Dorothy R. Santos, Ph.D.

writer | artist | scholar

  • I need to learn #22 but I’ve got #27 down!

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    32 ways to stay creative

    There are probably way more than 33 ways but this list offers up some great ideas. This summer will be extra busy as I prep for a writing lab/intensive to make certain my prospectus (essentially a breakdown of my master’s thesis) will be in decent shape by the time I start my second year (this fall). Essentially, I’m conducting lit review for the next few months! This process entails reading, research, and a sh*tload of writing (crappy writing for the most part but this is what editing is all about!). I’m going into some really interesting directions, for sure. If you can believe it, I have yet another virtual space dedicated to my observations and experiences about school. But I have yet to update that space since the Fall 2012 semester. I’ll definitely share some academic stuff (i.e., favorite readings from my first year and the top 10 things I’ve learned).

    For now, enjoy the list and get creative!!

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  • Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month

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    Feeling extremely to be one of the 31 Asian-Pacific American writers featured on the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education website! Please see the text below for further details.

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    “For Asian Pacific Heritage Month 2013, the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education website celebrates 31 individuals. One for each day of May.

    The lives of these Americans are worthy of celebration and further study, which our short profiles hope to encourage. The women and men included are writers, editors, journalists, publishers, trailblazers and change makers. They remind us of the rich contributions Asian-Pacific Americans make and have made in the world of words.

    This is by no means a definitive or exhaustive listing. It’s a starting point for learning, comment & discussion during Asian Pacific Heritage Month – May, 2013 when our nation pays a little more attention to issues of diversity. Be heard. Tell us what you think & what we can learn!

    You can also visit previous year’s features here: Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month 2012 – A collaboration between the Asian American Journalists Association and the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education; Asian-Pacific Heritage Month 2011.”

    Text source: The Maynard Institute for Journalism Education

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  • Asterisk SF Feature on Kristin Neidlinger

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    Excerpt from Feature: Kristin Neidlinger

    Historically, Neidlinger has worked with circus performers, classically trained dancers, and individuals who have suffered from severe nerve damage, since their bodies are hyper-aware and sensitive to touch. In the long-term, she proposes, “the future of wearable technology becomes a part of us. Emotional displays and bio.media will be woven into our garments and architecture, so they are responsive. As an evolution from the ‘smart’ wristbands of today, we will have ‘sensitive’ fabrics.” Please click here to read the rest of the piece.

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  • Asterisk SF Artist Profile on Scott Kildall

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    Excerpt from “The Art of Scott Kildall”

    Kildall’s residency at the organization yielded a body of work involving a prospector in the year 2049, one who is scavenging, reinvigorating, and resurrecting discarded materials at the dump. From a figurative latex mask to the circuitry of bulky electronics that simulate transmissions from the future, his work illustrates a future founded on re-purposing the present. These unusual materials in particular were used to create his sculptural works “The Sniffer” and “The Universal Mailbox,” which were accompanied by large wooden blueprints explaining the function of each imaginary device. As a part of the installation, Kildall performed as the prospector, scavenging the Recology premises. His consumption of vacuum-packaged food products in his video performance was probably the most jaw-dropping moment of the installation. (Fortunately, he did not get sick.) Please click here to read the rest of the piece.

    Enjoy!

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  • You know you’re in Art School when…

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    Performance Piece by artist Ken Becker from Dorothy Santos on Vimeo.

    One of your brilliant classmates hacks open a sculptural work during a performance piece. I will be posting more pictures this weekend but one of the graduate wide electives I took this past semester was Sound, Music, and Technology. Ken was in my class and when he proposed his project, it was difficult for me to envision it other than him destroying something he built. Then, the night of our final projects exhibition arrived. We all gathered in The Nave at California College of the Arts (CCA) on the San Francisco campus and watched his performance. Fortunately, I have pretty steady hands and was able to get Ken in action. Watch it and feel free to comment. Personally, I love his piece BUT I’m curious what you think before I start sharing my opinion and breaking it down. Enjoy!

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  • Sleep is for Dead People (or so they say)

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    I know, I know. I’m killing you with cuteness, eh?

    The Internet sure does offer some pretty awesome stuff. But the digital age has me living four lives (work, school, personal, and freelance). Every now and again, I need a cute kitten picture to help me get through all the theory, the spreadsheets, and freak-out moments, and community work. I stay busy. Thinking about the past year, I’ve done a lot of growing up. Even my voice has changed. I’m not so scared to speak up and no longer speak with trepidation. Next week will, officially, mark the end of my first year of graduate school. Although the first semester was marked by extreme sadness with the passing of my grandfather during midterms , acquiring more personal projects, and a recent move, it has been an incredible time of learning, self-reflection, and growth. Who needs sleep when there’s so much to do? Right? Side note: For the record, I do sleep (I get about 7 hours a night, please don’t ask how, I just do).

