Discover Space[AR]T in the Sky

Discover Space[AR]T in the Sky: An Augmented Reality Sky Hunt

STEMarts Lab presented an interactive Augmented Reality [AR] Sky Hunt at The PASEO Festival 2024 in Taos, New Mexico. Participants visited each of our six [AR] stations, pointed their phones to the sky, and discovered our Space[AR]T — artist and student-created animated models that appear in the sky and land in front of you. Each art piece explores our relationship to space through the unique lens of our community and culture.

The [AR] real time visualizer above displays the moment a photo or selfie was captured with the space models. Visitors that captured all six received their very own Space[AR]T piece to take home. Our STEMarts Youth Ambassadors were on hand to guide the augmented reality journey.

STEMarts Ambassadors: Tulasi LoPriore, Atma Budd-Rodriguez, Taylor Streit, Kylie Alvarez, Joaquin Romero, Ivan Holguin Rodriguez, Sofia Trevino, Feliciana Mitchel-Gonzales, Claire LeGate, Shintaro McFarland, Raziah Ko, Shaylee Mirabal, Zion Flores

Creative Team: Director: Agnes Chavez
AR Developer: Alessandro Straccio; Blender consultant/instructor: Ian Harrison

Space[AR]T models

Orion Particle Ring

Shaylee Mirabal

This model blends my personal background with some of the science I’ve learned at STEMarts. Its structure mimics that of a simple particle accelerator, showcasing how particles travel through a loop. The outer design reflects my Native American heritage, featuring a common blue and white pattern similar to that found in traditional baskets and blankets. The darker, starry half represents the constellation Orion, known as Átse Ats’oosí, which symbolizes protection.

Cosmic Cartographer

Ian Harrison

This astronaut model is a deeply personal piece, blending my passion for space exploration with the essence of my New Mexico roots. I crafted custom textures that feature chili patches, a New Mexico license plate, and a topographical map of my hometown, layered across the entire suit to create a tactile connection to my heritage. The New Mexico-themed flag on the astronaut’s back symbolizes pride and belonging, anchoring the model in a sense of place. Through this piece, I’ve sought to fuse the vastness of space with the intimate, familiar landscapes of where I grew up.

Kottimobile

Elizabeth Littlejohn

For my Kottimobile, I designed a protest ship made of a magnet, space debris, placards, an ice-cream cone, and a vacuum cleaner. During its orbit, the Kottimobile collects space debris on its magnetic prow, only to reassemble it into affordable housing upon its return to earth. I designed the Kottimobile to show how we can invest in space exploration, and also build social housing to solve the housing crisis on earth. The Kottimobile acts as a messenger ship broadcasting the intergalactic struggle with housing rights, while recycling space waste into terrestrial housing initiatives.

James Webb Flower

Raziah Ko

For this 3D model, I was inspired by the colors and shapes of the James Webb telescope (JWT). I was also inspired by how origami influenced the design of this telescope. The way the JWT folds out reminded me of how flowers bloom, and that’s how I got my inspiration.

Planetary Abstractions

Zion Flores

I wanted my model to symbolize the connection between Earth and our society. As humans, we have made incredible progress and are set to achieve even more. The collective ideas of people worldwide are pushing us beyond our wildest dreams. Though in the grand scheme of things, we are quite small, our global achievements continue to elevate us. If we continue working together as a society, the possibilities are endless!

Eclipse Fractal

Santiago Valadez

I had the coolest experience in Albuquerque during my international ambassador’s trip from Guadalajara, Mexico and that was the main inspiration for this design. I had the opportunity to witness the annular solar eclipse, and I realized the amazing power of space. The object is composed of a big white sun in the center, and a fractal cube around it that has holes and objects that make the effect similar to the eclipse. The objects are symbols of important experiences and also the knowledge I acquired in the Space Messengers Project, making me more curious about the cosmos and how we could take care of it starting with our beautiful planet earth.