Photography & New Media
Code: P0204-24
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Open to All
Students of any skill and knowledge level.
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Ages 9-12
Basics of Game Design in Scratch
Jun 10 - 14, 2024
9AM - 3PM
Concept
In this workshop, each participant learns to create at least one small, complete video game in Scratch, a delightfully inviting programming environment that rewards tinkering and exploration. We are inclusive, welcoming, loose, and quick in our process as we explore game design in an art context, using a combination of do-as-I-do demonstrations and prompting to create a game of one’s own, encouraging making one’s own characters and stories. This workshop is open to learners at all levels. Se habla español.
Media & Techniques
Scratch web-based software, character development, story development, basic game design, collaboration, demonstrations
Faculty
Rafael Fajardo
Rafael Fajardo (he/him/his) is an artist, designer, researcher and educator. Through his collaborative, SWEAT, Fajardo has been creating boundary blurring videogames as an art form since the year 2000. These games have been exhibited in museums and festivals worldwide. Fajardo’s research and creative projects have been funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, by the Colorado Council on the Arts, and by MTV in excess of one million dollars. In 2004, I.D. Magazine named Fajardo among the top fifty designers in the United States. With Adán De La Garza and Justin Ankenbauer he curates a series of popup artist’s games arcades as Dizzy Spell. At the University of Denver, where he is an Associate Professor of Emergent Digital Practices, he also serves as a founding member of the Board of Advisors for the Interdisciplinary Research Institute for the Study of (in)Equality (IRISE) and is core faculty of the LatinX Center. Fajardo earned both a BA and a BFA from The University of Texas at Austin, and an MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design. He was born in Colombia and migrated to the US with his parents in 1968. He was raised in San Antonio, Texas. Fajardo’s earliest games, Crosser and La Migra, are featured in ReVisión, an exhibition at the Denver Art Museum on display through July 2022 that is reimagining 2000 years of art history from what we now call Latin America.
Rafael Fajardo, Seeds of Solitude, detail
Join Waitlist for Basics of Game Design in Scratch
Thank you for your interest in the waitlist. When space in a workshop or program becomes available, registration will open on the website. Everyone on the waitlist will be emailed to alert them of the opening. This ensures that everyone has an equal opportunity to register for the workshop or program.
Photography & New Media
Photography has always been a vital part of Anderson Ranch, one in which students explore visual storytelling through a variety of contexts and concepts. The program has uniquely evolved to focus on both traditional photography and new media— making it one of the only workshop settings of its kind. Three floors of the Fischer Photography Center house state-of-the-art equipment, including three photography studios, two Mac labs, a traditional darkroom, and a lighting studio with strobe and continuous lighting for photography and video.
All Photography workshops are rooted in the same idea—powerful art requires rigorous inquiry of techniques and ideas. We focus on technical skills, content and critical dialog. Students have access to color-managed media labs equipped with 24-inch iMacs, flatbed and film scanners, Epson printers, and cutting-edge software including Adobe Creative Cloud. When appropriate, students utilize strobe and tungsten lighting equipment, seamless backdrops, green screen, audio and video recording equipment and Epson large-format printers.
The Ranch Photography and New Media team creates an inspiring environment, allowing artists of all levels to explore lens-based media and the journey of artistic discovery in the unparalleled setting of the Colorado Rockies.
Anderson Ranch is happy to extend a tuition discount* in one- and two-week adult photography and new media summer workshops** for members of SPE and the Center for Fine Art Photography at the student membership level or above. Please email reg@
Workshop Details
Lodging & Meals
Housing is limited and includes shared and private lodging options. Reservations will be managed on a first-come, first-served basis. The earlier you reserve housing, the better your chance of receiving your preferred option. Please note: Workshop costs do not include accommodations.
NEW: Tuition includes a welcome dinner and lunches. In our effort to foster a stronger sense of community and accessibility at Anderson Ranch, we include the welcome dinner and all lunches as part of the tuition for summer workshop students. Our hope is that this adjustment will encourage all students to come together to share meals and engage in meaningful conversations. The Ranch Café Meal Plan, which is included with Room and Board fees, strives to provide healthy, creative meals that will nourish your artistic creativity. Learn more.
We have established a Business Safety Plan with added layers of precaution that prioritize the health and safety of our staff, students, faculty and guests while continuing to provide you with the Anderson Ranch experience that you know and enjoy.
Scholarships, College Credit & Discounts
Making Art Accessible
Applications for scholarship support are encouraged. Specific scholarships are funded by Ranch supporters, either through endowed funds or special gifts.
Many colleges and universities offer college credit for workshops taken at Anderson Ranch. Discounts are available for students and teachers.
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In this workshop, every participant creates at least one small, fully realized video game using Scratch, an inviting and playful programming platform perfect for exploration and experimentation. Our approach is inclusive, welcoming, and fast-paced as we delve into game design within an artistic context. Through a blend of hands-on demonstrations and creative prompts, participants are encouraged to tinker, explore, and craft their own games, complete with original characters and stories. Thisworkshop is open to all skill levels including beginners. Se habla español, and all are welcome!
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I
Level I
Students are new to photography and new media and have no formal training in photography, video, multimedia or animation. Students have basic computer literacy.
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II
Level II
Photography students have a basic understanding of photography principles and technology and are comfortable using an SLR camera in manual mode. New Media students have a basic understanding of video, multimedia or animation software. Students have basic computer skills and are comfortable using a Macintosh computer.
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III
Level III
Photography students have some formal training and significant experience making, capturing and digitally processing images using Adobe Lightroom and/or Adobe Photoshop. New Media students have some formal training in conceptual and technological aspects of video, multimedia, coding or animation and are versed in the appropriate software applications. Students have a portfolio of their artwork.
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