The Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film will hold its fall Open Studios event on Friday, Dec. 12 from 5-8 p.m. in the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts, located at 1300 Q St. The event is free and open to the public.
Open Studios features works-in-progress by both emerging media arts students and entertainment design and production students in the school.
“This event is one of the highlights of the semester as our talented and creative students showcase their works in progress. The event gets better and better each semester,” said Megan Elliott, Johnny Carson Endowed Director in Emerging Media Arts.
Elliott said the students appreciate being able to showcase to the community what they’ve been working on.
“To be able to present their work to the community and get feedback on their work is an invaluable experience for our students,” Elliott said. “It’s a fun event, and you will walk away feeling inspired and amazed by what they are creating.”
J.D. Madsen, associate professor of scenic design and head of entertainment design and production, said the students’ projects demonstrate both artistic growth and technological innovation.
“The work of these students has emerged through a spectrum of creative expressions — from collaborative ensembles that mirror professional production studios to deeply personal, artist-centered explorations,” he said. “Each piece is a reflection of their training to craft stories that move and resonate — art shaped not only by imagination, but by available technologies, and how those merge together for powerful effect. The explore not just what can be done but develop a sensitivity and an awareness of how it touches an audience. Their journey as creators finds its fulfillment only when their work is seen, felt and experienced by others.”
Students interacting with community members is an important part of the event.
“The evening offers a rare opportunity for audiences to meet the creators themselves — to exchange ideas, share reactions, or simply witness how their art lives in the eyes of others,” Madsen said. “We are profoundly grateful for the community’s support, for it is through that shared connection that our students’ growth and artistry truly take flight. You will see work that ranges from classic approaches to employing the latest trends in design thinking and technology integration for live events.”