I like creating and layering analog and digital material and am particularly interested in how these separate sources imitate and compete with each other within a piece and in general. Until now, this exploration has mostly occurred through sound design and flash animation.

Recently, I have been making mixed media images using black and white film photography, pencil and ink drawings, screen prints, and Photoshop. I love working with film, manual cameras, silkscreen, wood, paper, and ink. Just working with hand held tools and materials makes things feel simple and immediate. The April 2007 show at Million Fishes gave me a concrete venue for displaying some work - I was able to present four pieces for the show. The experience was an introduction to many new tools and techniques and has left me excited to keep exploring and making new work.

I still enjoy working with digital media and have started a new web-based project that will house my animation, illustration, audio and video pieces. The project is called Imaginopedia and uses the open source MediaWiki platform developed by the people behind Wikipedia.

Part personal art context and part public (and completely editable) site for anyone's work, Imaginopedia is an online encyclopedia that encourages users to collaboratively create an alternative set of "facts" based on the imagination. Imaginopedia gives me a way to explore what it means to represent / depict things through text and images while promoting the imagination and intuition as alternative sources of truth.

Currently, Imaginopedia is open to the public. Anyone can create an account and start adding / editing content. In May 2007, I will invite artists to submit their work for inclusion and collaboration with other artists.

experience

In New York, I taught at The Fund for The City of New York, The Technology & Learning Center, Jacob Riis Settlement House, The Borough of Manhattan Community College, Long Island University, and the Computer Instruction Center at The New School University.

Currently, I am teaching Photoshop and Flash at the Downtown and John Adams campuses of City College of San Francisco. I have also taught Excel and Access through their Weekend College program. I have taught in the Media Studies Program at New College of California, at the Positive Resource Center and the main branch of the San Francisco Public Library as a volunteer.

I have MOUS certification in Word, Excel, Access, Outlook and PowerPoint and provide training on a contract basis.

methodology

I am particularly interested in helping students develop cross application digital literacy. By providing a clear conceptual overview followed by step-by-step instruction and materials, I help students develop a strong foundation in digital media production essentials.

To augment this process, I often create instructional materials on the spot, first showing, then typing up the words that convey what was just demonstrated. This is extremely difficult to do but well worth the effort because it offers students a critical bridge between the language they hear, the language they need to repeat to themselves, and the actions associated with the language.

Finally, I emphasize problem solving. I think it is vital that students learn how to figure things out using online resources, experimentation and common sense. Most students will not have the luxury of being in an instructor-led environment all of the time. I speak to that reality and encourage their discovery and research skills from the very first class.

application knowledge

Graphic Design & Desktop Publishing: Photoshop, InDesign, Publisher
Web Production: HTML, Fundamentals of Web Design, DreamWeaver
Animation: Flash
Office Productivity: Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook
Computer Basics: Intro to Windows, Internet Basics
Employment Readiness: Keyboarding, Job Skills, Resume Writing