UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Leonhard Center for Enhancement of Engineering Education has announced the winners of its inaugural Arts and Engineering Competition. The competition celebrates the creativity and innovation at the intersection of art and engineering. Winners were selected by a panel of faculty judges, who awarded a first, second and third place recipient, as well as three honorable mentions.
The competition was part of a semester-long collaboration, “Structures, Systems, and Society: Work at the Interface of Art and Engineering,” which showcased the historical and modern overlap between the two fields, and the explored the ways “artists, makers, and scientists have used engineering principles to solve creative challenges and push the boundaries of their mediums,” according to the exhibition’s webpage.
“Structures, Systems, and Society” was organized by the Palmer Museum of Art in collaboration with the Leonhard Center, including Sarah Zappe, director of the Leonhard Center and assistant dean for teaching and learning in College of Engineering, Joseph Cusumano, professor of engineering science and mechanics, and Benjamin Fehl, lecturer in the School of Engineering Design and Innovation.
“The level of imagination and thoughtfulness in both the artwork and the event activities was really striking,” Zappe said. “It reinforced that when you invite the arts into an engineering space, there’s a lot of interest and a lot of people who are eager to engage in new ways.”
The winning pieces were displayed at the Dec. 4 "Art After Hours: Engineering Creativity" event at the Palmer Museum, which also featured hands-on activities, including kinetic butterflies, LED snow globes, origami and more. Learn more about the artists and see their pieces below.