In the world of animation, it takes multiple frames to create one second of work. There are key frames, which are the main visuals that are portrayed, and then there are the in-between frames. These frames are the ones usually hidden and are used to create motion and add depth to a project. This exhibition, “The In-Between”, highlights what is usually considered pre production work and reveals it in a new light. A storyboard is a way for an animator to create a scene, assess the overall feel, and evaluate whether or not to proceed forward with fully animating a piece. These are usually rough and not fully fleshed out. However, my background in being a webcomic artist made the appeal of still frames coming together to tell a story very intriguing, and so I explored that for this exhibition.

“The In-Between” not only shows what storyboards are, but also strives to immerse the viewer into the environment of the animation itself. The sets in the animation are brought to life, where viewers are welcomed to sit and explore the space presented in the storyboard animatics they are watching. I wanted to include this element in particular because typically in museums, visitors are not allowed to touch the work. I know I usually have an overwhelming urge to make contact with the pieces and connect with it on a deeper level. In physically creating the environments for viewers to sit in, it allows them to get into the headspace of what I portray as “quiet” and “loud” in my own life and allows them to do the same.

On a conceptual level, “The In-Between” also refers to the dyadic nature of what it means to be in a quiet space and in a loud one, specifically referring to my own life. I am extroverted in nature, enjoying conversations with friends and as displayed in the piece, can get quite rowdy and exuberant. However, I also enjoy very quiet spaces to recharge. These are both aspects of my personality, and it’s not always loud, and it’s not always soft. It’s the in-between where I am allowed to exist and thrive.

My work in college has been primarily digital in nature. From creating comics to digital illustrations, to creating another storyboard animatic that was featured in the Annual Student Exhibition, I have loved creating things that bring moments to life. Moving or not, I strive to create work that connects with people drawing from personal experiences. For example, I know that not everyone experiences quiet moments the same way I do. But by creating an environment and inviting people to quite literally sit in the moment, it allows for a space for connection and to be reflective of what it means in their own lives to be quiet and to be loud.

The in-between is a space where everyone can exist. It is a place where work in progress is welcomed, where you can choose to be quiet or loud, and to connect with yourself and others on a deeper level. It’s not the beginning, and it’s not the end. It’s a step whatever direction you choose. And that is the beauty of the in-between.