Creating Clockwork Crab
Mechanical engineering major Arthur Gould is proudly checking out his Clockwork Crab, part of Baltimore’s Crabtown Project, when a group of Red Hat Society ladies stop to look at the unusual black and white creature hanging out by Key Highway just behind the outdoor trapeze school. When they find out Gould is the artist, they ask to have their picture taken with Clockwork Crab.
Baltimoreans and tourists have enjoyed looking at the 200 fiberglass crab sculptures since they began appearing in May. But while the Crabtown Project is a benefit for Baltimore City’s Believe in Our Schools fund, Clockwork Crab also represents UMBC’s goal to explore interdisciplinary opportunities for its students. It’s a University where a mechanical engineering major can win an art contest open to students regardless of major and show off his talent to the people of Baltimore and beyond.
“What’s great about UMBC is that there are opportunities to create art even if you aren’t an art major,” said Symmes Gardner, director of UMBC’s Center for Art and Visual Culture. “We opened the contest to design UMBC’s crab to all students, and asked participants to create a design using education at UMBC as a theme. Arthur’s idea was fun and really stood out.”
“I liked the idea of combining my major and the artistic aspects of the project,” said Gould, who admits he is not a fan of the spicy crabs many Baltimoreans look forward to eating each summer. “Engineering has artistic elements too. You have to design and solve problems, and think outside of the box. I enjoy the interdisciplinary opportunities at UMBC and the fact that the arts are open to everyone — I can join the visual arts listserv and art clubs and meet art majors.”
In November, the Crabtown Project crabs will be auctioned off, with proceeds going to the Believe Our Schools Foundation, so be sure to check out Gould’s Clockwork Crab (#23) at the Inner Harbor, just east of the Maryland Science Center. A map is available at www.crabtown.org.
(10/3/04)
