Two Weeks Out of Grad School and This is What's Up

Surfing Facebook and stubbled onto my BFA school page to find this quote,

"After the jump you will find code for Google Glass disrupting software glasshole.sh. Kick google glass off any wifi network in the vicinity. apparently an even more aggressive version is in the works."

with this link: http://julianoliver.com/output/log_2014-05-30_20-52 .

In short this few lines of code can jam the Google Glass and making it unusable. Not cool in my book, so I felt like replying since over the last year I've been working in and research about the rise of wearable technology and it's future.

This is what I wrote in responses to the above quote;

I'm only been in this field of "wearable tech" for a year, and am by not means an expert, yet. But what I do know is that wearables are HOT and developers and companies are trying hard to get the next cool wearable out there as fast as they can. This effects thinking about the finer details of what is public and private. Jamming a network is not the answer. Who says that someone on a crowded subway, where everyone has their cellphones/ipads out, isn't taking your photo or video you without you knowing? Are you going to jam/block there cells too? What should be happening, and in some case is happening, is that we start developing more responsibly. That's where we come in, creative technologist, we take sdks and instead of jamming/block system we create an app that when it recognizes face it ask if it can take your picture, and you say "Yes, Glass take my picture."

Feel free to chime in.

Resume of Awesomeness!

1234 Las Vegas, NM 00000

email@gmail.com

123-456-7890

VERONICA BLACK

Education
New Mexico Highlands University, Department of Visual and Performing Arts, Media Arts 

with a B. F. A. in Digital Filmmaking and Minor in Art Studio, May 2011.

Gateway Christian High School, Diploma, May 2001.

Professional Experiences
Video, Audio and Media Technician, training and educational outreach program for NM schools, colleges and nonprofits focusing on “"Growing through Conflict”" a media series for "Audio Revolution!" broadcasts, public screenings, on-line distribution and targeted listening circles. AmeriCorps and Youth Media Projects, Santa Fe, NM. January 2012-Present.

Videographer and Media Technician, filming, editing and installing video and still image slide shows on digital monitors. SITE Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM. May 2011-August 2011.

External Affairs Assistant, organizing and formating press images, cataloging press images and press clips, and assisting in public events. AmeriCorps and SITE Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM. May 2011-August 2011.

Audiovisual Technician, managed AV equipment, projectors, and provided presenters with technical support during 3 day conference, also provided video/still documentation of events.

New Mexico Association of Museums Conference, Las Vegas, NM. November 2010.

e-Publisher, co-designed and creator of digital publishings for students’ animations. New Mexico Highlands University, Media Arts Department, Las Vegas, NM. June 2010-September 2010.

Videographer, produced, storyboard and edited a virtual tour for the museums website. Marion Koshland Science Museum, Washington D.C. November 2009-January 2010.

Videographer, filmed, photographed and interviewed three local artists for web-based videos. New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs and Museum of New Mexico Foundation, Santa Fe, NM. July 2009- August 2009.

Videographer, filmed, edited and photographed a video for the Van of Enchantment website. New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, Santa Fe, NM. June 2009-August 2009.

Teachers Assistant, lead critiques, demonstrated, and graded students projects for the class Color Theory. New Mexico Highlands University, Media Arts Department, Las Vegas, NM. January 2009-May 2009.

Work Study, secretary assistant. New Mexico Highlands University, Media Arts Department, Las Vegas, NM. November 2008-Spring 2010.

Design Editor, layout designer for the second volume of the Picayune Literature Review. New Mexico Highlands University, Humanities - English Department, Las Vegas, NM. April 2009 - May 2009.

Videographer, participated in a internet based documentary for SITE Santa Fe’s Seventh International Biennial. Video was installed in SITE gallery during the Biennial.

SITE Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM. January 2008-June 2008.

Scholarships

Seabury Fellowship in Cultural Technology awarded to outstanding students, Fall 2010. 

Dale Basler Scholarship awarded to active members of the Media Arts Club, Fall 2007 & Spring 2008.

Recognitions

Museums of the Web Conference, presented during Tech Showcase “Koshland Virtual Tour,” 

Denver, CO, April 2010. 

Dean’s List, New Mexico Highlands University, Fall 2006-May 2011.

Exhibitions

“Call Me,” Mixed Media, Las Vegas 175th Anniversary Celebration Art Show, September 24- October 1, 2010. 

