The Halloween season is widely regarded as an exciting time of year full of trick-or-treating, costume wearing, pumpkin carving, and horror movie watching. To celebrate this festive occasion, the Art Department and The Uproar hosted a scavenger hunt event on October 30 and 31, inviting students to explore the campus and capture “art ghosts.”
During the event, QR codes were hidden around the Main Campus Library and Corn Center for the Visual Arts at RiverPark Campus. When scanned, these codes revealed different images of “art ghosts,” which were created drawing inspiration from famous artists in art history. The ghosts were named after deceased artists such as Michelangelo, Li Bai, Keith Haring, Méret Oppenheim, Auguste Rodin, Henri Matisse, and Vincent Van Gogh, as a tribute to their contributions to the art world.
In addition to these gifts, prizes were also awarded to the best “ghost hunters.” Students posted the artworks on their Instagram stories, tagged @columbusstate.art and @uproarcsu, and added the hashtag #csughostbuster. The students who captured the most ghosts were awarded prizes sponsored by the Art Department and The Uproar.
The “art ghosts” were created by Vinh Huynh, a senior art student, using 3D modeling and photography. He drew inspiration from his favorite game, Pokémon Go, to create these creatures.
To create the art ghosts, Huynh used 3D modeling software to design and sculpt the virtual creatures based on his artistic vision. This process involved creating the creatures’ shapes, textures, and details to bring them to life in a three-dimensional space.
Once the virtual models were complete, Huynh captured images of real-world scenes. These images served as backgrounds for the art ghosts. By combining virtual creatures with real-world environments through photography, Huynh created a sense of blending the fantastical with reality.
Through the Art Ghost Hunting Contest, the Art Department, CSU Libraries, and The Uproar aimed to provide a fun activity for students to enjoy the holiday, connect with others, explore the campus, and appreciate the arts.
