Creative ID: 687
My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths)
I'm a digital artist with a background in music and sound production. I practice interactive digital programming that can range from an installation that interacts with its viewers, to media that reacts in real-time to live music. This requires a combination of graphic design, and creative coding/programming. For the latter I primarily work with TouchDesigner and Python. Touchdesigner is a visual programming sandbox and Python is a relatively high-level language, both of which lend themselves to dynamic and outcome oriented teaching.
My track record of experience and success - or the track record of experience and success of the creative or artist that I will partner with
My background includes performance media, video production, visual design and programming, teaching, and sound production (music and television). I've worked in a visual capacity with various artists. The latter was an event that included performances for which I designed and programmed a backdrop that allowed for real-time interaction with the musicians’ outputs. Recently I produced a similarly interactive projection mapping for the kick-off of an international tour. I designed the visualisations of the data sonifications for another musician. Currently I'm developing an interactive, science-based, art installation at the Maritime Museum scheduled for late 2023 which will simulate an environment that displays immediate impacts from the presence and proximity of patrons.
Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes
I have over a decade of experience in teaching at tertiary and secondary levels. I worked as a Programme Coordinator at an institute where I put together and taught courses in sound design, acoustics, music production, and sound for film. These were almost exclusively project-based courses with tech focuses and creative outputs. As a result I'm a realist; given a time-frame and desired outcomes, I have a good idea of what will be achievable while engaging for learners. I recently begun teaching creative programming privately and I've found that it lends itself to short chunks with interesting and fun milestones that learners can experiment and interact with. Ideally I think a group of learners could create a small but interactive installation for their school and peers in just a few weeks (this is entirely scale-able).
Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice
I wish that I had started programming earlier in my life. The kind of creative development I'm doing currently can have very immediate and exciting outcomes which quickly draws in anyone who is going through the learning curve. I believe that this makes for an excellent gateway for young people who are creatively inclined but might be weary of approaching tech on a lower level. It is where the dev space overlaps with the arts space, creating an inclusive environment for people who otherwise may have thought that they had no business working in virtual development.