LAURA M. RUSNAK
e: laura [at] lmrusnak [dot] com

Academic Degrees
9/07-Pres  PhD candidate in Mass Communications, Ohio University; Athens, OH.
Expected graduation: 06/2010.
8/01-5/04  MFA in Computer Art, Syracuse University; Syracuse, NY.
8/93-5/98  BFA in Illustration, Cleveland Institute of Art; Cleveland, OH.


Other Education
9/00-6/01  The Ohio State University; Columbus, OH.
8/99-12/99  School of Visual Arts; New York City.
6/95-5/99  Cuyahoga Community College; Parma, OH.


Academic Positions
2/07-Present  Instructor, Interactive Media Design and Web Design, Art Institute Online; Pittsburgh, PA.
8/06-5/07  Assistant Professor, Art and Art History: Digital Concentration, Hartwick College; Oneonta, NY.
8/04-7/06  Instructor, Digital Arts Division, Bowling Green State University; Bowling Green, OH.
8/02-12/03  Teaching Assistant, Computer Art, Syracuse University; Syracuse, NY.
1/02-5/02  Adjunct Professor, Computer Art, Syracuse University; Syracuse, NY.


Non-Academic Positions
1/07-Present  Research Assistant, School of Telecommunications; Ohio University; Athens, Ohio.
1/04-Present  Multimedia Developer, freelance; Cleveland, OH and beyond.
8/03-12/03  Lab Manager, Computer Art, Syracuse University; Syracuse, NY.
5/03-7/03  Lab Assistant, Computer Art, Syracuse University; Syracuse, NY.
5/02-7/02  Lab Assistant, Computer Art, Syracuse University; Syracuse, NY.
12/00-8/01  Photo Editor Intern, CompuServe Interactive Services; Columbus, OH.
5/00-8/00  Production Artist, American Sign Shops; Middleburg Heights, OH.
9/98-5/99  Production Artist, American Greetings Corporation; Cleveland, OH.


Visiting Artist Lectures
4/06  Gallery lecture as part of the iDEAs exhibition, 3rd Annual iDMAa Conference; Miami University; Oxford, Ohio.
1/06  “Communication Through Web Design” presented in IPC405: Computers Mediating Cultures and Organizations, BGSU; Bowling Green, OH.
10/05  Digital Arts Professional Practices Seminar, BGSU; Bowling Green, OH.
11/02  "The Art of Perry Hoberman"; Studio Arts Department, Syracuse University; Syracuse, NY.


Teaching Experience
Art Institute Online, 07-08

IMD 121 Information Design
(Concepts in information, interaction and navigation design for interactive media projects.)

IMD 212 Basic Web Scripting
(Web Design with CSS and Javascript.)

G 330 Graphic Illustration
(Concepts and techniques for digital illustration using Illustrator.)


Hartwick College, 06-07

ART 213 Digital Arts and Design I: Typography
(Typography history and concepts, including Illustrator)

ART 216 Digital Arts and Design II: Digital Imaging
(Digital imaging techniques and concepts, including Photoshop / ImageReady)

ART 250 Special Topics in Digital Arts
(Motion Graphics techniques and concepts)

ART 316 Digital Arts and Design III: Art and Design for WWW
(Web technologies, including HTML / CSS / JavaScript / Flash)

Bowling Green State University, 04-06

ARTC 321 Intermediate Digital Imaging
(Digital imaging techniques and concepts, including Photoshop / ImageReady / Painter)

ARTC 331 Intermediate Interactive Art
(Web technologies, including HTML / CSS / JavaScript / Flash)

ARTC 433 Advanced Interactive Art
(Physical Computing with Advanced Flash / ActionScript and Advanced Director / LINGO)

ARTC 470 Undergraduate Independent Study

ARTC 533 Graduate Interactive Art Studio

ARTC 686 Graduate Independent Study

HELIX Art and Digital Media
(BGSU – Residential Enrichment Courses for Gifted Students)
Sum 05 – 7 students (7th – 9th grade)
Sum 06 – 18 students (5th – 9th grade)

Syracuse University, 02-04

CAR 231 Introduction to Computer Art
(Introduction to Photoshop / Flash / Director / Dreamweaver)

CAR 332 Intermediate Computer Art
(Intermediate course in interactivity utilizing Flash and Director)

CAR 400 Independent Study


Curriculum Development
 ARTC 418   Senior Studio in Digital Arts. Course developed for Digital Arts majors to finalize their BFA show; Bowling Green State University.


