student artist profile

From painting and drawing to film and virtual design, senior Andrew Harkins seems to do it all. He doesn't restrict himself to one medium, but instead continues to find new ways to express his passion through art.

Even as a young child, Harkins' main form of communication was through doodling.

"One of my earliest memories, of anything, is in preschool drawing these Ninja Turtles with my friends," he said. "I went to an international preschool where my friends didn't speak the same language as me. I feel like the medium through which we were able to converse was visual arts and Ninja Turtles."

A visual arts major, Harkins has contributed to the Chronicle and Towerview, as well as designed T-shirts for campus events. Although outreach on campus is important, he feels he should take advantage of the opportunities that the University provides, part of which includes reaching out and giving back to the Durham community.

During the past two semesters, Harkins has been working closely with a dozen third through fifth graders at Carter Community Charter School. For his collaborative art class last spring, he developed a business plan with the kids, aptly named "Ultimate Kid Komics," and helped them create their own comic strips. Their work will be displayed at the Chapel Hill Comics store early next year.

In addition to bringing art to these kids, Harkins decided to go a step further by giving the students a taste of what Duke has to offer. Last semester, he designed a city construct for the Duke Immersive Virtual Environment tank and brought the kids to DiVE to experience the virtual treat.

"After they spent a semester dreaming up their own superheroes, I told them, after all this time, they were are all superheroes too," he said.

By combining DiVE with his teaching curriculum, Harkins is providing a unique opportunity for the kids, while expanding his own scope as an artist. As one of three in the U.S. and one of seven in the world, DiVE combines both the technical and visual aspects of art.

In his current independent study distinction project entitled "Wonder," Harkins integrates painting, conceptual sculptures, animated cartoons and documentary film to convey his theme.

"'Wonder' is the aesthetic combination of wonder and familiarity," he said. "Even in the most familiar things, there can be this concept of wonder. My project tries to heighten that sensation and bring that out."

The film portion of his independent study involves what he is currently working on with the Carter Community students. He gave each of the kids a camcorder, some basic technical direction, editing tips and simple objects like Styrofoam balls to jump-start their own storytelling.

"I'm presenting them with these really familiar things like basic shapes," he said. "But as far as the stories are concerned, what they do with the props is up to them. Their stories will inevitably not be about the Styrofoam ball-it'll be a crystal ball or basketball. So it's about imagination and creativity and finding some sense of wonder in these things."

Harkin's own sense of wonder has led him to also incorporate writing into his project as well. By including the film aspect, he is able to add dialogue, sound and even music to his creations.

A master of many crafts, Harkins uses his art to not only transcend artistic limits, but also to inspire other's creative pursuits.

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