STEMarts Lab just completed its 5th bootcamp for 2024 thanks to a unique partnership with UNM Taos HIVE. Each Bootcamp brings together the students that have joined as apprentices and ambassadors and welcomes new students to participate in exciting sci-art tech projects. STEMarts Bootcamps are all about learning from scientists and creating with artists to create sci-art installations that explore our place in the universe while developing valuable STEAM skills. Our Bootcamps are full day workshops and include lunch and snacks. We provide travel stipends for students traveling 30+ miles to attend at UNM Taos HIVE, 1126 Gusdorf Rd, Taos, NM 87571. Contact us for any questions: stemartslab@gmail.com
Next Bootcamp: September 7, 2024
PASEO Festival: Discover SPACE[AR]T in the Sky
For this bootcamp we began designing and planning for the STEMarts installation that will be part of the PASEO Festival happening October 3-6, 2024. This year’s theme, “Holding Space,” is inspired by a 7,000-square-foot inflatable installation called “Daedalum,” by UK-based artists Architects of Air. The “Luminarium” will be the centerpiece of the PASEO 2024 event along with a series of immersive and participatory art experiences to bring the community together to share art, creativity, and a common space.
STEMarts Lab will be exploring our human connection to the sky as a window to inner and outer space through an augmented reality installation called ‘Discover SPACE[AR]T in the Sky’.
Its first iteration was just launched at the Los Alamos ScienceFest in July. For this installation students will work with artists to create SPACE[AR]T; Animated 3D models that appear hovering in the sky in the place around you. Participants will scan a QR Code and point their phones to the sky to see the art animated in the sky and can take photos and selfies with the objects. Participants capture all six models to collect their reward. Watch the ScienceFest video to see it in action.
The workshop was a huge success. 15 students came up with their SPACE[AR]T concepts and started their 3D models in Blender.
What is SPACE[AR]T?
SPACE[AR]T is art that is inspired by the topic of space and transformed into augmented reality [AR] experiences. In this full day workshop students met our guest speaker, Alessandro Straccia, a Creative Technologist that is leading the STEMarts XR development. He presented via Zoom from Brazil.
Students saw examples of his innovative Augmented Reality (AR) projects and learned about the possibilities of AR and immersive installations. He shared his Blender tips for creating 3D models that get transformed into AR experiences to inspire their afternoon Blender workshop.
Students then met Ubaldo “The Space Ace” Ciminieri, a podcast host, panel moderator, and Chief of Staff at CisLunar Industries. He focuses on advancing sustainable manufacturing in space through his expertise in talent strategy and communications. Ubaldo also hosts several podcasts, including Liftoff! and The Human Everywhere Podcast, and advocates for workplace safety and inclusion.
Ubaldo talked about the “Overview effect” and how this phenomena has transformed astronauts and space tourists to become advocates, philanthropists and humanitarians for the protection of our planet Earth. He shared how it inspired him to join the growing number of innovators designing sustainable solutions to improve life on earth and space. His presentation inspired the art making that followed.
For the afternoon session, Ian Harrison and Agnes Chavez guided the students in the ideation stage of the design process, such as this drawing by Kylie Alvarez, STEMarts apprentice. Julia Doke led the virtual ambassadors from Guadalajara Mexico via Zoom.
All the students came up with fabulous concepts for their 3D models inspired by the space science that they have been learning about through the STEAM curriculum. Ian then led them through the Blender techniques to learn how to build their models in the 3D modeling program. The students will continue their model development at home with virtual support from Ian and Julia. Below are some photos from the workshop.
About our Blender/AR instructors!
Ian Harrison
Ian Harrison is a 3D artist, animator, and programmer with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Digital Arts from UNM. With 14 years of experience in Blender 3D and 6 years in programming, Ian’s work blends fantasy and realism, reflecting his passion for space, video games, art, and science. This past year, Ian worked as the lead animator and editor for several live musical performance visual productions before joining Syncronos Design Inc. as the IT specialist. At Syncronos, he contributes to a full-length animated film about the world around us. That year, Ian also led enemy development for the game Botnyst and showcased an interactive projection piece in “Edge Conditions.”
Julia Doke
Julia Doke is a born and bred New Mexican who graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelors in Animation and Digital Arts. She is an emerging 3D Generalist and illustrator who draws inspiration from the natural world and the different organic compounds and interactions that occur on our planet and beyond. Julia aspires to use 3D design and animation to bring people’s attention to all of the miraculous and complex life cycles and ecosystems that many people take for granted. She is dedicated on taking an artistic approach to educate people about the biological world that surrounds them what lies beyond our skies.
ALESSANDRO STRACCIA | CREATIVE TECHNOLOGIST || IMMERSIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Alessandro Straccia is leading the AR development for STEMarts Lab and will be visiting us at the bootcamp to share his work and provide an overview on the latest trends in augmented and virtual reality technologies and immersive art. He will be working with Ian and Julia to prep the 3D models for the final installation built in 8th Wall.
Alessandro, a Creative Technologist hailing from Brazil, has recently published “Interactive Web Development with Three.js and A-Frame.” His book is packed with insights from his eight-year journey with Three.js, aimed at inspiring your next digital project. Catch the 8th Wall interview for more on his AR adventures: https://bit.ly/3VZnYyx
Thank you to our sponsors
Thanks to the UNM Taos HIVE for sponsoring and hosting these Bootcamps which makes this work possible. Thanks to all our sponsors that support the Ambassador and Apprentice programs. Encantado Foundation, LANL Foundation, Taos Community Foundation, Lor Foundation, LANL CPO, NMarts, Taos Community Foundation, MAE Foundation, J3 Fund and all our individual donors!
