Jasmine O’Halloran–Han
Black Press
Carson Tarnasky, a 21 year-old industrial design student and native of Rimbey, is working towards becoming a great architect as he is currently finishing his final semester of a four-year degree program at the University of Alberta.
Tarnasky said he sees industrial design as being the creative side of manufacturing every day products, and said his university training is giving him valuable skills in creating new products and allowed him to discover artistic design.
“I was always interested in creating new things, art in particular,” Tarnasky said.
While at the U of A, Tarnasky got involved in the community of arts in Edmonton, which led to the community helping to provide the funding he needed to complete his university internship as an artist in Shafer, Minnesota. This is where he spent time to develop and create a steal and wood abstract memorial sculpture for his Grandfather Bill, which was placed in the Franconia Sculpture Park.
“In Minnesota they really encourage experimentation and exploring new ideas,” Tarnasky said. “The sculpture was a lot of work but I felt accomplished because I had made a valuable piece of work. It was also a cathartic experience to build that sculpture for my grandfather as well because I reflected on his life.”
After university Tarnasky said he hopes to gain some real world experience by applying to design and architectural firms who work with clients to design different things such as custom design and public art projects, as he said he wants to gain a sense of what industry he prefers working in. His end goal is to have his own individual art studio.
“I am also interested in gaining trade skills like carpentry,” Tarnasky said. “I want to gain those skills from the trades possibly as an apprentice so I can build my own skills to be my own individual artist.”
He said he suspects he will go to Calgary after completing university as the city has many job opportunities available.
“My initial prospects are in Calgary, those being companies I want to work for,” Tarnasky said. “I want to work for a company where I do work that is applicable to my interests, such as an architecture firm in Calgary called Sans Façon.