The third edition of Disrupt is finally here–Herberger Institute highlights from December 2020
Disrupt
As we begin a new year, we invite you to take a look back at the 2019–20 academic year and get a preview of what will be coming in the next year, as showcased in the pages of Disrupt, Herberger Institute’s annual online publication.
What artists do
“Who wakes up every day helping people move from fear to creativity, from intolerance to curiosity, from cognitive closure to a place where you’re imagining different futures? That’s what artists do.”
Steven J. Tepper, dean and director of ASU’s Herberger Institute, talks about the state of the arts on the new podcast Hear Arizona.
Jake Skeets
Diné poet and 2020–21 Mellon Projecting All Voices Fellow Jake Skeets, who was recently featured in the December meeting of the Queer Poetry Salon, talks about his work, politics and empowerment.
“Nightmares Americana”
The Boston Globe praises School of Art alumnus Papay Solomon’s show “Nightmares Americana” at Steven Zevitas Gallery. The show was inspired by Ibram X. Kendi’s “The American Nightmare” essay about racism.
Hollywood technology
ASU film students get access to previsualization technology used in Hollywood and on projects like “The Mandalorian” through a partnership with the John Hughes Institute and the visualization studio The Third Floor.
Spotlight on giving
The New American Council for Arts and Design is a cohort of visionary investors who are passionate about arts and design in America. Promoting the central role of arts and design in public life, its mission is to leverage the global research and learning enterprise of Arizona State University to incubate ideas and scale innovation. The Council is made up of exceptional thought leaders who are co-designers in building high-impact programs to transform the work of arts and design nationally.
By the numbers
This month’s number is 200! Quaid Vuncannon spent roughly 200 hours of hands-on design and fabrication work to build a prototype model of Iron Man for his studio capstone final project this semester. “I wanted to take on a project that would best showcase the fabrication skills I’ve developed over the years as well as my interest in the entertainment industry,” said Vuncannon, a graduate student studying industrial design at The Design School. “Model making has always been a hobby of mine since I was very young. It wasn’t until a couple years ago, I realized that a career in industrial design would allow me to use my skill set to entertain and inspire others.”
Congratulations to Vuncannon and all the students in the Herberger Institute who successfully completed this semester!
In pictures
Reginald Chee, a photography student in the School of Art, wants everyone to remember when they played with toys and were only worried about having fun.
“Currently there is a worldwide pandemic,” Chee wrote in an artist statement. “It is a very hard and intense time with emotions running high. I believe now is a time when everyone needs an escape with humor.”
For a recent project, Chee used humor and toys to address the pandemic. He photographed Lego people fighting off giants, getting more straws for ASU’s saliva-based COVID-19 tests, carrying a mask and more.
