Eastern Student Nicholas Khan of Willimantic Gives Oral Presentation at CREATE Conference

2016 May 5

More than 250 talented students at Eastern Connecticut State University presented research and creative work at the university's second annual CREATE conference this past April. CREATE stands for Celebrating Research Excellence and Artistic Talent at Eastern, and is the university's premier, academic year-end showcase. At the culminating event, students of all majors presented professional posters, live music, dance performances, artwork, photography, documentaries and panel discussions.

Nicholas Khan '16 of Willimantic, who majors in Visual Arts, gave an oral presentation at the event. His presentation was titled "Anatomy of Victorian Architecture: A Study of Willimantic."

"Victorian architecture has long been seen as an example of western industrialization," said Khan. "This presentation focuses on the appropriation of Victorian architectural styles and elements from Europe, and its incorporation into residential architecture of the United States. By analyzing a concentrated sample of 19th and early 20th century American houses in Willimantic Connecticut's hill section, an understanding of the spread of architectural taste is examined. This focuses on the popularity of mass-produced building elements and their demand within multiple social classes. The affluence of a homebuilder can also be understood as dictating elements of the building's construction. The desire for elaboration in architecture includes the degree of ornamentation borrowed from the latest sub style of Victorian architecture (i.e. Queen Anne, Italianate, Second Empire), as well as the scale of homes, and use of materials. The presentation will not only focus on the categorization of styles, as found in the Willimantic Victorian district, but will also analyze the significance of 19th century house architecture, both in establishing a connection with Europe and forming a social structure that stemmed from materialism."

Remarking on the variety of presentations, Professor Dickson Cunningham, conference co-chair, said, "CREATE encapsulates the essence of the liberal arts in one afternoon. It is an intellectual smorgasbord."

Speaking to the value of CREATE, Eastern President Elsa Nunez said, "It takes a very strong and dedicated student to produce this quality of work, and it's important for other students to see this output." Praising the faculty, she added, "It takes a committed and skillful mentor to guide students to the work that is on display. Mentorship is such an integral part of undergraduate research."

During the one-day conference, the Student Center crawled with artistic and scholarly activity. Students in professional attire addressed their peers, faculty and family. In the cafe, ensembles performed; in the theatre, student-produced documentaries were shown; in the Betty R. Tipton Room, aisles of posters depicting scientific research were displayed; across the hall, a gallery-worth of paintings lined the walls; and on the ground floor, panel discussions and oral presentations about the humanities took place.