Art 350// Blender 2nd Progress Report

For the first half of the semester I have decided to create bugs in Blender to print out of the MakerBot.  The reason this one looks so strange is because of the fact that I was partially inspired by Portal to create a sort of robotic but, but looking at it now, I think I'll just create normal bugs.

I based the design off a water bug.

I'm quite proud of the back on this one.

--VMS

Art 350// Blender

I'll be experimenting with this semester and will hopefully create small figurines in the MakerBot we have in class.  My first creation was the bust of an old man and I'm quite proud of how it turned out.

--VMS

Art 343// Second Life Project Proposal

We had to create a small project proposal that would involve our entire class.  I chose to do an older version of myself, wondering how we would be treated in a world of perfection with our act of imperfection.  Everyone participating can act however they want with their older self and even have the appropriate accessories, i.e. canes, walkers, scooters, etc.

My older virtual self.

My top six favorite performances to vote on for SL:

Old age (if I cannot vote for this because it is my own, then use the rest of the list excluding this one)

Awkward cross dressing

Chinese astrology

Fast food mascot

President avatars

Avatar TVs

Band (just in case I can't vote for myself)

--VMS

Art 343// Second Life Self Avatar and Object

It took me a couple of tries, but I think I did a good job of putting myself into the virtual world.  For this project the clone stamp tool was my best friend.  I also added skin textures to my body for it to merge better, as well as my real texture for my green shirt.

My real life self.

My virtual self close up.

My virtual self, full-body shot.

We also had to create an object from our real lives in Second Life, and I chose my lamp in my room.

I made the lamp extremely tall for a more dramatic effect.

The light bulbs can actually light up when touched.

The lamp lit up at midnight.

--VMS

Art 350// Reading Questions

In the virtual world when the beautiful and desirable is the norm, are those who stray away from it the ones who must be shunned or are they really the ones who are the most beautiful?

If nothing is private on the internet, then should nothing surprise anyone about anyone else?

--VMS

Art 343// Virtual World Avatars Two Questions

If everyone is the epitome of beauty in a virtual word, the beauty that many so desire in the real world has become the norm, so when one sees an avatar of a normal average human are they the ones who are exceptionally beautiful?

If the virtual world allows us to step into the shoes of anything, why do we only focus on the fantasy? Why not walk a mile with your avatar as an old senior, or someone in a wheelchair? Why do we immediately think of "I want", rather than what we can explore in these new worlds?

Happy Black History Month!

In honor of Black History Month, I want to highlight some of the most notable people whom without we may not have the lives we have today.  Each day during this month I will upload a new post with a new highlight.

Lewis Howard Latimer

In 1874, he copatented (with Charles W. Brown) an improved toilet system for railroad cars called the Water Closet for Railroad Cars. He also received a patent in January 1881 for the "Process of Manufacturing Carbons", an improved method for the production of carbon filaments used in lightbulbs. Latimer is an inductee of the National Inventors Hall of Fame for his work on electric filament manufacturing techniques. A founding member of the Flushing, New York Unitarian Church; Latimer's home has been moved to a small park in Flushing, New York and turned into a museum in honor of the inventor.