Professional Development
12/07  Client-Side Web Programming Certificate, O’Reilly School of Technology.
Sum 06  ARTS 400 - Bookmaking for Artists Workshop.
Sum 06  ECT 196 - Electrical / Electronic Systems.
4/06  Attended iDMAa sessions, including: Cultural and Academic Code: The Evaluation of Identity-Sharing in Social Network Communities, Code as Art, and Processing Workshop.
2/06  Attended CAA sessions, including: Current Issues in New Media Art and Design and Consuming the Everyday: Material Culture in Contemporary Art and Design.
Sp 06  CS 324 – Usability Engineering.
Sum 05  CS 201 – Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming (C++).
Sum 05  CS 314 – Web Application Development (HTML, JS, PHP and MySQL).
5/05  CTLT (Center for Teaching, Learning & Technology) workshop – Final Cut Express Overview.
5/05  CTLT workshop – DVD Studio Pro Overview.
5/05  CTLT workshop – DVD Studio Pro Advanced Features.
4/05  Attended lecture / workshop - Beyond the Digital Print: Combining Digital and Traditional Media by visiting artist, Dorothy Simpson Krause.


Technical Skills
• Computer Languages

    • Lingo / ActionScript / Processing
    • HTML / CSS / Javascript
    • UNIX / C++ / C accessing OpenGL

• Software

    • Director / Flash
    • Photoshop / Painter / ImageReady
    • Freehand / Illustrator / Quark Xpress
    • BB Edit / HomeSite / Dreamweaver
    • AfterEffects / Final Cut Pro / DVD Studio Pro
    • Digital Performer / MAX/MSP & Jitter

• Operating Systems: Macintosh and Windows
• Multimedia design and development, including: interactive installation, user interface design and knowledge of W3C standards for online media.
• Digital photography and traditional photographic B/W and color processes.
• Traditional illustration techniques utilizing various mediums, including, but not limited to: acrylics, pen & ink, etc.


Publications
Sp 05  Artwork chosen for Core Concepts in Art v.3.0 CD-Rom produced by Creative Myndz; McGraw-Hill.
Su 98-01  Best of Photography Annual 1998-01; Serbin Communications.


Private Collection
2006  George Cruger - Former Photography Curator of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; Richmond, VA.


Exhibitions (Juried)
2007

12/07  Graphite 2007, sponsored by ACM SIGGRAPH; Perth, Australia.
12/07  Photographs from the Collection of George Cruger, Main Art Gallery; Richmond, VA.
6/07   Made in NY 2007, Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center; Auburn, NY.
4/07  Digital Art Competition, Beecher Center; The Butler Institute of Art at Youngstown State University; Youngstown, OH.
4/07  Texas National 2007, SFA Galleries; Stephen F. Austin State University; Nacogdoches, TX.
2/07  Biennial Art Faculty Exhibition, Foreman Gallery; Hartwick College; Oneonta, NY. (invitational)

2006

11/06  iDEAs || Works in Process, 4th Annual International Digital Media and Arts Association Conference (iDMAa); National University; San Diego, CA.
11/06  2006 Open National, Long Beach Arts; Long Beach, CA.
11/06  First Annual Juried Art Show, Katie Stauffer Memorial Art and Cultural Center; Richlandtown, PA. (award)
7/06  Northern National Juried Art Competition; Nicolet College Art Gallery; Rhinelander, WI.
6/06  NICOGRAPH International 2006 – organized by The Society for Art and Science; Korea University; Seoul, Korea. (invitational)
6/06  ACE 2006 Art Show; Advances in Computer Entertainment Technology Conference – organized by ACM SIGCHI (Singapore); Hollywood, California. (invitational)
4/06  2-D-2, Energy Gallery; Toronto, Canada.
4/06  iDEAs || Emerging Codes Of the Digital, 3rd Annual International Digital Media and Arts Association Conference (iDMAa); Miami University; Oxford, Ohio.

