Students display creative projects for class

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    By Mark Brinkerhoff

    For some BYU students, creativity is an appealing alternative to traditional general education classes. The history of creativity class sponsored a fair Nov. 27 and showcased students’ imaginatiion.

    The 250 students who are taking the history of creativity class to satisfy the history of civilization GE displayed their creations at the School of Technology’s Creativity Day in the Crabtree Building.

    The exposition gave students a chance to unlock their personal creativity, said class instructor Brent Strong, a professor of manufacturing engineering technology.

    Strong said the term projects on display at the Creativity Day reflect how the students integrate art, music and technology, from a creative standpoint.

    “The wide-breadth of projects shows the talent and ingeniousness of BYU students,” said Mary Dondiego, Public Relations Coordinator for the School of Technology.

    Dondiego said students were allowed to do anything creative, from artwork and music composing to tech gadgets and furniture building.

    While some projects took only a few days from start to finish, a few of them took much longer.

    Tirzah Hiller said she spent 10 months making a special tapestry that will be displayed in the home economics department.

    The tapestry is significant because it will display the names of student recipients of a home economics award, said Hiller, 19, a sophomore from Centerville, Utah, majoring in home economics.

    She said designing the pattern, transferring it onto fabric and embroidering the names and flowers on the tapestry required over 800 yards of thread.

    Dressed as a monk, Enoch McDowell took a creative but different approach to his project.

    A sampling of mince-meat pie, simple cheese cake and almond milk, represents what peasants ate in medieval times, said McDowell, 24, a senior from Prescott, Ariz., majoring in manufacturing engineering.

    He said a love of cooking and history inspired him to prepare a basic medieval-style meal.

    A few students combined creativity, resourcefulness and vision to make the projects work.

    Krista Cornish said her project incorporates poetry, music and lights, all of which appeal to the senses.

    Entitled “The FOREST not just the TREES,” the project gives people a sensational experience, said Cornish, 19, a sophomore from Florence, Mont., majoring in industrial design.

    She said she wants people to “experience” her project, what they see, hear and feel.

    Natalie Jones and Travis Laird made a clay gargoyle that doubles as a fountain.

    “I think more than anything, this project made us utilize our creativity,” said Jones, 20, a junior from Ritchfield, Conn., majoring in marketing communications.

    She said discovering that the gargoyles on the Notre Dame Cathedral were used as drainpipes forced her to look differently at the purpose of creation.

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