News from the Mesa County Libraries 970West Studio
August 2023
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A warm welcome to Kathy Thaden, contemporary mosaic artist and Mesa County Libraries' new Artist in Residence! Kathy joins us in the 970West Studio through Nov. 20. Her award-winning art is inspired by nature and the desert Southwest, along with a hope to express care for the earth and all humanity. Through her art, Kathy strives to understand our roles within society, seeking to engage the viewer in a visual narrative.
Stop by the 970West Studio on Tuesdays from noon to 2 p.m. to meet Kathy and check out her work. She will also be offering classes at various Mesa County Libraries locations. For a full list of classes and events, click the button below. |
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Beloved by industry professionals, whether digital artist/illustrators or photo editors, the Wacom Cintiq 22 is an amazing tool to bring your ideas to life! This full HD 21.5-inch tablet display and pen with 8,192 degrees of sensitivity and tilt recognition give you an astounding amount of flexibility and creative freedom when drawing or editing your work. Step up your digital illustration or photo editing game by checking out this tablet in your next 970West Studio reservation!
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Discover what the 970West Studio staff have been reading, watching, and listening to. |
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Katelyn's Pick:
Follow a diverse team of scientists and journalists as they attempt to separate fact from fiction in the wake of the tragic and mysterious disappearance of a mermaid mockumentary crew over the Marianas Trench. Get ready to hold your breath and dive into this chiling science fiction horror by author Mira Grant. “Into the Drowning Deep” explores environmental conservation, climate change, the exploitation of sea life, human greed, and our understanding, or lack-thereof, of what may lurk in the dark depths of our oceans. This thrilling tale is sure to delight readers who enjoyed Michael Crichton’s "Jurassic Park" as the reader and crew get closer to the truth than many had hoped or believed was possible and nothing goes according to plan.
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Dirty Computer, the dystopian-future concept album by Janelle Monae, was on all kinds of top ten lists when it was released back in 2018. So when this film, a visual companion to the album, showed up in my Kanopy feed, I immediately popped a bag of popcorn, brewed an herbal tea, and prepared for a treat.
And what a treat it was! Amazing costumes, tight choreography, colorful sets, thought-provoking but still catchy lyrics, and (probably most importantly) groundbreaking music created a vibe that never once got boring or had me looking at my phone, which is saying a lot since I now have the attention span of a goldfish.
Oh yeah! Tessa Thompson is in it, too! Tessa, whom you might recognize most recently as Valkyrie from the Thor movies, never fails to light up the screen in any film she is a part of, and she is delightful here.
"Dirty Computer: Director’s Cut" has drawn comparisons to 2004’s "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," but Monae is doing her own thing here, and I hope she keeps doing it far into the future, dystopian or not.
Do you have an album or a film living inside of you, dying to get out? Book a session or two at 970West and get to work on it!
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Denise's Pick:
Grit. Gratitude. Girl-power.
These three ingredients are melted down, mixed, and minted in innumerable fresh ways throughout "She Did That." This documentary features the stories, successes, and challenges of several black female entrepreneurs. None of them received business loans from banks. Many had never met any female business owners that looked like them. Most started their businesses as passion projects in their own kitchens in the evenings, after working day jobs, caring for their families, and squeezing what little was left of personal time, income, and energy to make it work.
Melissa Butler, founder and CEO of The Lip Bar and Thread Cosmetics, recalls being cruelly mocked on national television by Kevin O'Leary of Shark Tank. In 2015, O'Leary told Butler to give up. He said Butler and her vibrant, vegan lipsticks would be "crushed by the larger cosmetics brands like the colorful cockroaches you are." Instead of quitting, Butler plucked the insidious comments out of her heart and kept moving toward her dream. Today her products are sold in major department stores, and her company is worth millions. O'Leary has since apologized for calling the products "clown makeup" and says the brand and founder deserve applause.
It’s touching how all of the women featured in "She Did That" reinvest every single success into one another and into building community. They mutually inspire, support, and empower each other, and commit to giving new entrepreneurs a leg up, ultimately creating a more hospitable environment for future generations.
The geek in me loves knowing that "She Did That" was created with an ultra-small crew of roughly a dozen people. Entrepreneur Renae Bluitt co-starred, co-wrote, co-directed, and executive produced it. Wife and husband creative duo Brittany and Darnell Stalworth oversaw story production, film editing, and motion graphics. Music producer and artist Suede Jenkins wrote and performed the entire soundtrack. The best part about all this is that you (with your creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and your fab collab crew) can make and distribute great art, too! If soundtracks are your jam, book your next reservation with our Audio Alchemy Kit, which is basically a playground of sound, always ready to liberate your inner musical genius. Need a camera? Our Camera Kit Basics class will teach you all about checking out cameras and equipment with your library card (and photo ID)!
Still not sure where to begin? Email the team at 970West Studio to schedule a free Book A Studio Specialist (B.A.S.S.) session on beatmaking, soundtracks, video production, motion graphics, audio production for film, or whatever digital multimedia topic interests you.
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Take a 970West Studio class!
Most classes require advance registration. Click the links to register.
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970West Studio Orientation
Take the first step toward using the 970West Studio. Orientation classes last an hour. Not recommended for patrons younger than 16 years without adult accompaniment.
