For Senior Ryan Grant, Union's interdisciplinary studies and academic flexibility have helped pave the way toward a career that combines both his artistic and scientific talents.
Grant, who will graduate next month with a self-defined major in Industrial Design, first came to Union as an engineering major. “For as long as I can remember, it has been a passion of mine to design things, but a pure engineering major was too technical for my interests and goals,” he said. “I wanted to apply the fundamentals of engineering to the imagination I use in art.”
Grant's work in sculpture and vehicle design is being shown in Union's Arts Atrium through May 20 as part of a two-artist show with senior photographer Ashley Belfield. Along with several twisted, black sculptures formed from steel, the show contains a Baja car modified by Grant. He incorporated several aesthetic elements such as fenders and framing and redesigned the car's suspension and drive train as well.
Chris Duncan, associate professor of visual arts, said: “It's been great to work with Ryan over a period of years and watch his commitment to making sculpture grow along with his technical skill. His background and interest in engineering have fed nicely into the art — and vice versa, with the Baja car design.”
Grant, who is from Gwynedd Valley, Pa., would like to work in automotive or product design, using both his technical and artistic skills. He began taking art classes during his sophomore year, and now has an equal number of engineering and art courses in his portfolio.
“The faculty in both departments have been very supportive,” he said. “I am so happy that CT (Converging Technologies) is at Union. I believe this type of thinking and learning is more and more important as so many things are designed not only for function but for appearance.”
Prof. Duncan agreed: “There are natual crossovers between engineering and the arts — sculpture in particular. I have high hopes that the CT initiative will help us and the students continue to locate and develop those intersections.”