the practice of group quilting played in their productions. I will present the resulting analysis drawn from my written work to uncover why certain quilts exhibited religious imagery where others did …

“East Meets West”: Symphony Television Production, Nathanael Hovee

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

“East Meets West”: Symphony Television Production is a multi-camera broadcasting project covering WKU Symphony’s live performance titled “East Meets West” in Van Meter Hall on March 16, 2012. The project involved recording the WKU Symphony’s ninety-minute live performance using seven professional high-definition cameras throughout the auditorium and directing camera operators from the television control booth. The footage from each camera was synced in post-production and edited down for regional broadcast and distribution. The final video includes a majority of the pieces presented during the performance on March 16, as well as brief informative interviews with members of the WKU Symphony. …

An Investigation Of The Intersection Between Art And Activism, Emily Wilcox

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Art has social relevance and is effective as a means of activism. Current social and environmental crises make art-based activism especially relevant today. There are problems with prevailing views on art, which prevent many artists from seeing themselves as agents of change. Therefore, some established views on art need to shift in order for artists to become more empowered. Ways of utilizing art for activism are many and varied. Activism is often approached with attitudes that are problematic and ineffective. An art-based approach is a positive alternative because it stimulates empathy. Empathy is necessary to achieve social and environmental justice. …

Self Definition, Erin Westfall

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

No abstract provided.

Steinbeck's Portraits Of Prostitutes: Progression Of An Author's Vision, Rhonda Jenkins

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

No abstract provided.