A wide shot of a ceramics studio, featuring students working with pottery wheels and other tools.
Bun kneels on one knee between two floor lights.

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Bun Stout

Lecturer

Contact

Bio

Bun Stout is a Chicago-based interdisciplinary artist engaging social technologies and Chicago’s drag club scene. Their art is centered in handmade augmented reality wearables, intentionally misusing software designed for social media. Combining fashion, photography, AR and poetry, they transform themself and other artists into otherworldly storytellers who appear IRL and hidden within technological spaces.

Their work explores dynamics of beauty and power, contextualized in trans concepts of realness, the practical and economic value of performed beauty, and the ever-present possibility of transformation.

They have spoken about their work at the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Exhibitions include interactive installations at Soho House Chicago, CURRENTS Festival, Ars Electronica, and Co-Prosperity. They hold a BFA from Indiana University and an MFA in Sculpture from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Courses

Title Department Catalog Term

Description

In this course students will explore augmented reality softwares connected to social media and artists’ methodologies for ‘misusing’ commercial software. Primarily creating with Meta Spark AR and Photoshop, we will investigate how artists relate to technologies like mixed reality, facial recognition, blockchain, and AI image generation. We’ll research how and why these technologies are developed and how we can speak to their use from political, cultural, historical and conceptual vantages rather than simply using and being used by them. We’ll consider creators and writers contributing to conversations about artists’ relationships with technology such as Ian Cheng, Jacolby Satterwhite, Hito Steryl, Donna Haraway, David O’Reilly, Rachel Rossin, Everest Pipkin, and New Art City. Students will create augmented reality projects in a wide range of digital and analog approaches, including but not limited to digital 3D, animation, painting, photography, audio, and fashion. Projects will include developing a facial recognition “filter”, plane-tracked digital sculpture or environment, and mixed reality poster or wearable.

Class Number

1683

Credits

3

Description

Students learn a wide range of post-production digital techniques for 2D animation, compositing (layering, collaging), and creating visual effects for video productions. Students produce projects that incorporate manipulated still images, animation, desktop video, and audio. Those who are intrigued by this kind of image manipulation will find the capabilities of the software dynamic and inspiring. Screenings and analysis focus on the use of such techniques in the world of video art, television, and film.

Class Number

1970

Credits

3

Description

Students learn a wide range of post-production digital techniques for 2D animation, compositing (layering, collaging), and creating visual effects for video productions. Students produce projects that incorporate manipulated still images, animation, desktop video, and audio. Those who are intrigued by this kind of image manipulation will find the capabilities of the software dynamic and inspiring. Screenings and analysis focus on the use of such techniques in the world of video art, television, and film.

Class Number

1582

Credits

3