Showing posts with label Highsmith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Highsmith. Show all posts

NM 11th Annual Juried Student Exhibition

Last Friday (April 6), I stopped by Highsmith Gallery to enjoy the reception for the opening of the New Media department's 10th Annual Juried Student Exhibition.   I went there last year and had such a great time that I could hardly wait to go back this year.  Last year, the show was hosted by the Multimedia Arts and Sciences department, which has since changed its name to the New Media department and upgraded its website.  Just like last year, this year there were a lot of really interesting and interactive pieces.  I enjoyed playing around with this piece, called "intra," which allows users to connect to each other as part of a sort of electric circuit.  When we stood barefoot on the metal plates, we powered various electronics around the gallery.


Artists: David Allen, Kevin Boggs, Drew Glover, and Hannah Trussler.  "While most digital  media connects people across distances, intra creates an immersive environment that promotes direct interaction.  Each person stands barefoot on a metal plate and adjusts the environment by touching adjacent smaller pads.  When all stations are occupied, the users become part of the same circuit with a single current connecting them all."

I also really enjoyed this piece, which reacted to the movements my fingers made across a piece of paper, and displayed them on a computer screen.  I have no idea how this piece worked, but I had a lot of fun with it!



Last year, my friend designed the poster for the show and had three pieces featured. This year, he had more work on display. His piece, called "Soundstage" allows one to experience simultaneously any number of sound clips submitted from other users from anywhere in the world.  He told me that we hear many things, but only choose to focus on a few sounds (two or three), and the rest become some kind of white noise. "Soundstage" mimics this phenomenon.  Cool, right?  He also had an interactive game called "Snowflakes" but I didn't get a picture.

Here are more pictures from the rest of the show.  The exhibit closes today.  I hope you had a chance to experience the creativity of our students in the New Media department over the past week!








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Lost and Found

Last night, I left my keys on the shuttle bus that runs from my apartment to campus.  Riding the last shuttle of the day, I got off and left my keys on the seat.  Of course, when I realized my mistake several hours later, I was in a panic.  I usually try to be careful with my possessions, and this was my first time losing something so important.  I realized that this would be another practical and helpful topic for the blog, so today I’m going to tell you what to do if you lose something on campus.

There are two main places to report something as lost: Highsmith Union and Campus Police.  I first called Highsmith, and was told that because I left my keys on the shuttle (not on campus), I should report the missing item to Campus Police.  I was transferred to Campus Police, who were so helpful and reassuring.  I filed a missing item report, and hung up feeling calm.  Highsmith is also a very good place to look if you’re missing something.  I lost my phone in Highsmith a few years ago, and someone turned it in to the lost and found at the information desk on the main floor.  I mentioned that I had lost it, was asked to describe it, and got it back all on the same day.  A few semesters ago, a friend lost her student card on the way from class to her residence hall.  When someone found the ID card in the woods, he turned it in to the student worker at Highsmith, who contact her and returned the card.    Bottom line, the best places to start looking for lost items are Highsmith Union and Campus Police.

Highsmith Union: 828.251.6990

Campus Police: 828.251.6710 

Now, some of the computer labs on campus have their own lost and found areas.  Because so many students and faculty members filter in and out of these places, particularly Karpen and New Hall, many personal items are often left behind there.  If you believe you’ve lost something in one of the computer labs, the best thing to do is to go there and ask the lab assistant for the lost and found from the day.  My friend left a flash drive in the New Hall computer lab, and found it in the lost and found there.

Finally, I’d like to address the issue of leaving things on the shuttles, something that probably happens to many students, since the shuttles run from 8 to 5, serving a large number of students living in the areas around campus.  Last night, I e-mailed the shuttle service (BARCS) office to notify them of my missing object.  This morning, I called at 7:30 to double-check that my message had been received and my item successfully reported missing.  The person who assisted me in my search was extremely helpful and kind.  He radioed the shuttle drivers and asked them to search their respective shuttles for my missing items.  Luckily, I was able to recover my keys this morning: crisis averted!

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Vantage Point

You may remember the post I wrote last year covering the MMAS 10th Annual Juried Exhibition or the art on display in the library.  When I wrote these posts, I was so excited to see the artistic talent of our student body, and this post is no different.  Our school has a strong art program, and so attracts a lot of talented students eager to share their skills and energy with the UNC Asheville community.  The exhibition currently on display in the Highsmith Gallery is entitled "Vantage Point," and contains a number of awesome pieces, concepts, and ideas.  I know I've said this before, but if you are an Asheville native, I strongly suggest making a trip to campus for a bit of art appreciation.  The exhibition, although small, contains a number of interesting, fun, and well-executed pieces that made me smile and engaged my imagination.  Unfortunately, I missed the opening reception for the exhibition, but I was able to check it out and snap a lot of photos for the blog.  "Vantage Point" will be available for viewing until February 8, so there are still a few weeks left for you to enjoy the vibrant talent of our students.  Can't make it? No sweat.  Your loyal servant, I've included pictures of my favorite pieces, so you can take a virtual tour here.  What do you think? Leave a comment below! 







 details:


 This ceramic puzzle was possibly my favorite piece.  Below, I've included photos of the different ways the puzzle may be solved..









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Highsmith Union: First Floor

Although I have written several posts about various parts of the student union building here at UNC Asheville, I realized that I have not written much about the building itself.  Because Highsmith Union is such a big building, I decided to break it down by floor; this post is just about the first floor, which, coincidentally, is where you'll find the most student activity.  This level contains the bookstore (topic of a future post!), mailroom, game room, food court, art gallery, among others.  Many events for students are held on this floor, and there is a lot of traffic from students who cut through Highsmith Union to get to and from Founders Hall.  When I transferred to UNC Asheville, I was surprised to see how much the students utilize the student union building; it was a really pleasant change from my previous university, where students did not linger or socialize in the same way as they do here.  At UNC Asheville, you're sure to find someone you know when you go to Highsmith, so this building is a very popular spot for students to socialize and relax.  We also have a Redbox in Highsmith Union, which makes it even more popular for students interested in renting a movie that they cannot find in our library.  I took some pictures of the first level of this building to show what it has to offer.  Interested in learning more about Highsmith Union?  Check out the links at the end of this post or leave a comment!  
Views of Highsmith from Outside:





The game room is a very popular place to relax
Bookstore
Website

Mail Room

Highsmith Union Gallery



Intercultural Center
Website
Copy Center
Website
We have an ATM on campus for students who cannot get to the bank


Highsmith Union Food Court and dining area
 

 








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