Stories

The new 3,400-square-feet Alienware Longhorn Esports Arena outfitted with high-performance Alienware equipment transformed the historic Texas Union Underground into a place to game, compete and find community. Listen to this 3-minute story featuring Arts and Entertainment Technologies Chair Michael Baker to hear why Longhorns and academic partners are excited about the arena’s possibilities to unlock learning opportunities in creative technologies and other industries.

Arts and Entertainment Technologies professor Shannon Murray sits down with AET students Melody Geiger, Will Sords, Joseph Horak, Connor Blankenship, Karina Teruya, and Ethan Godwin to talk about their original video game Re:Fresh.

Last week, Shields returned to the Forty Acres to discuss his 408-page book The Rob Roy Kelly American Wood Type Collection: A History and Catalog at the Harry Ransom Center. In his book and research blog, Shields explores Kelly’s history with the collection, the stylistic development of wood type, and the textual history of each typeface.

The Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) recently announced the 2023 and 2024 Texas State Musicians, Poet Laureates, and Artists. These designations are made for “the exceptional quality of their work and for their outstanding commitment to the arts in Texas.”

Sydney Parks is an interdisciplinary artist who works at the intersection of virtual and physical space. Currently an Assistant Professor of Practice at The University of Texas in Austin, she has previously taught as a Teaching Fellow in painting, drawing, and virtual reality art at the University of Houston. Learn more about Sydney in this Q&A.

Daphne Hancock, M.D., MPH, was inspired by the compassionate care delivered by residents and faculty members during her time as a medical student at Dell Med. Now she has the opportunity to continue to provide care for and invest in the Austin community as an internal medicine resident.

Assistant Professor Jiabao Li's futurism is guided by the dignity of other beings. (Previously published in Arts Next 2023)

The School of Design and Creative Technologies showcased its live design work in multiple large-scale events on campus and in Austin this year. Here are some highlights. (Previously published in Arts Next 2023)

On the first day of his high school technical theater class, Professor Matt Smith’s teacher pointed up. 17-year-old Smith craned his head back to the theater’s high ceiling and observed what would be life-changing light fixtures. His teacher informed the class that, simply put, people have careers in designing the movement and placement of lights.

The College of Fine Arts welcomed 13 new professional faculty members for 2023-24, including Assistant Professor of Practice in Arts and Entertainment Technologies Kyle Evans and Assistant Professor of Practice in Design Sydney Parks.