Doctoral student highlights campus tree installation in Graduate Arts Fellowship
Michigan State University doctoral student Hailey Becker is shining a light on campus with her art exhibition, recently featured in the MSU Libraries Digital Scholarship Lab as part of the MSU Digital Humanities Graduate Arts Fellowship.
“Where the Light Gets In” is an installation Becker created in the Digital Scholarship Lab (DSL) that showcases her art installations across MSU’s campus. Becker, who is currently enrolled in a first-of-its kind dual program that combines a Master of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art with a Ph.D. in Forestry, collaborated on the original exhibition with 2024 MSU Master of Fine Arts graduate Patrick Taylor. Upon the initial exhibit installation in October 2024, Becker and Taylor mounted LED lights on 43 trees marked for removal on campus, placing the beams so they appeared to be piercing the trunk, or the heart, of the individual trees.
In February, Becker was selected for the 2025 Digital Humanities Graduate Arts Fellowship based off her proposal to create an immersive display in the 360 Room that documents the installations and via a virtual tour using StoryMaps. The StoryMaps virtual tour created by Becker also details the location of the “iconic and beloved” Amur cork tree still found in MSU Beal Botanical Garden. The placard in front of the tree includes a QR code that links to a virtual tour of the installations around campus using YouTube 360.
MSU Libraries Head of Digital Scholarship Services Justin Wadland praised Becker’s distinctive proposal. “I am always delighted to see the creative projects that come out of the Graduate Arts Fellowship,” Wadland said. “This year, Hailey has created a unique, site-specific, multidimensional work that uses an impressive array of digital methods and tools. I especially appreciate how her 360 videos immerse the viewer in her installations and give just enough explanation of their purpose to encourage reflection about changes to the campus landscape.”
The Digital Humanities Graduate Arts Fellowship is a partnership between the College of Arts and Letters Digital Humanities unit and the MSU Libraries DSL. This annual program offers fellows summer funding and the opportunity to advance their proposed projects using expertise and resources from the DSL, including office space, technology and consulting support from librarians and staff. To complete the fellowship, Becker presented an artist talk along with the 360 Room tour of “Where the Light Gets In,” as well as a workshop on “Using 360 Cameras to Show Changes to Place.” Fellows are also encouraged to deposit their artwork in MSU Commons/KCWorks for long-term access, including Becker’s recent exhibition.
Interim Director of Digital Humanities Kristen Mapes shared enthusiasm about both the immediate and future impact of Becker’s fellowship work.
“Hailey’s work through the fellowship is an inspiring demonstration of how digital methods can be leveraged across artistic and humanistic practice to connect with people,” Mapes said. “The on-site installations have been seen by thousands of people across campus and resonate immediately, and the work coming out of the fellowship gives future generations the opportunity to explore and relate to Hailey’s work in new ways.”
Becker noted that in her time as a Graduate Arts Fellow that in addition to utilizing the 360 Room and the StoryMaps technologies, she had the opportunity to experiment with tools like 360 cameras, as well as an ambisonic mic. She also spent time in the MSU Libraries Hollander Makerspace using aluminum and acrylic to make the plaques included in the StoryMap. Becker noted that the opportunity to explore was especially beneficial during her time in the program.
“I had a wonderful time participating in the fellowship,” Becker said. “The support staff were friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. There was the perfect blend of structure and freedom to experiment. The staff worked closely with me to help troubleshoot technology issues, give feedback on in-progress work and help me realize my overall vision.”
For more information about the Digital Humanities Graduate Art Fellowship, please visit the MSU Digital Humanities website.