2005

  • 11/05  Third Cleveland Biennial -- Craft Media; Cleveland State Art Gallery; Cleveland, OH. (award)
  • 9/05  Ingenuity: Festival of Art and Technology; Cleveland, OH. (honorarium)
  • 8/05  Media Art Festival, Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art; Yerevan, Armenia.
  • 8/05  Siggraph 2005, Los Angeles Convention Center; Los Angeles, CA.
  • 5/05  48th Annual International Exhibition, San Diego Art Institute;
    San Diego, CA.
  • 5/05  Your Best Shot, fotofoto Gallery; Huntington, NY.
  • 3/05  Kentucky National 2005, Eagle Gallery; Murray State Univ.; Murray, KY.
  • 3/05  iDEAs, 2nd Annual International Digital Media and Arts Association Conference (iDMAa); Orlando, FL.
  • 2/05  Testifyin' 2005, Rosenthal Gallery; Fayetteville State University; Fayetteville, NC.

2004

  • 12/04  55th Annual Faculty / Staff Exhibition, Dorothy Uber Bryan Gallery, BGSU; Bowling Green, OH. (invitational)
  • 4/04  Faces of Woman, Las Vegas Arts Council; Las Vegas, New Mexico.
  • 3/04  Thailand 2nd New Media Art Festival presented by ICECA: Initiative for Cultural Exchange and Computer Arts, Sinakarinwirot University; Bangkok, Thailand.
  • 2/04  Breaking the Ice, Spark Contemporary Art Space; Syracuse, NY and Hartell Gallery, Cornell University; Ithaca, NY.

2003

  • 11/03  CAR Show, Second Annual Computer Art Show; Spark Contemporary Art Space; Syracuse, NY.
  • 10/03  International Emerging Artists, Remote Gallery; NYC.
    8/03  WAVE '03 - Women's Art Vibrates Everywhere presented by ThINC, Company Gallery; Syracuse, NY.
  • 5/03  POV: Bringing The World Into Focus, Artoconecto; Washington D.C.
  • 3/03  Thailand 1st New Media Art Festival presented by ICECA: Initiative for Cultural Exchange and Computer Arts, Chiang Mai University; Chiang Mai, Thailand.
  • 3/03  Current Works 2003, Rosenthal Gallery; Fayetteville State University; Fayetteville, NC.

2002

  • 10/02  Untitled #16, Artoconecto; Washington D.C.
  • 9/02  Digital DUMBO, M3 projects; Brooklyn, NY.
  • 9/02  5th Annual Spark Open, Spark Contemporary Art Space; Syracuse, NY.
  • 3/02  I/O, First Annual Computer Art Show; Spark Contemporary Art Space; Syracuse, NY.

2001 - 1997

  • 2/01  FAVA: six state photography exhibition; Oberlin, OH.
  • 2/00  FAVA: six state photography exhibition; Oberlin, OH.
  • 11/99  Horticultural, Westside Gallery; School of Visual Arts, NYC.
  • 2/98  Cleveland Botanical Garden's Floralscape '98; Cleveland, OH. Third Place and Honorable Mention.
  • 11/97  Works on Paper, McDonough Museum of Art; Youngstown State Univ.


Service
Hartwick College

06-07
• Program Coordinator, Graphic Communications Minor.

Department of Art and Art History, HC

06-07
• Reviewer, National Portfolio Day.
• Advisor, Senior Projects and ISP.
• Reviewer, Sophomore and Junior Reviews. Intermittent reviews for art majors that lead to the final required Senior Project.
• Art Department Representative, Open House events scheduled by Admissions.
• Lab Manager (Digital Concentration). Responsibilities include: Maintaining a 12-seat Mac lab with two medium format printers, as well as, purchasing, inventory and maintenance of digital arts equipment, including hardware and software upgrades. Plus, the hiring, scheduling and supervising of work-study student(s).