“Daedalus & Icarus,” Stop Motion Animation, Santa Fe 3 Minute Film Festival, Santa Fe, NM, May 2010.

“Conservation: The Delicate Art Behind the Scene,” Time-lapse Video, National Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque, NM, July 30-September 10, 2010.

“Conservation: The Delicate Art Behind the Scene,” Time-lapse Video, Mesa Public Library, Las Alamos, NM, October 2009.

“NM Creates,” Artist web-based interviews, Museum of New Mexico Foundation home page, Santa Fe, NM.

“Van of Enchantment,” Promotional video, Department of Cultural Affairs, Santa Fe, NM.

“Fashioning New Mexico,” Time-lapse Video, New Mexico History Museum, Santa Fe, NM, May 2009-April 2010.

“Almas de la Plaza,” Researched, Directed, Installed, Las Vegas, NM, December 2008-Febuary 2009.

“Lucky 7,” Six Artist Videos, SITE Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM, June 2008-January 2009.

Publications

“Communities of Discourse: A Guide to Acandamic Writing,” Diagram, NMHU, Funtanled Press, 2008. “Beads in a Row,” Photograph, Picayune Literature Review 2009.

“Green Fish,” Acrylic Paint, Picayune Literature Review 2008. 

“The BadLands SD,” Photograph, Sendero Literary Magazine 2007.

“The County Spider,” Photograph, Sendero Literary Magazine 2007. 

“The Misadventures of the Writing Center” with Ben Villarreal, Comic, Sendero Literary Magazine 2007.

Organizations

Media Arts Club, Vice President, Fall 2009-Spring 2011 

Media Arts Club, President, Fall 2007-Spring 2009 

American Sign Language, Treasurer, Fall 2007-Spring 2008

Skills

Adobe Suite CS4: InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamwaver, After Effects, Flash 

Final Cut Pro 7, Soundtrack Pro 3 

Coral Painter 11 

HTLM5, CSS, Mobile Technology

References

Mr. Andrew Wollner, Assistant Professor of Media Arts/Graphic Design. 

apwollner@nmhu.edu 

505-454-3187

Dr. Helen Blythe, Assistant Professor, Director of Graduate Studies in English. 

helenblythe@nmhu.edu 

505-454-3329


_______________________________________


This is not my original design or format but you get the idea.
Enjoy!

Statement of Interest a la Grad Schools

1-8-2012

Veronica Black

Statement of Interest

The summer of 2010 I visited my grandmother in Houston, Texas. Toward the end of that two week trip I had an opportunity to to rush over and visit the Museum of Fine Art Houston. I have always enjoyed exploring new museums or revisiting old ones whenever I travel. For me this new museum was filled with exhibits from 5th century burial masks to American contemporary art. With such artists as my hero Willem Van Aelst, his epic still lifes, and introducing me to contemporary artists like Jasper John, I roamed each wing of the museum and began to realize I was studying not just art work but the museum itself--how the exhibits where laid out, the flow of visitors, the design and color for each gallery--until I came across the Art of Asia exhibit. Weaving through the pillars that Hindu gods stood on, I wondered what their stories were when I came across a monitor. The touch screen, with built in Adobe Flash, was a simple interactive explaining the stories behind each of the Hindu gods. The interactive was bright, easy to navigate, and entertaining. It was perfect for all ages except that the touch screen was installed on the wall in a far off corner four feet from the floor--to high and out of the way for the younger museum visitors that this interactive was clearly designed for. That was the moment I realized I wanted to go to graduate school, so I can advance my education to be able to work in a cultural institution creating and installing technology that would help enrich the visitors experience. "I could design and install this interactive much better" was my mantra for the rest of my museum visit .  

When that summer ended I started my last year as a undergraduate at New Mexico Highlands University’s (NMHU) Media Arts Program, I have experienced an education both in and outside the classroom. My BFA in digital filmmaking, and my studio arts minor, have given me the foundation for creating professional and creative art. I have built upon my educational foundation with professional internships with SITE Santa Fe—a contemporary art space—the Department of Cultural Affairs of New Mexico, and the Marion Koshland Science Museums, Washington, DC, producing pieces ranging from oral history documentaries, to e-publishing children’s books, and virtual tours for the web.

