This Fall, a group of Florida State University students will explore a new realm of creativity, collaborating with the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens to create toys for animals including Komodo dragons and giraffes.
The Interspecies Sculpture Studio class, led by FSU art professor Rob Duarte, blends artistic expression with animal enrichment, allowing students to investigate the intersection of art and zoology in an imaginative and engaging way. Throughout the class, students will work alongside veterinarians and researchers at the zoo to design and build interactive objects for the animals.
“Toys like these are not simply fun for the animals—they provide enrichment that is critical to their health and well-being,” Duarte said. “This course offers students a chance to conduct hands-on research in partnership with the amazing veterinarians and scientists at Jacksonville Zoo. The creative thinking and problem-solving skills we develop as artists offer us a unique lens through which to approach animal care.”
This interdisciplinary class, open to all majors at FSU, offers students an exciting opportunity to merge artistic exploration with scientific innovation, bringing together perspectives from art, biology, engineering and beyond.
“We’re incredibly excited to offer this course again,” said Jeff Beekman, chair of the Department of Art. “It’s an amazing opportunity for our students to use their creative problem-solving skills in ways that transcend traditional ideas of what art is. These are exactly the kinds of opportunities and training we are committed to providing our students, as they consider how to cultivate a sustainable, creative life post-graduation.”
Through research into animal enrichment, welfare and care, students will learn how to design and fabricate objects using materials that are durable and safe for the animals.
Enrollment for the course is still open, and students of all majors are encouraged to sign up and secure their place in this one-of-a-kind learning experience.
The course conducted in partnership with Handshouse Studio’s Toys for Animals Project, an initiative to promote hands-on learning, connect communities through service that addresses real-world challenges, and promote animal wellbeing and welfare. Duarte and his students have long partnered with Handshouse, also assisting them with a project to reconstruct the trusses of the historic Notre Dame Cathedral after it was damaged in a 2019 fire. Learn more about Handshouse Studio at handshouse.org.
Do you want to help these students make their designs a reality? The Department of Art is hosting a Spark Campaign to cover the costs of travel to Jacksonville for the class, as well as materials used to create the interactive objects. Visit spark.fsu.edu to learn more and make a gift.