Technology is used for communication, work and relaxation. The Society of Media Arts takes that one step further.

Members of SOMA use technology as a way to express creativity, from video and performance to audio, said Allan Namiotkiewicz, president of the society.

“You think of the different media that artists use to create artwork, whether it be a painter’s brush or an angle grinder a sculptor might use, you think of the media for 4D art – a program like Pro Tools or Premiere video editing software,” Namiotkiewicz, senior in 4D art, said. “I find it fascinating that that is the tool we use to make our art.”

Alanna Wilkinson,senior in 4D art, is a member of SOMA and says right now the society is focused on increasing the number of members.

“There’s already an art club and a film club,” Wilkinson said. “We’re trying to be more toward the media aspect of it. It’s not the most traditional thing out there.”

The International Show and Tell Annual Media Festival is one step SOMA has taken to increase interest in 4D art. The second INSTA Media Festival was held in September and had about 200 entries from around the world. 4D artists from countries including Russia, Denmark and Spain sent in their work, and SOMA selected the entries that were shown at the festival.

“With INSTA basically what we do is advertise across the world to create awareness,” Namiotkiewicz said. “You would be surprised how many sound artists and video artists there are out there.”

These artists are a part of a relatively new form of artwork, said Wilkinson. She says the main difference in a typical film and a media arts project is the narrative aspect. Although the two may be extremely similar, there does not have to be a narrative in a video art project.

“It’s so different (from other art forms), but also so versatile,” Wilkinson said. “It is taking technology and using that in a creative way that is different from the mainstream.”

The most recent project Wilkinson is creating is a sound project. Through this project, she hopes to share what sounds “feel like home” to her through having only a sound in a space off campus.

Projects like this is what initially drew Namiotkiewicz to media art. He was required to take a foundations class on time based art and found his niche.

“We had to do a self portrait and we weren’t supposed to show ourselves in the video,” Namiotkiewicz explained. “I enjoy painting and sculpture as well, but this had the aspect of technology, which I found fascinating being coordinated into art.”

SOMA is a small organization as of now, but Wilkinson hopes it will grow in number as events continue to be held. Ideas for these events are discussed at meetings. Membership is free and the society is open to anyone interested in 4D art.