Immersive Art & Technology Initiative 2022

Testimonials

Being part of the Immersive Technology Workshop at the Institute of Electronic Arts was such an exhilarating experience for us, as a collaborative artist duo. We learned how to create dynamic immersive environments using motion capture suits and 3D scanners, and how to connect our audiovisual practice (that is informed by queer feminist materialist approaches) to immersive digital environments. This workshop gave us an opportunity to think about the creative potential of VR environments through a refreshing lens and motivated us to use the techniques that we learned in our future work. - Senem Pirler & Monica Duncan

The instructors, resources, staff, and fellow participants of the IEA’s Immersive Technology Workshop all contributed to a generative, informative, and communal learning experience. The breadth of varied practices, experience levels, skill sets created a working environment and culture that was inclusive and supportive, yet also encouraged and facilitated experimentation and collaboration. Over the course of the workshop, I was introduced to and taught a wide range of digital tools, techniques, and methodologies that were previously inaccessible or cost-prohibitive. My partner and I are grateful for the opportunity provided by the IEA to learn and build with a community of artists and designers, and the institute’s recognition and support of this need in Western New York. - Anthony Nguyễn

The Immersive Technology Workshop on 3D Scanning and Motion Capture was such an incredible opportunity for local media artists and practitioners. I learned how to use the motion capture suit to animate my own 3d scanned characters. Using this knowledge, I was able to put together a proposal to order a mocap suit for the College I teach at. The proposal was accepted, and we will be using a mocap suit in our department. All thanks to this 2-week workshop! - Jennie Thwing

It was a fantastic workshop! I am really happy to have had the opportunity to learn and practice on equipment of immersive and interactive arts. It was amazing to see how different processes such as 3D Scanning, Motion Capture, post-processing integrates and compile with each other. Practices on the modeling and rendering software were also interesting experience. As a student with engineering background, I start to imagine if it is possible to combine immersive technologies with characterizations of materials. That might inspire and encourage novel directions for research and analysis. - Yanfeng Zhou

I entered the EIA’s Immersive Technology Workshop with minimal experience in 3D modeling and virtual environments, and no conceptions of how I might apply or integrate these skills into my studio practice, which centers strongly around installation and assemblage. The workshop’s open format offered me access to an array of digital tools and approaches, and by encouraging personal approaches to experimentation, I discovered ways to marry my sensitivities towards physical materials and spaces within the context of a virtual environment. This opportunity provided a space to play, use, and misuse new technologies, and the myriad possibilities produced in the workshop’s short span display its exciting potentials. - Taryn Cassella

I can say with confidence that The Immersive Technology Workshop at Alfred gave me new and critical perspectives. Being able to use 3d scanning, motion capture technology, and AR gave dimensions to my work I haven't been able to explore prior. Being able to learn alongside other artists was an incredible way to see the versatility of this technology. I am grateful for Eric, Joseph and Yunda's expertise and guidance. - Nicole Chochrek

The EIA Workshop at Alfred was a fantastic two-week experience during which I learned all about 3D scanning, 3D printing, and how to create in Unreal 5. Over the course of the workshop, starting as a complete novice, I was able to take a series of photographs with a DSLR and a drone, turn those photographs into a 3D model, which was then printed on a variety of 3D printers and placed into a fully explorable 3D environment in Unreal. I was able to use this workflow to successfully 3D scan and model the King Alfred statue as well as the Terra Cotta house in Alfred. - Nate Ely

My experience during the workshop hosted by the IEA was so beneficial to me as both a practicing artist and educator. I loved meeting other people working in the field who are living and creation in and around the surrounding geographic areas. This workshop gave me great gift in a connection with a greater community and the connections and friendships formed during our time together are still yielding opportunities to interact and create together. It was also a joy to get to work firsthand with such cutting-edge systems. Much of the workshop was devoted to exploring some of the most recent pieces of software and hardware available. Access to such things is one boon, but to have access to people like Eric Souther, Yunda Sun, Joseph Scheer, and the rest of the IEA folk was incredibly useful and fun. Their teaching and demonstrating the possibilities of each tool drew me in, and the availability for all the tools to interact with each other made for a compelling web to explore and make with. What this workshop provided me was meaningful connection to peers and loads of new ideas and process to try out with them and for myself. I left excited to share with my friends and colleagues who were not able to participate. The generosity of the instructors, the institute, and the organizations who made all of this possible with their funding and support opened numerous new portals of possibilities for me. Oh, and they fed me exceptionally well with delicious, nutritious, locally-sourced foods from the region. I really don’t know what more I could ask for in an affirming opportunity to work with the tools, people, and ideas like I experienced at this workshop. Thank you to all involved for the opportunity. - Lesslie Rollins

Key Takeaways

Access to accessible immersive technologies can be a powerful creative tool for artists. The IEA’s workshop participants were amazed at how quickly they could get high quality results using the motion capture and 3D scanning technology, and the IEA believes the workshops accomplished what they had hoped for. Within the workshop’s first week, participants combined the technologies, using their motion capture data to animate inanimate objects like chains or bark they had scanned.

The workshop introduced Unreal Engine 5, and while the basics are relatively easy to understand, there is a large learning curve to the program which requires demonstration and experience for effective utilization. The IEA imagines further funded workshops and other educational opportunities for artists are needed to further the field of Immersive Technology in New York State.