Digital media arts professor receives IAC grant
FOR RELEASE: Monday, June 23, 2008
Huntington, Ind.-The Indiana Arts Commission has selected Steve Leeper, Huntington University assistant professor of digital media arts, as a recipient of an Individual Artist Program Grant. Leeper will use the $2,000 grant for the completion of his short animated film, "Moonboy and Shadow." "The film is about a young boy, his new camera, and a fascination with moonlight," Leeper explained. "He sneaks out at midnight with his cat Shadow to capture their likeness in a late-night portrait aided by the light of the moon. Unknown to the boy - but suspected by his cat - the Moon is watching with great interest."
An image from "Moonboy and Shadow"
"Moonboy and Shadow" grew out of the animation Leeper was doing while working on his Master of Fine Arts degree from the Art Institute of Boston. With the help of the IAC grant, Leeper plans to finish the film in time for the summer festival season in 2009.
Leeper is a filmmaker, storyteller and educator. Originally from the Midwest, Leeper studied animation, painting and drawing at the Museum School of Fine Arts in Boston. In 1997, he joined Big Idea Productions. Between 1998 and 2003, he served as layout supervisor for numerous productions including the feature film "Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie."
An image from "Moonboy and Shadow"
Leeper is the animator/director of a number of short animated films, which have enjoyed both national and international exposure. He works closely with Masterpiece Ministries helping to create workshop experiences designed to encourage and educate young artists as they grapple with issues surrounding creativity and faith.
The Indiana Arts Commission advocates engagement with the arts to enrich the quality of individual and community life. The arts commission encourages the presence of the arts in communities of all sizes while promoting artistic quality and expression.
The arts commission created the Individual Artist Program in 1999 to supports artists, in all disciplines, for career development projects. The program cycle runs from July 1 to June 30 and offers flexibility to respond to artists' needs and goals. Applicants must plan a project, or phase of a project, which can be realized within the requested budget and completed within the proposed timeline. Advisory panelists score applications from zero to 100 based on the following criteria: quality of the artist's work, impact of the proposal on the artist's career development and feasibility of project completion.
