Roman children with buckets on their heads, the work of Andy Warhol, Brazilian castles and Garbage Pail Kids will be mingling with one another from tomorrow until December, thanks to technological improvements.

“Art Through the Ages” opens tomorrow evening at McKnight Art Center. Slides of artwork that were used in projectors before digital imaging existed are now obsolete. Rather than throw away the collection of 120,000 slides, the personnel of McKnight decided to send them out with a bang.

“We’re taking old technology that was going to be tossed out, and we’re giving it new life by turning it into art,” said Nichole Varner, head of community outreach for “Art Through the Ages.”

The show is entirely organized, promoted and curated by students. While there is some guidance from instructors, all of the weight falls on the students’ shoulders.

Artwork will be installed throughout the entirety of McKnight, from the halls and corners to the windows and walkways. Pieces include lampshades, abstract sculptures and gigantic curtains that let the light shine through the slides’ images in the daytime and reveal a faint glow from the outside in the evening.

Kathy Hall is a library assistant who works in McKnight and recently celebrated 25 years with the university. She is responsible for taking the slide collection from 30,000 to 120,000 over 18 years.

Each slide, from start to finish, took about 20 minutes to create, Hall said.

“What is amazing about [the slides is] picking them apart and seeing that they’re very discrete, handmade objects,” said Lindsey Herkommer, instructor of art history and KMUW art reviewer.

Herkomer is one of the faculty members advising students on the project.

“Somebody took that picture, developed that picture, cut that frame of film out, placed it in there, taped it down, put it between glass and then typed these intricate little lables,” Herkommer said.

“Art Through the Ages” offers inexperienced art students the opportunity to organize and present a show.

“It’s our first time doing anything like this, and it’s all student-oriented,” Varner said.

Anybody, from people who have never even seen a slide to those who know the materials well, would be able to enjoy the show, Varner said.

There will be an informal talk presented by the student leaders and faculty advisers from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday in McKnight 210. The show officially opens at 7 p.m. and will remain open until December.