Bowling Green State University

05-06
• Member, Instructional Media Services Advisory Committee.
IMS assists students, faculty and staff by offering services in graphic artwork, photography, video and multimedia creations, as well as providing equipment for rental and installing/maintaining audio-visual equipment in multiple classrooms around campus.

School of Art, BGSU

04-06
• Supervisor of two student webmasters whose responsibilities include: implementing the re-design of the School of Art website (front and backend programming), updates to the Digital Arts division website and maintenance of Cold Fusion databases for both websites. This position requires weekly meetings with both webmasters and the undergraduate coordinator.
• Reviewer, Portfolios of incoming BFA students.
• Juror, Undergraduate Show.
• Juror, Undergraduate Talent Awards.
• Juror, Freshmen Talent Awards.
• Juror, BFA Show.

Digital Arts Division, BGSU

04-06
• Advisor, BFA candidates.
• Reviewer, ARTC 201 Portfolios of incoming Digital Arts majors.
• Reviewer, Portfolios of incoming MFA students.
• Prepared promotional course materials and attended information sessions for freshmen.
• Product research and purchasing of departmental materials.
• Maintenance of student database (UNIX).
• PC lab re-design.
• Weekly lab maintenance and lab equipment evaluation, including end of semester lab (PC and MAC) cleaning and equipment inventory.

Art Media Studies (Transmedia), Syracuse University

02-04
AMS Graduate Representative
Duties: To attend AMS faculty meetings, report pertinent information back to the AMS graduate community, and represent one of two student votes on matters, such as, tenure and contract renewals.

Co-founder and Vice Chair, Graduate Association of Transmedia
The purpose of GAT is to encourage a sense of community across disciplines, provide students with opportunities to further themselves as artists and to bring awareness of current new media art to students.

 

Volunteer
1/06  External Reviewer, Siggraph Art Gallery
Reviewed entries of web-based, interactive and video artworks.

12/05  Presenter, Dreams to Reality
A career fair at COSI Toledo to encourage young women to pursue careers in math, science and art/technology.

3/05  Juror, Ohio Governor's Art Show
Northeast region hosted by the art department at Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School; Brecksville, OH.


Grants/Research
12/05-06  Co-Collaborator, “Collecting Oral Histories and Creating a Web Presence: Service-Learning Collaborations between BGSU and Perrysburg Community Heights Center” ($4990).
3/03  Syracuse University Visual and Performing Arts Research/Creative Project Grant for The Seven Deadlies Project ($700).
9/02  Syracuse University Graduate Student Travel Grant for participation in the Digital DUMBO exhibition, Brooklyn, NY ($200).
3/02  Syracuse University Visual and Performing Arts Research/Creative Project Grant for Train: Linear Travel in a Non-linear World ($250).


Awards
4/07  Honorable Mention, 2007 Beecher Center Digital Art Center.
11/06  Honorable Mention, Katie Stauffer Memorial Show ($100).
11/05  Honorable Mention, Third Cleveland Biennial -- Craft Media ($500).
9/05  Honorarium, Ingenuity: Festival of Art and Technology ($250).
1/04-5/04  Syracuse University Fellowship Recipient.
8/98-01  Finalist in Photographer's Forum magazine and Canon's annual photography competition.
2/98  Third place in `Thumbnails of Nature' category and Honorable mention in 'Patterns in Nature' category.
5/97  Finalist in the Society of Illustrator's student competition. Published in the Society of Illustrator's Annual #39.


Organization Membership
1/02-Pres.  Member, College Art Association.
1/05-Pres.  Member, Rhizome.
1/06-Pres.  Member, Cleveland MOCA.
1/08-Pres.  Member, iDMAa: International Digital Media & Arts Association.
1/08-Pres.  Member, Cleveland Polka Association.