By Duncan Holditch
University of Maryland students gathered at the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center Thursday evening for Henson Mania, a night of artistic expression through various mediums.
The Student Alumni Leadership Council hosted the event the University of Maryland described as “a night of art, innovation & imagination.” It was one of over 50 events put on for Henson Week.
Jim Henson is known primarily for his lifelong dedication to the puppetry arts. His most notable work includes the children’s programs “The Muppets” and “Sesame Street” and the movies “The Dark Crystal” and “Labyrinth.” He also founded the Jim Henson Foundation, which has supported over 1200 contemporary puppet artists.
Henson Week, a week-long schedule of activities, is aimed at celebrating the creative legacies of Jim Henson, 60, and his wife, Jane Henson, 55.
At the event, students could make Henson-themed tie-dye t-shirts in a variety of colors and follow a guided drawing experience to sketch Henson and his famed puppet Kermit.
Sofia Hall-Levin, a senior environmental science and policy major, said that her longtime love of Henson drew her to the event.
“I’ve always been a big fan of Jim Henson … My favorite Christmas movie is the Muppets’ Christmas Carol,” Hall-Levin said. “I haven’t had a tie-dye shirt since Girl Scout Camp … I thought it would be fun to maybe make a little Rainbow Connection.”
While the tie-dying drew many students, the interactive art show tucked inside the ballroom held some of the most interesting student projects showcased this semester. The projects are part of the New Works Incubator, a summer program available to those majoring in immersive media.
Kathy Ma, a sophomore immersive media design major, had her project, a mystery video game, on display.
“We made a circus game where you go around collecting clues and stuff… [At New Works Incubator], you do a week of workshops and then you think of your own project that you want to make,” Ma said.
New Works Incubator is a nine-week summer program designed to help students create immersive media projects from across UMD, according to the program’s official website. The course features two weeks of workshops covering a range of immersive media topics and a design process culminating in a working finished project to be put on display on Demo Day. While it is primarily aimed at immersive media design majors, it is open to all.
Ma said their placement at Henson Mania was somewhat random, as the showcase, according to the program’s website, was technically part of the NextNow Fest.
“We’re just kind of here, but I’m not not a fan of it,” Ma said.
Other projects at the event included a virtual reality set-up, a painting-themed fighting game and a tap-dancing game which utilized technology similar to that of the Wii Sports games.
Also available to attendees were snacks and a kermit-colored drink.
Though the event featured many distinct activities, it culminated in a fun-filled artistic night that honored Henson’s legacy and allowed students to showcase their creativity in a variety of ways.
Featured Image: Students hold tie-dyed shirts at Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center’s Henson Mania event Thursday. Photo by Duncan Holditch.