Aaron Williams, a 2011 graduate of the West Virginia University School of Art & Design’s sculpture program, has found a niche in exploring the point where research and science collide with art.
Williams, a native of French Creek, W.Va., recently visited his alma mater to discuss his most recent sculptural apparatus, a project initially inspired by his undergraduate work with the WVU Sleep Research Lab.
Now a graduate student at the University of Florida, Williams has continued to delve into the subject of sleep. As part of the Art + Technology program, Williams has begun to learn how to design software and integrate programming into his sculptural work.
Such is the case in his current project, “ENTERFACE: somnwhere.”
“Rather than sculpture being the central element, it serves as a physical apparatus and partner to the technology,” said Williams.
Essentially a sleep gel mask embedded with electrodes, Williams’ sleep apparatus serves a function greater than comforting stressed, tired eyes.
“The mask’s electrodes detect eye movement using the same method found in sleep clinics and interprets those signals as input commands to a visual software that mimics a video game,” explained Williams.
In an effort to raise public awareness on sleep health, Williams hopes his final project will successfully intersect the worlds of sleep and wakefulness.
“I envision it ultimately becoming universal, with anyone being able to wear the apparatus and see a visual map of their sleep,” said Williams. “The idea is that you’re following the person in the dreamscape.”
His interest in the study of sleep first began while completing a research project for WVU College of Creative Arts Associate Professor of Sculpture Jason Lee. At the time, Williams was working nights at the Clarion Hotel Morgan, and his frequent exhaustion inspired him to further investigate the science behind sleep.
Williams volunteered as a subject for a sleep study, which introduced him to the clinical research methods used at the WVU Sleep Research Lab.
Working closely with Dr. Hawley Montgomery-Downs, associate professor of psychology, Williams developed and refined his sleep research from the philosophical level to the physiological.
“One thing Aaron and I have in common is a passion for getting the word out about how important and fascinating both sleep and sleep science are,” said Montgomery-Downs. “Aaron has such a different and synergistic way of expressing that, and I think he has a real talent for capturing an audience with his art and allowing them to experience the concept of sleep in a different way.”
Beyond the clinical approach, Williams further explored the concept of sleep through conversations with researchers, which inspired him to seek out early texts on the subject.
“If I could give students any advice on conducting research, I would tell them to go somewhere where that subject is happening,” said Williams. “I’ve always found that the best observations and conversations come from talking to someone.”
Through those conversations, Williams discovered the strong historical and mythological framework associated with sleep.
“Often, there’s this massive history that gets ignored by researchers, but when you look deeper into what necessitates or inspires clinical studies, you can find interesting stories hanging around the skirt of those things,” said Williams.
It was that discovery that inspired Williams to combine the aesthetic of the apparatus with the mythology of a dreamscape.
“I like the idea of injecting anecdotes back into clinical tools and apparatuses,” he said.”
He hopes that his apparatus and software will help spark a conversation on the importance of sleep for society.
“Interesting things can come together if you get out of the arts bubble and begin to connect with the scientific community as well,” said Williams.
-WVU-
blu/12/9/15
CONTACT: David Welsh, WVU College of Creative Arts
304.293.3397; David.Welsh@mail.wvu.edu
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