Student Spotlight - Addison Severs

This story is from the 2026 March print edition of The Bark.

Addison Severs showing off her exhibit at the Tweed. Photo by. Macie Groth

If you were lucky enough to stop by the Tweed Museum between March 24-27, you would have been able to manipulate the forces of a waterfall and control the intensity of light on water droplets. Addison Severs decided to provide this immersive experience for his senior exhibition titled “Convergence.” 

Visitors were able to orchestrate the movement of a waterfall that was reverse projected to give the illusion of floating midair. All they had to do was stand in front of the exhibit and move an outstretched arm around, which resulted in moving the individual particles of the waterfall.

“I wanted to create something where you can be immersed in it but then also be interacting with it so you're kind of a part of the story,” Severs said.

On the ground in front of the waterfall were water droplet forms connected to microcontrollers that brighten and dim depending on how far apart the person's hands are from each other, made possible by the individual LED pixels inside of them.

LED Water Droplets. Photo by. Macie Groth

“[The droplets] are super dim until you step into the spot that is marked on the floor, and then they all come alive,” Severs explained.

As a sculpture and ceramics major, Severs specializes in immersive theme experience design. This specialty includes a broad range of future careers, including theme park, aquarium, and museum design.

“I love organic things that are kind of morphed in with electronics,” Severs said. “I love coding, and I love creating immersive experiences.”