New College Students put a twist on art observation

When considering a project to contribute to Realize Bradenton's 2014 ArtSlam, New College art professor Kim Anderson wanted to do more than just display art — she wanted to create an interactive experience. So, she reached out to a handful of students she thought would be interested, and together, they created drill-powered spin-art machines, which will be available for use from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 8, in downtown Bradenton, at ArtSlam.

Coordinated by Anderson and Caui Lofgren, the project incorporates a concept we've all seen before — wet paint is placed on a spinning surface, centrifugal force does its thing, and the result is a one-of-a-kind smattering of color and design that, if done correctly, can produce impressive results.

The students, Eve Burns, Fusha Mitchell, Wesley Thorp and Jeanine Tatlock, along with help from high school student volunteers, will run the booth, which will allow guests to become part of the artistic process. The students will bring their expertise and knowledge of color palettes to the project to help users create the most visually appealing projects possible.

Anderson says the project is beneficial to the students because it allows them to get out of the studio and interact with their audience — a valuable experience that artists don't always have the opportunity to do,

and she hopes it will help people realize that art is more accessible than they might think.

"Hopefully, people will get the sense that they can create art on their own," she says. "And it's easy to forget that art is really about the audience and their interaction with the work, so it's a really valuable opportunity to have your audience right in front of you, participating in the creative process."