Part of the panel discussion “Post-Pandemic Reflections: Making Change in the Studio and Art History Classroom,” Christensen presented with project collaborators Szilvia Kadas, Ph.D., Assistant Professor at SUNY Cortland, and Judy Livingston, Associate Professor of Design at Alfred University.
The three faculty discussed working together virtually to develop a collaborative project that was run concurrently at four institutions (SUNY Brockport, SUNY Cortland, SUNY Purchase, and Alfred University). The presentation revolved around how the collaboration unfolded, how the need to move to working remotely facilitated collaboration among colleagues separated by hundreds of miles, project results, and how the process might be applied as a model for wider collaborations moving forward. The project the faculty developed asked their students to create compelling designs to guide their campus communities in complying with COVID-19 safety precautions. Nearly 70 students, from introductory sophomore non-design majors to senior-level design majors, participated. The results were heartfelt and relatable student-to-student messages promoting positive action. These were juried by the faculty and displayed in a virtual exhibition hosted by SUNY Cortland’s Dowd Gallery. Through critical thinking and making, students realized their own ability to influence the visual culture and social environment around them.
The CAA conference was originally scheduled to be held in person in Chicago but transitioned to an online format due to the winter pandemic surge.