Art students create billboards

Two Madison billboards are displaying art by undergraduates, the result of an unusual collaboration. The project — “Expand. Explore. Experience.” — is the effort of 37 students who are participating in a one-semester 2-D design art course taught and organized by Jenny Price of the Department of Art. The project, supported by the department and Adams Outdoor Advertising, attempts to bridge art, education and the community, emphasizing the importance of art to the public.

Motorists and pedestrians may view the billboards at East Washington Avenue between North Ingersoll Street and North Paterson Street, and Regent Street between North Orchard Street and North Randall Avenue.

The students worked in small groups, incorporating design elements, vocabulary and principles to create a work of art based on the project’s overall theme. The students heard from local design professionals and artists, then undertook the processes of brainstorming, and creating sketches, preliminary and refined layouts, which were then critiqued.

One piece from each of 12 groups was chosen to present to a final jury. The groups were evaluated on the concept, execution, legibility, simplicity and visual impact, as well as overall progress for each phase of the project. Adams Outdoor Advertising then reviewed the final layouts and selected those to be displayed. All 12 of the final designs are on view outside 7621 Mosse Humanities Bldg.