‘Nomadic Studio’ presentation set for Thursday in Columbus

By
Jana Wiersema
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Tony Vasquez, left, films as Indiana University architecture student Jacquelyn Brice demonstrates how to use motion sensors to activate a series of light bars on the side of the J. Irwin Miller School of Architecture building that faces Second Street in Columbus, Ind., Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. People can stand on with side of the installation and essentially play a game where they move the lights back and forth by tripping the sensors. Mike Wolanin | The Republic

COLUMBUS, Ind. — Members of the public will soon have a chance to hear about architecture students and faculty members’ experiences studying abroad in Europe.

The American Institute of Architects Indianapolis Section is hosting a public discussion, titled “The Nomadic Studio Begins” at 6 p.m. tonight in the former Republic building on Second Street. According to a release from Indiana University’s J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program, advance registration is required and available at Eventbrite. There is no cost to attend.

Per the event description, the session will be led by Director of Graduate Studies T. Kelly Wilson and Associate Professor Daniel Martinez.

“Students, Wilson and Martinez will share their experiences, recollections and lessons learned while in Berlin and Rome,” said organizers.

A gallery of sketches and drawings from both students and instructors will be on display throughout the former Republic building. Following the session, there will be a happy hour at Upland Columbus Pump House.

According to Wilson, international travel is an important part of the graduate program that was put on hold amid the pandemic.

Now that travel restrictions have been lifted, Martinez and 13 students were recently able to spend four weeks in Rome and four weeks in Berlin during the first half of the 2022 spring semester. Wilson accompanied the group for part of their trip, as he has nearly 30 years’ experience of teaching about Rome.

The students’ second half of the semester will include designing a building that could be located in either city and also creating a studio art project that is a “consequence of their experiences in those cities,” said Wilson.

T. Kelly Wilson, director of Indiana University’s J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program, listens as prospective students introduce themselves during an open house for students interested in attending the J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program at the old Republic building in Columbus, Ind., Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019. Mike Wolanin | The Republic Mike Wolanin | The Republic

He added that the Nomadic Studio is meant to imbue students with the lifelong practice of visiting and drawing different buildings, spaces and art from other cultures “to collect ideas useful for your own design projects.”

“We are packrats, architects,” Wilson said. “We tend to collect a lot of different concepts from all over the place, and that’s how you learn to invent.”

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