Computer animation professor invites students to the show

Tremendous work, talent, and patience are required before an artist might be rewarded with a gallery show. During his 15 years as a member of the Purdue University Fort Wayne community, Andres Montenegro, professor of computer animation, has been offered two local showings.

The rarity of the experience is why students in Montenegro’s first semester intro to 3D modeling class were surprised when he asked them to participate in his show at the main branch of the Allen County Public Library in downtown Fort Wayne. Featuring 26 paintings by Montenegro and 11 3D student sculptures, “The Sensitive Layer” runs until Feb. 28 in the Jeffrey R. Krull Gallery.

“The most rewarding aspect of this is seeing what they accomplished, seeing their ideas become flesh,” Montenegro said. “It’s kind of chain reaction where you are triggering them by engaging them and pushing them forward to the empowerment of their artistic outcomes.”

But to share the spotlight? It's like the professor rewarded a lot of extra credit.

“The inclusion in this gallery shows the appreciation he has for his students and the time they put into the project,” said senior Anna Gottlieb. “Dr. Montenegro was great at giving us time to explore our ideas before starting on the projects, and was helpful and patient in working with us to put them together. He is always eager to share his work to inspire students and show them what is possible with the technology we are given.”

The assignment was to create a 3D sculpture about a vessel in a hybrid composition. Montenegro said he decided to invite them to participate in the gallery because they were so engaged, saying they not only put in effort, but also had joy and fun with the work.

“Once they get confident to work with the project, through that process, a creative outlook is flowing with spontaneity,” Montenegro said. “It is about the confidence that they build, how they mix and combine and create different subjects together.”

Some striking examples include Gottlieb’s blue turtle hybrid boat, a yellow banana submarine boat created by senior Nicole Pitcher, and a shark submarine by sophomore Thadoe Aung.

“Even though the design was challenging, the professor encouraged me to go with this design and he helped me a lot during the process," Aung said. "The professor is very passionate about 3D design and always encourages students to take the challenge.”

Pitcher said Montenegro is always pushing students to think outside the box and not settle for the normal or easy.

“Working in 3D modeling is a very expressive medium, but also very technical,” Pitcher said. “Balancing your ideas with your technical skill level can be challenging, so his excitement in walking his students through the process is extremely valuable and makes the process of learning enjoyable.”

Montenegro’s paintings in the display, some going back 12 years ago, are also enjoyable to look at. Utilizing what he calls his whimsical, metaphysical, eclectic, and surreal style, each is available for purchase at $600 apiece. They also contain 3D elements viewable through a pair of headsets in the gallery, giving the paintings a hint of a kaleidoscope in what he calls an immersive mixed-reality experience.