In my five years at NMHU I have worked with local museums on such projects like SITE Santa Fe’s seventh biennial exhibit, “Lucky #7”—one of my first videography projects—made me part of a documentary film team comprised of students from three universities around Santa Fe. The biennial was curated by Lance Fung and focused on collaboration. Together we created a web based-only archive of the eighteen international and local artist works. Capturing the beginning process, the construction of the art, and the final installation of work in the contemporary art space through my camera lens was a wonderful way to experience how exhibitions are created. 

In 2008, I had the opportunity to be a part of the Program for Interactive Culture Technology (PICT). Within the program I worked with the New Mexico History Museum to create a short video as well as interactive pieces for the “Fashioning New Mexico” exhibit. I took ownership of shooting and editing a video that documented the process the textile conservator took to prepare the clothing for the exhibition. This video has also been displayed at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, NM, and the Mesa Public Library in Las Alamos, NM. I saw this project through to the end, developing the style of the video, the photography, and music of the piece. I finished with installing the sound system and monitor in the exhibition space.

This past summer I entered the professional field immediately after graduation through the alliance of AmeriCorps, the Center for Cultural Technology (CCT), the Media Arts Program at NMHU, and the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. Through AmeriCorps I started work for SITE Santa Fe as their summer External Affairs assistant. Through out the summer I worked on organizing and formating press images, cataloging press images and press clips, and assisting in documenting public events, getting a taste for the logistics side of museum life.

When I started researching MFA programs that had a museum connection, one of the first schools I came across was Parsons. The variety of fields in the Design and Technology program was an immediate draw. I knew I wanted to end up working for museums but how to go about it was still unclear. Having worked on many different kind of projects outside school, I feel I have much to offer in whichever path I take. I have a passion for filmmaking but skills in designing logos and layout, creating and building websites, and most recently working on mobile applications.  The design and technology program will offer me an opportunity to develop all my skills, without having to narrow down to just a few. And in the end I will be a much better employee at no matter what museum I end up.

All of my experiences have centered around museums in a positive way. I have seen how my work has helped to tell others' stories, captured a moment that was almost forgotten, or given someone an idea of what awaits them before they visit the museum. These experiences and the pleasure that come from them have secured the path I hope to tread. 

______________________________________________________

This letter was for Parsons college in New York, NY.

Enjoy!

"JOB" Almighty!

Every since May 2011 came and went I've been thinking of "what comes next."

Job? Grad school?? Kid??? Another puppy???? Marshmallows?????

After graduating from NMHU Media Arts with my very sexy BFA I enrolled into the AmeriCorps program through the Media Arts intern partnership. I interviewed with the Georgia O'keefe Museum, the Santa Fe Children's Museum and SITE Santa Fe. Landing a nice spot as the Summer intern at SITE Santa Fe in the External Affairs department. I went into that internship with the hope that it'll end up more permeant. Sadly life did not shape the way I'd hope, but it turned out I needed a break.

The break was nice and much needed. I didn't stop searching for that "next thing" though. In fact, I applied for a lot of things since that Summer Internship ended.

And here's the list so far;

Employment:

www.sfreporter.com 

I applied to the Santa Fe Reporter for a intro level Graphic Designer. The job posting just asked that you send in an email with your resume and url, if you have one. I never heard back. It was kind of a long shot but I aimed high.

www.riogallinasschool.org

The position at the Rio Gallinas was for a part time art teacher. I sent an equiring email followed by my resume. I never heard back after that and they hired Nellie Price. Which I was happy for her. So it worked out.

www.luna.edu

Luna was looking for someone to teacher a intro to flash class. I turned this down because I choice to be a part of the Youth Media Projects.

www.santafeopera.org

This 3 part application form, cover letter/email, plus resume, and references was for a intro level social/mobile/web designer for the Santa Fe Opera. An all day applications process that lead to nothing. I figured it just didn't have enough mobile/web under my belt yet, and I mean yet.