    I’ll tell you about my projects and post regularly as soon as the summer hits. This was just a quick note to say everything is going well and like kitty, I’m bright-eyed and ready for the whatever comes my way for the rest of the year.

    Love and terabytes,

    Dorothy

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  • Under Construction (for Life)

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    Hello Family and Friends,

    I can’t believe the semester is almost over. My research papers on the other hand have yet to be completed. I’m still working on them. Not to fear, they will get done. Feel free to send me messages of encouragement and a reminder to be kind to myself. I’m sure there will be instances in the next couple of weeks where I start hyperventilating because, sometimes, I do forget to do this thing called breathing. In any case, if you’re interested, these are the titles for my two research papers:

    Engendered Rhizome: Explorations of Embodiment through the Machine

    On the Margins: Comparative Analysis of Bohemian Paris and American Hacker Culture and the Emergence of New Media Arts and Computational Aesthetics

    Good times! I’ll probably post excerpts when I’m done with the papers. This summer, I’ll be blogging a lot more (the good stuff). Promise. Thanks for reading and, again, feel free to ask me, “Ummm, what the hell is a rhizome?” Trust me, if I can explain it to you, I’ll be happy. 🙂

    Cheers,

    Dorothy

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  • Asterisk San Francisco’s IDEA Issue

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    Asterisk San Francisco's IDEA Issue

    Artist features include Scott Kildall and Kristin Neidlinger

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  • Upgrade! SF at Asterisk San Francisco ~ Workshop with Los Angeles-based artist Sara Schnadt!!

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    Upgrade! SF is kicking off its 2013 season!

    As many of you know, we received an Alternative Exposure Grant from Southern Exposure last year to produce a few workshops on new media art — these are led by artists are create work that is not just technical but also has strong conceptual underpinnings.

    In this vein, we’re proud to present “Network Gestures”, a workshop led by Los Angeles-based artist, Sara Schnadt at Asterisk San Francisco (http://www.asterisksanfrancisco.com/), which is an amazing magazine and art gallery in the Mission District, located at 3156 24th St.

    The workshop is on the weekend of April 20th-21st and is $50.

    Registration is here:
    http://networkgestures.eventbrite.com

    Please consider joining! And spread the word to those who also might be interested.

    We’re also very likely having an Upgrade! SF talk by Sara on Thursday 4/18 (just confirming the venue, more info to follow). Mark your calendars!

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    Here is the full description of the workshop:

    2-day workshop with Sara Schnadt & Upgrade! San Francisco
    Join Los Angeles-based artist, Sara Schnadt, for this hands-on workshop and map invisible data and social networks with everyday materials. Participants will learn how to translate data visualization concepts into small-scale art installations. The finished projects will be displayed at Asterisk San Francisco Magazine.

    About Sara Schnadt
    Los Angeles-based artist Sara Schnadt explores technology in her work both as subject and media. Her installations and performances use found objects, interactivity, projection, and movement derived from common gestures. Much of her work involves representations or data that translate large quantities of socially resonant information into poetic forms, including data visualization. She often performs within accompanying sculptural environments, attempting to articulate the personal within virtual and technological innovation.

    http://saraschnadt.com/home.html
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    Workshop Schedule:

    Day 1:
    1pm – 5pm, research into personal and systemic networks (2hrs), performance workshop (2 hrs)

    Day 2:
    9am – 12pm, drafting/planning, develop projects
    1pm – 5pm, complete projects and present.

    “Network Gestures” is produced by Upgrade! San Francisco, a regular programming series with speakers and socializing designed to foster community around new media arts in San Francisco. Support for this workshop is provided by Southern Exposure’s Alternative Exposure Grant Program.

    Best wishes,
    Scott, Victoria and Tim

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  • Friday Night Reading

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    Friday Night Reading

    There’s nothing like spending a quiet night with a hot cup of tea and reading for pleasure! While the Rushkoff book is directly related to my research, it’s an easy and accessible read on a relatively complicated issue of programming and contemporary culture. I plan on finishing up Saturday afternoon. As for The Influencing Machine by Brooke Gladstone, I’ve eyed this book since it came out and finally picked up with Program or Be Programmed. I’m a huge sucker for graphic novels and perused this one in particular since it is describes the history and current state of media. I’ll let you know how that one turns out. It looks great considering she covers topics from government outreach to journalism to fairness bias to the notion of objectivity. In any case, I wanted to throw something on the blog since I’ve been busy with work, school, and a few freelance projects (which I will be posting soon – hint: Asterisk SF’s next issue is the IDEA issue and a few curatorial contributions in the pipeline for a couple of larger art shows – fun times!).

    All right, I should get going. It’s not even Friday, it’s EARLY Saturday morning! Eeeesh. Til next time!!

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