Reza Safavi Interactivity Workshop

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

December 8, 2010 Visiting Artist

The Distinguished Guest Lecture Series, co-sponsored by the President’s Office and the Intermedia MFA Program, invited well-known digital artist Reza Safavi to visit the Orono campus this past week for a whirlwind two-day schedule that included a presentation, interactivity programming workshop and meeting students one-on-one.

Safavi lead a three-hour workshop with both Intermedia MFA students and also New Media undergraduate students. The workshop covered some electronics basics using arduino boards to manipulate LED lights, motorized children’s toys, and other found materials and objects. The lively group of students was busy working to create some basic electronic connections that could be applied to their own projects in their studios.

During the presentation Safavi gave a brief performance, which included manipulation of video by using his own heart rate as a trigger through a wireless heart rate monitor. He spoke about his past work including some explanations for concepts, ideas and methodologies.

On his second and last day of his very busy and exciting visit, Safavi met with graduate and undergraduate students one-on-one to discuss student works and to answer questions and share stories. These meetings took place in Stillwater, which is the unofficial hangout area for graduate students. At several points the room was packed to near capacity as folks listened in or asked questions.