Graduate School:

So to prep for grad school application I studied and took the GREs. Not that any of my school require it but for a few schools you get put on the top stack or you can be eligible for academic grants. Since I may never be able to pay off my school loans in this life time, every little bit helps. 

www.newschool.edu

Parsons application process was probably the easiest. It was all online! Super easy! Yet, they wanted to see a lot projects and asked a lot of questions on their application. So that took some time.

www.scad.edu 

If I get into SCAD my life will be perfect! The application process is not very hard. The portfolio is the most important, followed by your statement and the letters of recommendations. I have my figures cross.

www.washington.edu 

The University of WA was by far the most stressful application ever. They wanted everything, resume, statement letter, rec letters, portfolio, everything all mailed together. But you also had to apply online and submit online transcripts for all the schools you every attended. Which I had no way for doing that for the schools I transfered from. In the end this school was the hardest but by doing all of it I was able to use almost everything for the next school.

www.vcu.edu

For VCU the application is all online but they are very picky about what you show in your portfolio. For example, if you are applying for the MFA in Film & Photo

Portfolio Requirement: Submit 20 still images; or a minimum of three recent films or videos for which the applicant has had primary responsibility in production; or a combination of still images and short video clips, not to exceed 20. Image/Video Format: DIGITAL FILES (Online or Mail CD/DVD): Image: Jpeg format only (Quality 12), maximum dimensions of 1280 x 1024 pixels at 72 dpi; file size no larger than 2.0 MB per image. Video: All videos must be formatted in MPEG4 using the H.264 codec at 640×480 pixels with MP3 audio or 48k AIF. Limit the size of your video to 100 MB. Video files should be no longer than three minutes in length. 

You must upload your work to their website and it's very nitpicking. Plus it does take a while to upload your work. So I recommend you give your self a few days before the due date to do it. I had to resize almost all my videos so that they where small enough to upload to their format.

I'm sure I'll be applying to many more jobs maybe even grad schools.

Enjoy!

Google's Got It's SITE On Art

After a wicked weekend of 4th of July awesomeness coming back to work is nice. This week at SITE we've got the Art Fair, Intro to the Art Auction and for me more editing. What a week!

For class though we are asked to chat about this groovy thing Google is doing for Art.


What is the ‘Art Project’?


A unique collaboration with some of the world’s most acclaimed art museums to enable people to discover and view more than a thousand artworks online in extraordinary detail.

This is a way to get High Def art out into the world. To folks who may never get the opportunity to travel to the art location and see it for them self. The images and the environment takes you to the museum. The navigation is a little odd and probably could use a little work on the smooth transition down the halls and to next piece of art. But all in all a good idea for a museum experience.


Google Art Project!

I feel it doesn't take away viewing the art in real life. Seeing a Van Gogh in person is amazing and Google Arts is more like a preview.

Who has access? 
Google Explorers. If you can "google" you can be a part of this project.


Who controls the art we see online?
As I move through the museum it seems like the Google people are the ones have the most control, but    

How can I get my museum added to the project?
Please check back here for more news soon on new museums being added to the projects.

It seems like there could be more applications for this kind of project. We will just have to "check back soon" to see if the google gods will allow it to happen.

Enjoy!

Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Pot

So life happens and things change, new plans are made, and doors you think are closed open up. That was a brief idea of what went down my last semester at New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU.) The plan was to finish my BFA, relax and do only what I wanted to over the Summer, and then move somewhere to start an MFA program. That didn't happen. So, my husband and I had to make a new plan (which we're still working on) and find jobs. Lucky my husband renewed his job with NMHU (where he teaches english classes) for another year. Him being set it was up to me to find something to - Here's where the door that was closed opened up - AmeriCorps!

A semester or two ago my department, Media Arts, became a part of the AmeriCorps umbrella and started helping students who have graduated or a semester away from graduating find jobs in places (mostly museums) around New Mexico. A lot of great students found great jobs.

I never put much thought into AmeriCorp, mostly because I'd hope to be heading off to my next adventure, out of state. But the plan changed and AmeriCorps was a close door that was cracked and needed to be open. I signed up. And as my final semester came to an end I went out and interviewed at three museums/galleries in Santa Fe, NM. They all sound great but the best one was SITE Santa Fe.

I had worked with SITE on their 7th Biennial in 2008 and really enjoyed that experience. And when SITE wanted to hire me I jumped through that door.

What you might not know about SITE you can find here... CLICK ME.

Pretty cool!

It was like the saying, "Out of the frying pan and into the pot." Meaning I went from finishing my BFA to a trip to LA to finish up a class in AR to work at SITE. I'm not one for slowing down.

My first week was nice, meeting and grating. But that was just the first hour. After that they put me to work. Using Microsoft Excel, which I haven't used in like 4 four years, and importing images into a spreadsheet. Did you know you can put images into a spreadsheet? I didn't. After that first week in External Affairs I got asked to help with some press images packets. Then put in charge of laying out the new 46" LED panel screens with content and images. Since my first day I have meet with the artists who will be featured in the next show, the graphic designer, and the head Philips Curator. I have filmed one event and am scheduled to film a few more before the first of July. All in all this Summer has shaped up in a good way. AmeriCorps was a perfect idea and SITE is so groovy.

