SEATTLE—The School of Opticianry at Seattle Central College (SCC) opened an exhibit titled The Pupil Project which featured clinical artifacts and artwork from a variety of mediums sought to share not only the art of opticianry but also the history, science and fashion of the field as well.

“We had a great reception,” Lori Fender, a licensed dispensing optician and instructor at SCC said. “Optical professionals and community members came to check out the student’s creations. It was a lot of fun, and really helped spread information about what opticianry is.”

Pieces for the art show were sourced from current opticianry students, faculty and some alumni. Through the show, faculty hoped to bring exposure to the program as well as help foster enthusiasm for their field and educate the public on what opticians do. The exhibit was on display at the M. Rosetta Hunter Art Gallery from May 12 through 29.

Some of the pieces included 3D virtual reality glasses, a giant periscope as an example of reflection, laser lights, lenses, spectacles from the 1800s, clinical instruments from the 1900s, sculptures and even prosthetic eyes loaned from Erickson Labs along with many other works.

The show began as an idea between Fender and Lynn Coffman, the head of the opticanry school. After some brainstorming, the ideas fell into place and the Pupil Project was on its way.

“I mentioned to Lori that it had been a long time since Maureen Irey, a former instructor, had put together a show in the museum,” said Coffman. “We both thought that it would be a fun project for the students to take on. Lori took the idea and ran with it. She headed the whole project, and we all got the students involved. It has turned out to be a real eclectic show with history, art and interactive pieces that have the basic information of the eye running through each piece.”

This Allied Health Program has been providing vision care and opticianry education to the Seattle Central College community for over 35 years, since the opticianry school opened in 1980.

“The school of opticianry here at SCC has been close to my heart since I attended in the ‘90s,” Coffman said. “I am proud to be a graduate, proud to be an instructor and proud of each and every other instructor in the program. We have developed a terrific team. We work well together because we are working toward the same goal—to create the best opticianry program that we can and by virtue of that create the best licensed dispensing optician when each student graduates and passes the state boards.”