History of Digital Media & CTC VISTA

Experience has proven that it's important to introduce people to the process of making digital media, not just how to use the tools and applications. Digital art and media making addresses both visual and media literacy, as well as using software, computer technology, and digital equipment. As a member of the CTC VISTA Project focus area, there are many ways to communicate, share, explore and brainstorm ideas, including the new priority area portal, Nettrice's Mixx & Mash Blog, the Project's online discussions, and, of course, a mailing list/listserv provided by CTC VISTA (for VISTA workers and supervisors).

In August 2005, VISTAs attended an overview of the digital media for youth priority area, led by Nettrice R. Gaskins, as part of the CTC VISTA Project pre-service orientation. Attendees received a handout during the session. The materials introduced digital media and youth development, including examples of computer animation from the Youth at Art Tech summer class at the Mass College of Art. This class was also taught by Nettrice. Video of this presentation is available on the CTC VISTA website. Nettrice R. Gaskins is an adjunct faculty and computer arts academic specialist at UMass/Boston and Mass College of Art, as well as a board member of CTCNet and NAMAC. Nettrice has been doing computer animation since high school in Kentucky. Back then she was using Macintosh and Amiga computers. When she graduated from high school, she got a full art scholarship to attend Pratt Institute in New York City and another full scholarship to attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She majored in computer graphics at Pratt and art & technology at SAIC. Today, Nettrice wears a lot of hats. She has been teaching and working with youth for 14 years. Nettrice's online portfolio is NetArt.

Nettrice was a CTC VISTA Project supervisor at the BNN Multimedia Center, from 2003-2004. She worked with Derek P. Hixon, a former VISTA, and ran digital art/media classes for Boston-area youth. She also served as the original CTC VISTA Project priority area coordinator from 2005-2006.