A Classic Symbol of Ball State and Its Values Enters the Virtual Realm
Thanks to the work of talented staff members and alumni, a 3D rendering was created of the University’s iconic statue that will be used to virtually introduce her to new students and show why she’s an institutional icon. The first project is a video.
John Fillwalk, director of Ball State’s Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts (IDIA Lab) and associate professor of art, spearheaded this project. The R. Wayne Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning’s IDIA lab explores the relationship between the arts, science, and technology. Its work includes virtual reality, augmented reality, mobile apps, and 3D simulation.
One of the most notable works by Fillwalk and the lab is a 3D representation of various stages of Stonehenge’s construction and celestial alignments in an interactive virtual simulator featured on History Channel’s The Universe.
Down to the finest details
Creating a photorealistic model of Beneficence was another challenge for Fillwalk and his staff—including Adam Kobitz, ’12 MFA ’13, Trevor Danehy, and Neil Zehr—collaborated on the project. Members of the team spent a couple of sunny afternoons gathering images of the statue from every angle, using high-resolution cameras on the ground and mounted on a drone to capture images from above.
Using specialized software, the lab then produced a 3D simulation showing all of the fine details and textures of the statue. Fillwalk noted the model can be used in animation or even to produce miniature reproductions of the 1937 sculpture, which was the last commissioned work by renowned artist Daniel Chester French, creator of the Abraham Lincoln statue in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Ball State and the IDIA Lab also partnered with Ball State alums Eric “Ike” Eicher, ’98, and Bryan Kryder, ’19, who run RightHand, an Indianapolis-based marketing and advertising firm. The pair developed a video using the IDIA Lab’s 3D model. Together, they tell the story of Ball State and Beneficence.
‘Not only tell, but show’
The video will be used in various ways, including email messages, social media, and the Ball State website. It is a reminder that Beneficence is at the core of the campus identity; the pledge named after her speaks to the enduring values of Ball State’s community.
“Everything I learned at Ball State is now coming into strategic and creative practice in collaboration with John Fillwalk and his staff,” Eicher said. “To be a part of something so critical to Ball State’s future is special.
“We wanted to not only tell, but show, how Ball State has traditionally thrived through challenging times like the Great Depression and recessions. The University’s faculty, staff, and leadership have moved students forward and Ball State has collectively come out stronger each time.”
