Description

The Workshop hosts virtual hands-on demonstrations of tools and software available at home to help you be productive and creative on academic and personal projects.

This semester, the theme of Wednesdays in the Workshop (on the Web!) is "What If We Zoomed @ the Intersection of Art and Technology??" A mashup of of the popular "What if we kissed" meme and the often-lampooned buzz phrase "the intersection of art and technology," the theme is a humorous nod to the fact that the sessions take place on Zoom and focus on creative, fun ways of utilizing technology for art and learning purposes.

Sessions take place Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. at https://vcu.zoom.us/j/95636948085.

Sign up for reminders about sessions. For questions or accommodations, please contact the VCU Libraries Events Office at kimbrellgg@vcu.edu or (804) 393-2951.

URL

Sessions take place Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. at https://vcu.zoom.us/j/95636948085.

Special Focus Series

Media + Democracy Series

A series of sessions that engage in the ethics of making media-based works. From memes to TV to podcasts, these sessions cover important topics and techniques for addressing the issues of misinformation and disinformation.

Schedule

Feb. 10, 2021
Learn Lens Studio to Create Snap Chat Filters Using Augmented Reality
Alexis Escalante Nolasco, Department of Art Education

This session focuses on the use of augmented reality to create Snap Chat filters that use facial recognition. We will look at the program Snap Camera inside Zoom, then have a brief demonstration of the software Lens Studio which allows users to create their own filters. Attendees are encouraged to install Snap Camera and Lens Studio (both available for free) in advance of the workshop.

Feb. 17, 2021
Tips and Tricks for Livestreaming
Oscar Keyes, The Workshop

This session covers the technical basics of livestreaming. We will look at the powerful open-source program Open Broadcasting Software (OBS) and its sibling software SLOBS (Stream Labs + OBS). The session will be virtually hands-on, and it is recommended that attendees install OBS and/or SLOBS prior to the session. Attendees are also welcome simply to watch.

Feb. 24, 2021
Developing Indie Games and Interactive Art
Tammy DuPlantis, Game Designer and Artist

Learn about the creative possibilities of game development tools, from games made with paper cutouts to sound art with GameBoys. The session includes a short presentation by Tammy DuPlantis about her work and process, as well as a short demo on programming using GameBoy emulators. No experience required.

March 3, 2021
Media + Democracy: Memes + Misinformation
Jenny Stout, VCU Libraries Teaching and Learning

In this session, we will look at how memes are made and how they can sometimes be used for spreading misinformation. In addition to considering the histories and techniques of meme creation, we will cover some internet forensic tools for analyzing some of the most viral images on the internet.

March 10, 2021
Media + Democracy: Data Literacy + Democracy
Eric Johnson, The Workshop

While it's true that Big Data shapes our world, what do those shapes of data actually say? Learning how to read data is more than understanding axes labels. This session covers a range of tools and techniques for creating and analyzing various data-based graphics and media objects, as well as the ethical considerations for scientists and designers when creating infographics or other data visualizations.

March 17, 2021
Media + Democracy: Politics + Podcasts
Nia Rodgers, VCU Libraries Research and Learning

Who doesn't love a good political podcast? But where is the line between a journalist reporting facts and a pundit sharing opinions? With the rising popularity of independent media and the increasing accessibility of podcasts, it can sometimes be difficult to make sense of what's really going on out in the world. This session covers tips and techniques for engaging with the political realm of podcasting, in terms of both the technical and the ethical.

March 31, 2021
Mask Making Workshop
Kevin Sellars, VCU Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising

Are you looking to support the community through mask-making? Are you trying to save money and make your own? This session walks attendees through the basics two different methods for creating masks: machine-made masks in bulk for medical use and hand-sewn cloth masks for every day use. This session might be especially helpful for people wanting to teach others how to create their own masks.

April 7, 2021
Design with Disability in Mind
Emily Sara, VCU Department of Graphic Design

This session with artist, activist and educator Emily Sara, whose work intersects at the crossroads between disability and design, covers practical strategies for addressing accessibility needs while also looking at some of the design innovations that have been developed by artists with disabilities.

April 14, 2021
Breaking Blender: Digging Deep into Open Source 3D Software
Patrick Nugent, Villanova University

This session covers the basics of the open-source 3D creation software Blender. The session is structured around an autopsy, in which participants will dig into the guts of a professional-grade project. This deep dive, paired with approachable explanations and guided instruction, should be a useful exercise for both advanced and beginner users from all disciplines.

** This session has been canceled. **

April 21, 2021
Getting Started with Synthesizers
Cecil Decker, University of South Carolina

This interactive-ish session includes demos of hardware and software required to use (and misuse) synthesizers for electronic music, live performance and interactive art. Participants are encouraged to bring their own synths, as well as any questions. Things might get weird. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

April 28, 2021
Mystery Workshop
Workshop Staff

Tune in to find out!

May 5, 2021
Exam Jam: Google Poetics
Oscar Keyes, The Workshop & Gregory Kimbrell, Writer

Poetry has long been used as a tool of self-expression. As this historic semester comes to an end, Multimedia Teaching and Learning Librarian Oscar Keyes and poet/event specialist Gregory Kimbrell lead a collaborative poetry activity using Google Docs that makes a great starter for meaningful conversations. No poetry expertise required.

Image: VCU Libraries Innovative Media logo