As we posted earlier this week, the next PechaKucha Night in Champaign-Urbana (Vol. 5) is happening this Saturday (March 5), but today we take a look at last year’s PKN Champaign-Urbana Vol. 4, courtesy of organizer Christina Tapp, with photos by Chris Perardi.
The Champaign-Urbana Design Org partnered with Krannert Center for the Performing Arts for PKN C-U Vol. 4. Held in July 2010 at Krannert’s outdoor Amphitheatre, DJ Mertz kicked off the show by spinning on the terrace to over 400 people, and the irresistible and scandalous Andy Warfel emceed once again!
Jeff Mellander, Building Restoration
With a passion for finding underused historic buildings and reviving them, Jeff talked about the redevelopment of old cottages in Saugatuck, Michigan, an historic logging community on Lake Michigan where artists have congregated for over 125 years.
Laura Hayden, Trials and Tribulations of an Urbana Slumlord
A self-described “plant nerd, web nerd, and slumlord,” