A Video about Snappy the Tortoise created in the Digital Arts Lab at the Salinas Public Library.

Digital Arts Lab Teen Film

Back Country Bugs is a short film by Salinas teens, Daniel Coulter and Jake Fox. Jake has the lead role in the movie and actually wrote, sang and played the original song!
With a story outline and a digital camcorder Daniel and Jake traveled to Los Banos, CA and captured their footage. Then Daniel came to the Salinas Public Library's Digital Arts Lab to complete the post production. The final "explosion" scene was shot using the Digital Arts Lab's green screen. Very resourceful gentlemen!
Daniel finished cutting the movie using Final Cut Express film editing software and then uploaded it to YouTube!
What did YOU do on your Spring Break?

Fun, Easy, Powerful Keynote Presentations

This short video was made at the Digital Arts Lab using Apple's Keynote software.  Keynote is Apple's version of Powerpoint.  Of course, this means it does a great job connecting various media elements.  The BEST part is you can export your Keynote presentation as a Powerpoint file or a Quicktime movie!

Check out Keynote... experience the difference.

Salinas Art Song Festival 2009

Art Song Festival is an exhibition of local art in all mediums. This includes live performances of dance, music, and theatre by middle and high school students from Salinas, California.

The Art Song youth have been working hard to develop this year's promotional materials at the Digital Arts Lab. It has been fun to have them HERE at the lab. We are excited to be a part of this great event!

The time has finally come... Art Song Festival begins this month!

Check out the Art Song Visual Art Exhibit at the Hartnell Gallery from March 15 - April 15, 2009. Daily hours: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Also...

Check out the Art Song Performing Arts Festival is in Oldtown Salinas on Saturday, March 28, 2009 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

For more information click HERE

Remixing Videos at the Digital Arts Lab

YOU can remix music videos at the Digital Arts Lab!

Amber Shaeffer (a.k.a 0dessaangel) created this version of A Fine Frenzy's "Almost Lover". Amber is an artist from Sonoma, CA. She has a passion for audio/visual media. Amber has currently created over a dozen video mashups at the Digital Arts Lab.

Her method is simple...

1. She searches www.youtube.com for videos she wants to remix.
2. Next, she downloads them using KEEPVID.COM.
3. Then she edits the video and adds effects using iMovie HD.

You can make your own artistic videos too!

Come by the Digital Arts Lab and give it a GO...

Apple Keynote Presentations

Here's an example of what you can do using Keynote and Garageband. Both applications are a part of the I-Work and I-Life application suites. Enjoy!

Garland Thompson Jr.
Your DAL Advisor!

Learn & Play - Intro to iMovie HD

This video mashup is an example of what YOU can learn to create this month at the Digital Arts Lab.

The Digital Arts Lab is presenting two FREE Learn & Play classes the month of January 2009. These classes will be introducing iMovie HD. This is an easy-to-use video editing software from the Apple iLife series.

The objective of the iMovie HD Learn & Play classes will be to create a video mashup of YOUR favorite movie. This process is simple:

1. Download the trailer of your favorite movie from youtube.com
2. Cut the trailer into clips
3. Arrange the clips into something new
4. Add a music score
5. Save and burn your new video mashup

WHEN are the iMovie HD Learn & Play classes?

• January 13th 5-6pm

• January 26th 5-6pm

Click the above links to sign up for one of these classes!

Happy Holidays From The Digital Arts Lab

Local digital artist, Andre Walley, created the above image for the Holiday Card Project 2008. Andre contributed 50 copies of his card to the project. The card image above was created using the Photoshop software at both Hartnell College and the Salinas Public Library's Digital Arts Lab.

The Holiday Card Project distributes holiday cards to both U.S. and international hospitals. Cards are delivered in-person by select deviant artists in the areas of the respective hospitals. The patients who receive the cards range from children to seniors who have illness or injuries that vary from mild to terminal.

Kudos to Andre for spreading Holiday Cheer to those who are spending the holidays in the hospital. The Digital Arts Lab is proud to support his efforts!

We also wish YOU a Happy Holidays wherever you may be...

Digital Arts Lab Slideshow

This YouTube Video is a late discovery! My co-worker, Carissa Purnell, made this iMovie slideshow about a month ago (and didn't tell me!). I'm stealing it from her blog and posting it HERE.

The video shows images of the digital arts lab setup and opening. There are even several shots of me on this slideshow! I'm the guy wearing the green shirt.

Be sure to check out Carissa's Blog, Salinas Teen Services. She is one of the COOLEST librarians in California, so follow her blog for good ideas and information!

Hartnell College Digital Art Exhibition

Hartnell College Digital Art Exhibition, originally uploaded by Digital Arts Lab.

On Sunday, October 19th 2008, the Digital Arts Lab hosted its FIRST exhibition!
We invited Jerri Nemiro (Digital Art Instructor at Hartnell College) and her students to help us celebrate the Salinas Public Library's centennial kick-off. They brought their digital art we set it up in the lab for Salinas community to experience.

We featured digital graphic art from five local artists. We also projected and looped a DVD featuring animation projects from other Hartnell College students. This was an exciting day of art appreciation and socializing.

Check out the Library Photos of the show!

Leave us your comments too...

Digital Artist at Salinas Public Library

The Digital Arts Lab features... Matt Leach (a.k.a. Littlez)!

Littlez dropped by the John Steinbeck Library in Salinas, CA yesterday. He cut this track in less than 1/2 an hour. He used Garageband and tapped out the beats and other instruments using just the Apple keyboard. With a few more minutes of arrangement he was done.

You too should come by the Digital Arts Lab. Give this Garageband a try!

Maybe if you're lucky, you can meet Littlez, our Salinas resident Garageband expert. He'll be glad to help you with your questions...

What is Digital Art?

Defining digital art has been a topic of conversation lately. It appears to be a simple question. Digital art is art made with a computer. Right?

Yes. This is the MOST basic explanation. However, during a discussion with a local digital artist I learned that digital art is like any other art and somehow totally different at the same time.

Art is communication. Like paint or charcoal, the computer (or software) is a tool for expression, creativity and innovation. Respected artists not only have skills in operating their tools, but they also communicate something that resonates with their audience.

The difference between digital art and traditional art is profound. Tools for creating digital art allow artists to combine the styles and techniques of traditional mediums in ways that were NOT previously possible. Today, there are infinite ways to combine layers of images, video and sound. Digital art also gives artists the ability to duplicated and share their works almost instantly. However, the implications of this duplication may be a topic for another time.

Fortunately, the great potential of digital art has reached consumer level. You do NOT have to be an industry professional to use today's digital art tools. Anyone with basic computer skills and the desire to create something COOL can do it!

Digital Arts Lab - First Creation!

Carissa Purnell (Librarian at Salinas Public Library) took these photos of the NEW teen area and Digital Arts Lab. She then spent 15 minutes with iMovie and turned them into this slideshow. Great Work!

This is just one example of the many COOL posibilities NOW available at the Digital Arts Lab. Come down to the lab at John Steinbeck Library and make something!