Robot exhibit kicks off Baton Rouge animation festival
By: Abby Knight
Posted: 4/19/07
Baton Rouge is going robotic for The Red Stick International Animation Festival. LSU's Center of Computation and Technology brings the third annual festival beginning today and ending Sunday. The festival was kicked off Wednesday by Science Day, which held screenings and lectures throughout the downtown Baton Rouge area. Thursday evening is the grand opening for LSU's Museum of Art exhibition for "Invasion: Japanese Robots from the Collection of Warren Schwartz." "Warren Schwartz is one of the co-founders of Schwartz/Silver Architects," said Natalie Mault, curatorial assistant at the LSU MOA. "He was the lead architect for the Shaw Center for the Arts." Mault said the MOA learned of Schwartz's collection during the designing of the Shaw Center and decided to use his collection as an exhibit. "I traveled up to Boston in October and looked through his collection and chose the robots best for the museum," Mault said. "He has around 2,000 robots, and we chose about 200. One of the interesting things about Warren's collection is he collected man robots from many series." Mault said the Japanese robots were made during the peak of the action figures' popularity, around 1972 to 1982, and are used as inspiration for the design of his buildings. "It's one chapter in the book of animation," Mault said. "It's the tangible side of it." Mault said the exhibit is on display until Oct. 7 and is free to all students with IDs. "There is something about it that is appealing to everyone," Mault said. "It's a fun exhibit. We wanted to make is seem like the museum has been invaded by these robots." Robots aren't all you'll find at this animation festival. According to Kristen Sunde, CCT public relations manager, the festival includes animated film screenings, lectures, workshops and music events. "We began contemplating a festival during the time 'Shrek' was coming out with its use of around 30 computers," Sunde said. "It's a way for us [LSU's Center for Computation and Technology] to show how creative arts and technologies is affecting arts and entertainment." Sunde said the idea came from their sister festival "UK Anime: Tokonatshu Anime Festival," which is why many foreigners will be attending the festival. According to the Web site, the festival's family day "Cartoon-A-Palooza" will occur Saturday. "Clowns, spacewalks and cartoon images will be scattered across the lawn of the Old State Capitol on Saturday," according to the Web site. "Cartoon-a-Palooza features free screenings of kid-friendly animation. Children are invited to arrive in pajamas at the Old State Capitol at 10 a.m. to participate. Prizes will be awarded for the most creative PJs. In addition to Saturday morning cartoons, breakfast is being provided through sponsorships with local companies. Clowns will be on hand to entertain the children and to paint faces. Also, spacewalks designed to look like classic childhood cartoons will be available for jumping." Sunde said the festival is open to everyone. "We're hoping to attract a diverse audience," Sunde said.
By: Abby Knight
Posted: 4/19/07
Baton Rouge is going robotic for The Red Stick International Animation Festival. LSU's Center of Computation and Technology brings the third annual festival beginning today and ending Sunday. The festival was kicked off Wednesday by Science Day, which held screenings and lectures throughout the downtown Baton Rouge area. Thursday evening is the grand opening for LSU's Museum of Art exhibition for "Invasion: Japanese Robots from the Collection of Warren Schwartz." "Warren Schwartz is one of the co-founders of Schwartz/Silver Architects," said Natalie Mault, curatorial assistant at the LSU MOA. "He was the lead architect for the Shaw Center for the Arts." Mault said the MOA learned of Schwartz's collection during the designing of the Shaw Center and decided to use his collection as an exhibit. "I traveled up to Boston in October and looked through his collection and chose the robots best for the museum," Mault said. "He has around 2,000 robots, and we chose about 200. One of the interesting things about Warren's collection is he collected man robots from many series." Mault said the Japanese robots were made during the peak of the action figures' popularity, around 1972 to 1982, and are used as inspiration for the design of his buildings. "It's one chapter in the book of animation," Mault said. "It's the tangible side of it." Mault said the exhibit is on display until Oct. 7 and is free to all students with IDs. "There is something about it that is appealing to everyone," Mault said. "It's a fun exhibit. We wanted to make is seem like the museum has been invaded by these robots." Robots aren't all you'll find at this animation festival. According to Kristen Sunde, CCT public relations manager, the festival includes animated film screenings, lectures, workshops and music events. "We began contemplating a festival during the time 'Shrek' was coming out with its use of around 30 computers," Sunde said. "It's a way for us [LSU's Center for Computation and Technology] to show how creative arts and technologies is affecting arts and entertainment." Sunde said the idea came from their sister festival "UK Anime: Tokonatshu Anime Festival," which is why many foreigners will be attending the festival. According to the Web site, the festival's family day "Cartoon-A-Palooza" will occur Saturday. "Clowns, spacewalks and cartoon images will be scattered across the lawn of the Old State Capitol on Saturday," according to the Web site. "Cartoon-a-Palooza features free screenings of kid-friendly animation. Children are invited to arrive in pajamas at the Old State Capitol at 10 a.m. to participate. Prizes will be awarded for the most creative PJs. In addition to Saturday morning cartoons, breakfast is being provided through sponsorships with local companies. Clowns will be on hand to entertain the children and to paint faces. Also, spacewalks designed to look like classic childhood cartoons will be available for jumping." Sunde said the festival is open to everyone. "We're hoping to attract a diverse audience," Sunde said.
Publish Date:
04-19-2007
