Sanarchy//

Intercollegiate Art Group

During the academic school year, 2020-2021 an informal network of professors agreed to build a thematic learning experience for our students by building a specific assignment out in classes. The goal at the beginning of this endeavor was to try to find a theme that was broad, and open-ended enough to plant a seed by way of a concept, and then see where that takes any given student, and from where students can explore from their personal perspective. The theme settled upon was “masks”.  

There was a range of schools, fields of studies, and levels of instruction. The programs included the Department of Cartoon and Animation at Başkent University, the Department of Media Studies at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, the Kinetic Imaging Department at Virginia Commonwealth University, the Graphic Design Program at The College of New Jersey, Department of Communication and Design at Bilkent University, and the Art + Design: Media + Communication college at East Central University. The courses ranged from advanced to introductory level.

The projection of the concept of “mask” in different societies was examined with a mixed online exhibition consisting of works from both classes and a collective virtual classroom was created together. A group jury of the associated professors to bring forth the student works that are worthy of public display. This was an ungraded process that mirrored exhibition and festival processes giving real-world experience to the students, providing a competitive outlet to strive towards.