This work was inspired by my journey into the world of art. After earning a graduate degree in Educational Technology, I wanted to do something completely different. I started taking classes in photography and printmaking, first online and then in person. I found that making art was more interesting and engaging than the classes that I was taking to prepare for a Ph.D. program. Slowly, my focus began to shift. I continued taking classes and attending local workshops and events, learning more about different artistic disciplines. I became more involved with local camera clubs and art galleries, submitting my work for competitions and exhibitions. I applied and was accepted into the B.A. program in Photography at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Throughout this period, I documented my journey by taking photographs, assembling artifacts, and reflecting on my practice through journaling. This work is a collection of images of local pieces that inspired me and shaped my artistic evolution. My goal was to curate an urban art gallery. In looking at these pieces together and considering their commonalities, I found that certain elements of design appeal to me, including form, texture, tone, line, and pattern. However, the element that is the most appealing to me is color. In order to display these works in both monochrome and color, I created videos that transition between the two states using a glitch. The pieces themselves are dynamic, as is the display. I coded a site that displays one of the sixteen images at random with each page load. I also hosted this site through GitHub Pages, so that I may continue to add to it throughout my program. My hope is that fellow artists may reuse this open source code to curate their own urban galleries of artistic inspiration.
Statement
Biography
Serena Scalzi is an artist and an educator living and working in Southern Nevada. She is an Instructional Designer for UNLV Online and a Part-Time Instructor for the College of Education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Scalzi holds an M.Ed. in Educational Technology from UNLV and a B.S. in Marketing and International Business from Indiana University. She is currently pursuing a B.A. in Photography at UNLV. Scalzi is a member of the Nevada Camera Club and the City Lights Art Gallery. Her work uses mixed media techniques to explore the themes of identity and memory, while her research focuses on the intersection of education, technology, and creativity.