A new student-produced documentary showcases how UC's College-Conservatory of Music played a pivotal role in BLINK, which lights up the night with one of the nation's largest immersive art and light events. "Blink: A Spotlight on CCM" is a miniature lens into the hands-on experiences that CCM Lighting Design and Technology students receive.
The work done by these students is not confined to the theoretical or the classroom; it manifests itself in vibrant and tangible forms, much like it did in BLINK held from Oct. 17-20, 2024. This event isn't just another outdoor festival. We're talking about an event that transformed over 30 city blocks and drew a crowd of more than 2 million people to the Greater Cincinnati area. And in the middle of all this action, CCM students were applying their crafting and skills to make the night brighter.
One of the standout projects during BLINK involved a mural called "Euthenia," a brainchild of the Greek street artist Insane51. Known for a "Double Exposure 3D" style that reacts wondrously to different lighting, the masterpiece found a dynamic partner in Lucas Inman, a CCM MFA student. According to the University of Cincinnati's article, Inman was the lead designer, synchronizing lighting and music to amplify the mural's three-dimensional illusion and complement Insane51's original vision.
Inman's efforts did not exist in a vacuum. They were an integral part of the CCM's practical education philosophy, allowing students to leap from theory and immerse themselves in professional-level productions. This mini-documentary gives us a sneak peek of what student innovation looks like when applied to a city canvas. Future movers and shakers in the performing and media arts are getting a hands-on education, one that stretches them beyond the comforts of traditional learning.
