Project
provides artists, computer scientists with experience, jobs
By Laurie
Mellas-Ramirez
UNMs
Digital Pueblo Project will create an infrastructure to foster
economic development in New Mexicos digital arts and sciences
industry with help from a new $600,000, three-year National
Science Foundation (NSF) grant.
Using Access
Grid technology, artists in far reaches of the state will be
connected with urban-based computer scientists to work on arts
and entertainment-related projects. The grid, developed through
NSFs National Computational Sciences Alliance, can stream
video, audio and data across the World Wide Web to upward of
25 sites at once.
The Digital
Pueblo Project will also facilitate classes in computer graphics
and digital animation and video production.
Our
approach is to create projects working with our partners that
offer real world experience for students, provide test beds
for innovation and also create jobs and revenue so the Digital
Pueblo can be self-sustaining.
UNM
Professor Ed Angel
Our
approach is to create projects working with our partners that
offer real world experience for students, provide test beds
for innovation and also create jobs and revenue so the Digital
Pueblo can be self-sustaining, said Ed Angel, UNM Arts
Technology Center (ATC) director and professor of computer science,
electrical and computer engineering, and media arts.
Angel is
co-principal investigator with Ernie Herrera, UNM Albuquerque
High Performance Computing, Education and Research Center (AHPCC)
associate director, Danae Falliers, ATC associate director,
and Jack McIver, research deputy vice provost.
New
Mexico has produced well-trained, talented people in both technology
and the arts. Unfortunately, much of this talent has left the
state due to the lack of job opportunities, Angel said.
Several
technology pods, state-of-the-art facilities that provide high
bandwidth Internet connectivity for long distance collaboration,
will be built. The pods will be equipped with graphics software
and hardware and other computing resources connected to large
servers at AHPCC.
Pods are
being constructed at the National Hispanic Cultural Center and
LodeStar Astronomy Center at the Natural History Museum in Albuquerque.
Possible locations for additional pods include the Poeh Arts
Center in Pojoaque, N.M., and Zuni Pueblo.
Students
ages eight to 80, including high school youth from underserved
areas, will be recruited to participate in projects and classes.
Project
partners from universities and colleges, regional industry and
national labs, as well as successful digital artists residing
in N.M., will serve as mentors and educators. Faculty and facilities
in the UNM Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering
Departments and UNM College of Fine Arts Media Arts Department
are also integral to the Digital Pueblo.
Project-focused classes in the animation programs Maya and Lightwave
will begin at the LodeStar Astronomy Center and National Hispanic
Cultural Center in February.
Several
innovative, first-year projects are underway - two in conjunction
with the LodeStar Astronomy Center.
Our
animation students are creating content for a full-length digital
animation that will be projected on the full dome. It would
be the first of its type, breaking away from the more traditional
planetarium show, Angel said. A small part of what
we have done so far is being shown as part of standard shows
at LodeStar. David Beining, director of LodeStar and his
staff have been key contributors to the project.
Secondly,
a five-minute animation will be created to showcase the professional
quality and unique content of New Mexico produced animations.
Various groups in the state will used the piece as part of economic
development efforts.
A third
project involves an upcoming commercial film.
The Digital
Pueblo Project is funded through the NSF program Partnerships
for Innovation.