Skip to main content

Graduate student finds new ways to exhibit art through virtual art gallery

Virtual art gallery image

Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art graduate student Nicole James has been spending her time quarantined playing the popular world-building game Animal Crossing.

Due to in-person exhibitions moving online, James, a studio art major, wanted to come up with a way to continue to share and exhibit art. Animal Crossing has allowed her to curate shows and have receptions where the artists and anyone interested can come together to view and discuss art.

Animal Crossing is a video game series that allows players to create custom designs that can be used as wallpaper, flooring and various other customizable objects. Players can also input original pieces via QR code. 

“I started by drawing a very basic curvilinear pattern,” said James. “I used grid paper to convert it to squares that could easily be input in Animal Crossing’s designer. I then took that image and converted it to a machine embroidery pattern, embroidered it on a physical surface, photographed it and used a website to convert the photo back into an Animal Crossing design which I imported via QR code and hung as a canvas in the gallery.”

Virtual art gallery

James plans to have a video chat with the artists involved on her Crossing Gallery Facebook page for anyone that is interested in attending the in-game gallery.

“I’m looking forward to bringing artists and art enthusiasts together in a gallery setting while still maintaining physical distance,” said James. “I love art events, talking about art, viewing art and if I can share even one bit of this passion with others I’ll be happy.”

James wants to continue this process in the future, and hopes to expand the gallery’s reach by doing a juried exhibition or themed shows.

For more information about how to access the exhibition visit https://www.facebook.com/CrossingsGallery.

Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers 141 degree programs serving more than 26,000 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.

Share:

Posted in Press Releases