I promise that the next few post want be this long, but I'm horrible, I  have to start all my stories from the "In the Beginning" point.

Enjoy!

2010 Wrap-Up

My sexy husband had this on his blog and because doing little surveys like this was my favorite thing to do on Myspace... Do ya'll remember way back then? So here is my life in 2010. Enjoy!

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?

Not working more then 15+ hours. I have never worked so little since I was sixteen.

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I forgot whatever resolution it might have been. I guess it wasn't a very good one :(

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not this year. Can you believe it?!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My husband's family dog. He was 13 years old.

5. What countries did you visit?
None :( but my husband says we drove over 5000 miles. That's kind of cool.

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
More time to run. Got new running shoes for my birthday.

7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
September 18th, the day we got our puppy Memphis!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I was awarded a scholarship and worked on learning motion typography to use to apply to my top grad school.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Letting people get me down. It's not really a failure but it sure does feel like it sometimes.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Caught a flu bug over the summer. It lasted a few days. It sucked.

11. What was the best thing you bought?


12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My Handsome! He so brilliant. This past few he lead a workshop on How to Help/Write a Science Thesis to Science PHds'. That's totally wicked! Plus he is looking into a doctoral for himself. All expenses paid for and a job once he his done. How cool is he?

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The rude and ungrateful people that seem to want to bring me down. Bad days happen to everyone, I know, I've had my share. Yet the people who feel they should share their bad day because they think it's not far your having a good one. Need to fly a kite in a thunder storm and leave me alone :P

14. Where did most of your money go?
Bills.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Getting a puppy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
It's a classic but Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" after a day trip to Santa Fe. We where driving home when my husband, bro-in-law and I spontaneously brooking into a sing-a-long.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
I am so freakin' blessed. It's crazy!
ii. thinner or fatter?
I don't feel thin or fat but I could use a few runs.
iii. richer or poorer?
We don't have a lot of money but I don't feel poor.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Run. Read. Draw.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Dishes. I seem to be doing dishes all the time but there are still tons of dirty one still in my sink. What's up with that?

20. Did you fall in love in 2010?
I'm so in love!

21. How many one-night stands?
Who needs a one night stand when I got this hottie in my bed ;)

22. What was your favorite TV program?
GLEE!

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I'm stealing what my husband said (because I'd say something mean.)

"Hate's a strong word, but I'm definitely not too happy with someone."

24. What was the best book you read?
Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Lighting Thief. It's just so much fun.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Sleigh Bells.

26. What did you want and get?
A puppy!

27. What did you want and not get?
A pass port.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
I really enjoyed seeing The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I'm getting closer to 30. Anyways. My husband took me to the movie's, his mom made me cake, and I got to open the first christmas gift of the day.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
My year was just fine. I can't think of anything that would have made better.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
A lot more tight and socks.

32. What kept you sane?
Counting down the days until I graduate and then off to a New Place. 120 days to graduation.

33. What political issue stirred you the most?
The governor of NM probably wasn't the best one voted in.

34. Who did you miss?
Humidity! Not really a who but I do miss it and so does my hands, hair and body.

35. Who was the best new person you met?
Tony and Mel! They are a lot of fun... and they (not to be mean) don't have kids... like us.

36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:
I'm hard headed but creative and sometimes that's a good mash-up.

Font Diva

Good Type. Bad Type. Ugly Type. Like that font. Don't like that font. Graphic Designers in my program go on and on about font'ing this and font'ing that. It can be kindof annoying but it's their field and knowing what works better for a design as apposed to what doesn't makes them better at their craft. Yet what does it matter if you use a Sans serif or not? What is a Sans, Sans Serif, Serif? What is the ISSUE with using Comic Sans? I'm a film buff not so much a graphic design one, so I don't need to take a typography class. I don't know the rules and, sad to say not many students in the department can answer any of these questions. Can you?

Font Link for your enjoyment...

Enjoy!

Spreading the News

The Daily Puggle

NMHU Media Arts Club

Pandora Radio

The Escapist

Puma Lift

Netflix

Check out this very groovy websites and blogs...