Ghouls at Grassmere
The “merry not scary” event features eight days of 20 trick-or-treat stations, animal shows, costume parades and more from Oct. 18-21 and Oct. 25–28, 5–9 p.m.
New to the event will be the O’More student-designed Eerie Estate, a 3-D experience that incorporates the visual communications majors’ innovation through projected print and animation technologies.
“O’More believes community-centered projects such as this one are important to both the students and the organization we are supporting,” said Josh Lomelino, O’More visual communications department chair. “We’re excited for the opportunity to showcase our students’ talents.”
The designers—whose individual study concentrations range from motion graphics and graphic design to print—have spent months working on the haunted tent that moves guests through an interactive maze created by various digital and animated mediums.
In order to complete the project, interdisciplinary skills were developed between O’More Professor Doug Regen and Lomelino’s respective print and motion graphic courses. The students utilized ChromaDepth, a technology and process that produces spectacular images that can be viewed in both two- and three-dimension, and motion focus to create the illusion of a haunted mansion—one that may look familiar to some.
“We were inspired by the O’More campus and the [ca. 1866] Abbey Leix mansion, so we incorporated a lot of that into the designs,” said visual communications student Allison Toner. “We wanted to represent the College, and this way it feels as if you are walking through an actual haunted home.”
The students were responsible for coming up with the Eerie Estate concept and name, the logo and for the creative direction it would take. Once the initial groundwork was laid, they began creating the print and motion graphics.
“The zoo gave us a lot of creative freedom,” Toner said. “I think we’ve come up with a very kid friendly but Tim Burton-like experience.”
Nashville Zoo Events Director Kindell Williams, who approached O’More about the project, said that she has been impressed with the design she’s seen.
“Nashville Zoo is extremely thankful for the hard work the students have put in to this project,” Williams said. “O’More has brought their creative genius and dedication to creating Eerie Estate, which I am sure will be the hit of this year’s event and introduce many young people to art in a new format.”
Ghouls at Grassmere is expected to draw more than 20,000 visitors to the Halloween tradition. Tickets are $12 for members and $15 for non-members, and include access to all activities, rides and parking. Tickets may be purchased at www.nashvillezoo.org or at the zoo’s Guest Services hut each day before 3 p.m.
Founded in 1970, O’More College of Design is a four-year, non-profit post-secondary institution offering bachelor of fine arts degrees in fashion design, interior design and visual communications. The college is located in the downtown historic district of Franklin, Tenn. To learn more, visit www.omorecollege.edu.
