Multimedia projects bring the best elements of different types of media, including video and audio.
Thanks to video and audio technology, art doesn't have to be stationary anymore. Multimedia art mixes traditional mixed-media arts -- oils and canvas, or sculpture -- with sound and video to make the project come to life. If you plan to put together a multimedia art project, there are a few things you need to consider.
Theme
Most mixed- or multi-media art projects are connected by a common theme. One group of students, for example, adapted the game "Exquisite Corpse," in which an artist draws something on the top inch of a page, then folds it over and passes it to the next player. The next player draws something connecting to the first image -- not knowing what it is -- then passes it on, and so on. Mixing an idea like that with video footage or a collection of songs can make the project come to life.
Mixed Media
In art, the term "mixed media" refers to a project which isn't made solely using one artistic medium. So, the artist may have used watercolors and oil paints on the same canvas, or sculpted something out of clay, metal and wood. For some multimedia projects, a mixed media piece can make an excellent centerpiece. However, in order to make one of these projects into a multimedia exhibit, the project does need a more interactive component.
Multimedia
The multimedia component of a project may be slightly more complicated, but it can accent an existing project in a significant way. Music and film are two artistic media which can be sculpted in unique ways, like clay can. However, an audio component with a lot of deep bass tones and occasional sharp high notes can add a slightly terrifying tone to a piece. Sunny photographs on a slideshow, or a video featuring gloomy exterior shots, can also heighten the mood of your piece.
Educational Projects
Not all multimedia projects have to feature your own art. It's also entirely possible to use multimedia to teach about art. There is a lot of video and audio footage about famous artists which you can work into a project about your favorite artist, or you could use art to teach about the history of a subject. Use stills of the artist's work, and audio or video recordings if you can dig any up, to make an interactive exhibit.
