Interarts and Technology (IATECH), a smaller major at this school that combines all areas of arts, is having its 10th annual Festival of Interarts and Technology (FIAT) that showcases the work of students in the IATECH program.
IATECH, a small major within the UW dance program, combines many aspects of arts, including sound, digital animation and dance. The major is featured within the school of dance because of the similarities between the dance world and the art world.
The purpose of the major is to allow students to see different aspects of the world of technology. Students within the major are required to take classes in all aspects of art, including dance, theater, music, art foundation and digital animation.
“Teachers work very closely and personally with the IATECH students,” says Derek Yadgaroff, a sophomore IATECH major and participant in this year’s art festival. He, along with four or five other students, is on the PR committee in charge of the budget, the advertisement and the refreshments for the show. The committee (all studying within the major) came up with the ad campaigns that are circulating around campus. Yadgaroff also has an abstract 3-D animation in the show.
While many students in the major find IATECH hard to define, it is a four-year program and is a foundation for all forms of art. Students take it to get into the technological world after college. The major allows students to focus on whichever type of art they would like to do. However, many students graduating with an IATECH major hope to go into something with audio/video production, performance or the computer-entertainment industry. But it does have its downside.
“IATECH is probably the most under-budgeted major here,” Yadgaroff says.
FIAT is an art festival sponsored by the UW dance program, displaying the works of students in the IATECH major. Included in the show will be digital animation, art installation pieces, DJs and live performances of dance pieces and music, among other types of art. While students who are not within the major may submit some of the pieces, IATECH majors do most of the work. A few students within the major have made pieces that will be featured in the show as well as in the Wisconsin Film Festival.
“This whole thing is student-run. The faculty has nothing to do with it,” says Yadgaroff.
The festival is a way for the IATECH students to show their work to the other students at the university. Students can come anytime from 5-10 p.m. at Lathrop Hall, Friday, April 2, to view the art that will be showcased in multiple rooms in the building. At the free show, attendants will be able to view abstract animation films that will loop from start to finish. Those who come at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. will be able to see a live band performance. There will also be personal narratives and 30 looped film shots.
“I’ve seen flyers all around, and it looks like it caters to a large audience,” says interested sophomore David Glotter. The IATECH art festival is sure to be one of the most eclectic and interesting student shows this year.
