[Reflection] What I Learned

LIX: The World’s Smallest 3D Printing Pen

At the beginning of this class, like everyone else, I was intimidated by using technology regarding all the software and possibly "coding." I considered myself a very traditional artist and I did not anticipate to incorporate digital media in art class besides using basic photography. It was hard to imagine how I would use these new media in a lesson plan. 

However, this class has completely changed my perception on digital media. Although some of the media displayed certain technical challenges, I find the overall course full of pleasant surprises. For example, I would never imagine using scanner, video, and social media to create art. Furthermore, I am surprised by the simple tools that are available online such Audacity for sound art, Scratch for video game, and Moviemaker for video art. These softwares have turned what I perceived to be difficult process into simple exploratory activities that young people would enjoy. 

Throughout the homework assignments I find researching artists and making lesson plans the most helpful. The fact we saved these information on a blog makes it easy to track and reference to after we started teaching. I particularly enjoyed the collaborative project in class because I got to learn from my classmates something I may not be familiar with before I started my own project. 

At the end of the course, I find new media a challenging yet stimulating medium to work with. Lots of it is centered on abstract and conceptual planning which confronts us as problem solvers to brainstorm solutions in order to execute the ideas in our mind. Furthermore, the fact that digital media is so accessible and abundant in currently days makes it a relevant medium to the younger generation. I think I definitely learned a lot from this class. (Thank you Richard!)

[Wearable Design Artist] Ying Gao

Ying Gao is a Canadian based designer who questions public's assumptions about clothing by combining urban design, architecture and multimedia. She is inspired by the social and urban environemnt and through exploring the construction of the garment, she creates these interactive design that incorportates digital technology experimentally. Her inclusion of sensory technologies makes her garment playful and interactive. For Gao, "design is the medium, situated in the technological rather than in the textile realm." Ying Gao explores both the status of the individual, whose physical contours are transformed by external interferences, and the garment’s function as a fragile protective space.



The project was built around the idea of uncertainty. Both garments are activated by the spectator's voice. Through the motion of the pins, the garments engage the spectator on a conversational level, which is filled with misunderstanding(s) and uncertainty.


These interactive pieces play with the public’s perception: the fluid movement of breathing is simulated using sensors and a pneumatic mechanism that’s sown directly onto nylon and cotton. These unconventional garments then take on a playful dimension through their inflatable capacity.

Ying Gao

http://yinggao.ca/eng/

[Project] Sound Art Revisited

[make up project for wearable design workshop]

After completing my final project, a combination of audio and digital painting, I found sound to be a very interesting medium to work with. Continuing my exploration with classical music, I have combined a recording of my younger brother's piano playing, by which I extracted from a video, to merge it with my own playing the song "Swan Lake" by Tchaikovsky (one of my favorite classical music).

I was inspired by John Cage's 4'33" by which the audience participates in a silent music performance. The gentle noise created by the audience becomes the melody whereas in my piece, the audeince needs to concentrate and sort through the chaos to reach the melody they are familiar with. I intentionally leave the noise in to challenge the listening expereince of classical music (general perception of elegance).

[Reflection] New Media in Classroom

"What's the place of new media in an art classroom?"

I have previously written on the wiki space against using new media in classroom. Over the semester my thought has changed. Right now I support using new media in class but with restrictions: I feel students over 12 years old may enjoy the privilege digital media. 

First of all, developmentally children younger than 12 are still developing their body and it is important to have them engage the whole body through traditional medium (hand eye coordination). Also, younger students tend to play more and distracted more by digital media than older students who are more mature and are able to control. There is a general fear that these digital medias are quite pricy compare to traditional art material so I think all in all it would be better to incorporate digital media starting at middle school.

Digital media allows abstract thinking but at the same time demands more conceptual and logical planning in order to carry out a project. With older students I feel they will be able to practice digital media more effectively and appreciate its benefit. With prior experience on traditional material students will be able to apply what they learned in terms of design and technique and creatively infuses into the digital classroom. Therefore, I support using new media in classroom starting from middle school. 

[Connection] Wearable Design Lesson Plan

Computational Fashion @ Eyebeam
For this lesson, a class of 11th grade students will be visiting Eyebeam Art + Technology Center for a field trip. Students would look at various artists who use digital media creatively as a general introduction, and then participate in a workshop on the theme of Computational Fashion, an Eyebeam initiative bringing together artists, fashion designers, scientists, and technologists to explore emerging ideas and develop new work at the intersection of fashion and technology. Students will have the choice to participate in one of the 3 workshops: 

1) Smart Textiles: Fashion That Responds 

2) "Fashion and the Body" Panel + Wearable Tech Demo

3) Costumes as Game Controllers: The Lightning Bug Game

Students will write a reflective paper on their expereince in the workshop oulinging what they learned and what role and impact does wearable technology play and have in current world? Students will be separated into 3 groups for a short presentation introducing their workshops to others who haven't had the chance to participate.

Computational Fashion

http://fashion.eyebeam.org/

[Final Project] Audio, Drawing/Painting, Identity

http://www.fastswf.com/YfE2Jxc
http://www.shareswf.com/game/35255/nutcracker-march

(either link works fine)

For my final project I have the 3 keywords: audio, drawing/painting, and indentity. I went through a lot of planning and finally decided to challenge myself by doing an all digital project. I started with the idea of "audio visual / music visualization," regarding how we see visuals through melody and rhythm. I find this an important topic to explore because many artists are often inspired by music (Kandinsky, pop art, contemporary). Furthermore, in my field observation I also found out that many adolescents enjoy listening to the music while making art. Thus, I am interested to explore the relation  between these two forms through digital media.

There are many softwares online called the "music/audio visualizer" that people have created to visually represent sound. For me I chose to "map" a music clip that is significant to me. From Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker, "March" to me is the first classical music I recall. Ever since then I have developed great interest in music and have been taking piano classes for 13 years. I debated greatly whether to apply to music or visual arts for undergrad degree. Though I ended up choosing the path of visual art,  music is still very dear and important to me. Through this artwork I want to commemorate my relation with music, that both music and visual art consititute to my identity. 

I used Flash for this project. The idea is that each note corresponds to a particular color: Do (red), Re (orange), Mi (yellow), Fa (green), So (blue), La (indigo), Si (purple). Each paint drop also drops on the location same as the note on the staff. The size also corresponds to the volume of each note. I am not so familiar with Flash so it took me quite a while to figure out the procedure. The hardest part was to coordinate the drops to the music. There are still spots in the final work that don't quite match after rendering but I tried my best. In the end I combined audio and "painting" through a video that I feel best represents me.

[Project] Scratch Mini Game

Dog chasing the ball~ 
Using "up, down, right, left" arrow keys to control the the baseball. Avoid the dog!