KINGSVILLE (Nov. 24, 2025) — The Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) Center for Teaching Excellence collaborated with the Jernigan Library’s South Texas Archives to present a special art exhibit entitled Stories in Motion: Art, Alumni, & AI on Friday, Nov. 21 at the Center for Faculty Excellence located on the Jernigan Library first floor.
The exhibit displayed artwork from faculty and distinguished alumni that have been selected to be infused with interactive Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), animated voices, memories and history to bring stories from across Javelina history to life.
“This opportunity allows faculty and alumni voices to come alive across generations, telling their stories within a space that celebrates teaching excellence,” said Bailey Smith, Head of Special Collections and Archives at TAMUK. “As the university celebrates its centennial, the classroom highlights the archives’ enduring role in both safeguarding history and inspiring the future.”
Every individual piece included an AI-enabled marker available through a QR code that contained a unique moment brought to life by animated photographs and voices of the artists who speak on their work and experiences during their time at TAMUK.
The show was open to faculty, staff, students and the community. In attendance was alumna Elise Chapa-Arias, who contributed a piece for the distinguished alumni gallery. Guest speakers included TAMUK alumna Anna Jimenez and Santa Barraza, who also contributed a piece in the TAMUK Faculty gallery.
The exhibit also contained a special photo of TAMUK’s first faculty brought to life by AI and a university timeline.
“These pieces are poignant reminders to all faculty—especially our newest—that as we learn in this space, we are surrounded and supported,” said Dr. Jeffery Chernosky, Assistant Dean & Director of the Center for Faculty Excellence. “The very students we teach today can achieve the greatness of these artists and contribute to our community and the world.”
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