This Spring, There Are Multiple Exciting Design Showcases in the 1313 South Gallery — Check Them Out!
This spring, there are three exhibits to look forward to in the 1313 Gallery. Graphic design student Samantha Winward shares her experience with synesthesia in "Thursdays Taste Like Lemons." Student Mikayla Johnson is showcasing her capstone for the Illustration BFA, entitled “The Most Boring Cake in the World!!” Lastly, in "From My Family's Table," Katelyn Wilson takes viewers on a journey of nostalgia and comfort food that will surely tempt your taste buds. Learn more about each exhibit below.
Samantha Winward
Q: Could you explain the process behind your exhibit?
Winward: This exhibit, entitled “Thursdays Taste Like Lemons,” brings you into my world of synesthesia — a world where numbers have personalities, sounds evoke colors and words produce flavors. Through a series of interactive experiences and 3D printed models, the participant receives a small taste of what it is like to experience the neurological phenomenon called synesthesia (a blending of the senses).
The models featured in this exhibit represent the first eleven synesthetic characters inspired by my personal synesthetic experiences with Ordinal Linguistic Personification synesthesia (numbers to characters). Each model captures the likeness of the numbers 0–10, and was made to show the world what I see.
Q: What are you hoping that visitors gain from this experience?
Winward: My hope is that visitors will engage with the models and other interactive stations so as to help gain an understanding of Synesthesia, and show the importance of recognizing perspectives that are unlike our own.
Mikayla Johnson
Q: Could you tell me a little bit about your showcase?
Johnson: “The Most Boring Cake in the World!!” is a pitch that I can give to potential agents and publishers for a children's book. During the last few years, I have become convinced of the importance of telling entertaining stories for their own sake — not everything needs to be about a deep moral or important message (though those are great too!).
Q: What inspired this project?
Johnson: This is my capstone show for the illustration bachelor’s. I thought a lot about what I loved to see in books when I was a child, and also what delights me in children's books now; I put as much of all of that in as possible. The result is a little silly, and I am not sure I can tell you what it teaches you, but it is a lot of fun.
Katelyn Wilson
Q: What is your show about and what does it mean to you?
Wilson: The name of my show is "From My Family's Table." This body of work explores the connection between food and heritage by capturing the stories of my family recipes, along with the people that made them important to me. More than just a collection of recipes and instructions, this project is a journey into the traditions that have been passed down through generations on both sides of my family.
Q: Why was this project especially important to you?
Wilson: Throughout my life, food has played a central role in family gatherings, celebrations and traditions, making it a common symbol of connection and love. Memories of familiar foods, picking lemons from my grandparents' tree, sleepovers with cousins and blowing out the candles on childhood birthday cakes inspired this project. I wanted to capture the stories behind the meals I grew up with, and record these memories in a tangible way before they fade into something that I do not remember as vividly.
Q: How do you think other viewers can relate to this project?
Wilson: While the images portray my own family recipes, I sought to recreate a tangible sense of nostalgia, inviting viewers to reflect on their own experiences and the emotional ties to the foods that have shaped their lives. Each image aims to be more than a depiction of food — each is a portrait of family history and a tribute to the hands that prepared these meals.
Check out the 1313 South Gallery in the West Campus Building to learn more about these showcases!