Registration is NOT required, but please bring your library card.
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The next 970West Studio Orientation takes place:
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Studio Q&A
Every 1st and 3rd Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon
Explore the 970West Studio as we offer Orientations and have staff available to answer your multimedia production questions.
Assistance is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. In-depth/additional questions may require a future Book a Studio Specialist appointment if others are waiting.
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Our next Studio Q&A sessions will be offered at the following times:
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Camera Kit Basics
If you're interested in checking out one of Mesa County Libraries camera kits, but don't know where or how to get started, this class is for you! We will cover the basics of camera care, practice using the kits and discuss how to check out/return the kits. Patrons must be 18 years or older to check out equipment, so we do not recommend this class for unaccompanied minors.
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Intro to Digital Cameras
This introductory class for budding photographers will explore the "Exposure Triangle": the camera's ISO, aperture, and shutter speed. The goal of this class is for attendees to understand and be comfortable with the buttons, dials, and settings of digital cameras, and to see how they all work together to record an image.
Patrons are encouraged to bring their own digital camera to this class for hands-on practice. Studio cameras will be available for those not bringing a camera.
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Camera Q&A
Bring your camera, printouts, or just your questions to this meeting of photo-minded friends looking to learn more about photography, share ideas, and hone their craft. Discussions facilitated by photographer Kyle Webb and the 970West staff.
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Intro to Photo Editing
Learn how to edit and enhance your photographs using Adobe Photoshop. In this course you will be introduced to the many editing tools available to remove blemishes, alter backgrounds, and improve or change color and contrast of your photos. Participants are welcome to bring their own digital photograph to use during the class. While previous Photoshop experience is not required, kindly note that basic computer literacy (Mouse/Keyboard operation and File Navigation) is a prerequisite skill for this class.
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Intro to Art Digitization
This introductory class will familiarize you with the necessary equipment and fundamentals to digitize your two-dimensional works of art using the 970West Studio.
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Green Screen 1.0: Assembly
Let's build a green screen! Explore all the components of the 970West Studio's Green Screen Kit. Students will practice setting up the kit, learn basic green screen theory, and explore common pitfalls and their solutions. Depending on time and interest, students may have an opportunity to practice recording footage with the green screen. Each month, we will explore different layouts and techniques, so students are encouraged to attend multiple times.
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Green Screen 2.0: Chroma Key
Learn the methods used to remove a video's background and replace it with a different image or video. In this hands-on class, we will explore the process of using a green screen, including video capture and the post-production process known as chroma key. Participants are welcome to bring digital images to use during class, provided that these images are saved on a USB storage device prior to class. This class is ongoing, so keep coming back for more fun (and learning)!
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Introduction to Video Editing
Gain an overview of the Adobe Premiere Pro workspace and tools. In this class, we will practice importing and organizing clips, editing footage, editing audio, and exporting projects. Sample footage will be provided, but participants are welcome to bring their own footage (must be on a mac-compatible storage device). This course is ongoing, and it is different every time, so keep coming back to develop new skills!
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Podcast Production
Podcasting is a great way to get your story out there! Join us at 970West Studio, where we will go over microphone choice, multitrack recording, signal processing, mixing, and file exporting.
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Audio Production @ 970West
Join us for Audio Production @ 970West and embark on an exciting journey into the captivating world of audio creation at your local do-it-yourself production studio. Designed for beginners, this hands-on course is your gateway to unlocking the fundamental skills required to produce exceptional audio projects.
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Audio Plugins
Plugins can help you shape your sound, solve audio problems, and give you access to tons of virtual instruments. Join us in this hands-on class to learn how to add plugins to your next project, as well as discover some of the unique plugins available to you at 970West!
Prior Audio Production class or similar experience is highly recommended.
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Intro to Microphones
Explore the collection of microphones available at 970West Studio! In this beginner-friendly class, we will review fundamentals of sound, learn about different types of microphones and their features, and practice the basic mechanics of setting up microphones and mic accessories.
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Additional technology resources are available on our Technology Guide: Tutorials and Classes page. T here you will find printable class handouts, basic tech help for your computer or mobile device, and a selection of tutorials. Still not finding what you're looking for? Request a Book a Studio Specialist appointment to receive one-on-one instruction for your tech-related topic.
All studio classes take place at the 970West Studio, 502 Ouray Ave., across from the Central Library in downtown Grand Junction.
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Follow the 970West Studio on Instagram |
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Follow @970west_studio on Instagram for regular posts about all things 970WestStudio. |
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A NOTE TO READERS
You are receiving this e-newsletter because you are a patron of Mesa County Libraries and/or the 970West Studio.
- The 970West Studio email newsletter is sent monthly (with occasional special editions) to patrons to keep you informed about what's happening at the studio and your local library.
- The library values your privacy and will not share your email address or other information with anyone.
- You can update your library e-newsletter subscriptions by visiting the "Update Profile" link at the bottom of this newsletter.
- You can also remove yourself from all library e-newsletter lists by visiting the "Unsubscribe" link at the bottom of this newsletter.
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Contact Mesa County Libraries at 970-243-4442 or visit mesacountylibraries.org |
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