RIT teams with community to shine light on famous local statue
Rochester's Frederick Douglass monument was the subject of a special "painting with light" event.
Members of RIT’s Big Shot team partnered with the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commemoration Committee to put a well-known local statue in the spotlight.
That group, together with around 400 volunteers, created an inimitable photo of the Frederick Douglass monument that stands proudly near the Highland Bowl in Rochester’s Highland Park using the Big Shot’s “painting with light” technique. The “Shine a Light on Douglass” event on Feb. 14 celebrated the 200th birthday of the famous abolitionist who called Rochester home for 25 years.
The Big Shot is a nighttime community photography project produced by RIT’s School of Photographic Arts and Sciences (SPAS) since 1987 where strategically aimed flashlights work in tandem with long-exposure shots to generate glowing images of popular sites. While this Douglass tribute event wasn’t an official Big Shot, the same principles applied.
As nearby street lights were momentarily shut off, volunteer participants equipped with flashlights induced a light source that illuminated the monument. SPAS students Jessica Campbell and Ethan Whitecotton then took the photos.
Multiple resulting images were added to Rochester Contemporary Art Center’s (RoCo) ongoing exhibit, “No Soil Better: Art and the Living Legacy of Frederick Douglass,” on view until March 18.
The Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commemoration Committee consists of a contingent dedicated to honoring Douglass’ legacy throughout 2018. It includes individuals from RoCo and Rochester Community Television.
Recommended News
-
November 21, 2024
!['Various people put their hands together in a circle.']()
Americans agree more than they might think − not knowing this jeopardizes the nation’s shared values
An essay written by Lawrence Torcello, associate professor in the Department of Philosophy, published by The Conversation.
-
November 21, 2024
!['an illustrated image of a pixelated face appears next to the words real or fake.']()
Detecting digital deception
Today, artificial intelligence is being used to manipulate media. At RIT, a team of student and faculty researchers is leading the charge to help journalists and intelligence analysts figure out what is real and what is fake. Their work has more than $2 million in funding from the National Science Foundation and Knight Foundation.
-
November 21, 2024
![two men sit at a table looking at a laptop. A third man leans over the table to look at the laptops screen.]()
In and out of Africa
Africa is rich in natural resources and contains one of the most diverse ecosystems across the globe. The Sahara Desert itself is larger than the continental United States. With all the unique landscapes, wildlife, and growing urban areas, more than 30 RIT faculty have recognized the importance of traveling to the continent, all backed by RIT Global.
-
November 20, 2024
!['Five black men stand in a semicircle in a small garden in Kenya.']()
RIT professor helps to tackle energy access in rural Africa
Williams’ collaborative work tackles the subject of energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2015, the United Nations established Sustainable Development Goal 7 to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
