A new exhibition opened Oct. 15 at the University of Southern Maine’s Gorham Campus Library featuring posters by Introduction to Digital Art and Design (ART 222) students, created around the theme of artificial intelligence in higher education. The posters will remain on display in the library through Nov. 23.
In the course, students learn photo editing in Photoshop and digital collaging — the skills behind each poster in the exhibition. They designed their artwork through photo montage after studying how artists have long used the medium to respond to a changing world.
“For me, the goal is to have students use their visual literacy skills to make work that communicates something to their audience effectively,” said Janna Ahrndt, associate professor of art, who teaches the course.
Ahrndt focused this semester’s project on AI in higher education.
“I always want the topic to be something students have opinions about,” Ahrndt said.
The finished posters reflect a range of perspectives, and many take a humorous approach.
The exhibition is a collaboration among USM’s Department of Art, Libraries and Learning, and the Office of Sustainability. Staff from both departments visited the class to share research, giving students additional context as they developed their work.
Ahrndt gave students the option to opt out of the public exhibition, but every student chose to have their work displayed.
“Allowing my students to say what they want through their artwork and have it publicly displayed is important,” Ahrndt said. “Art gives us agency.”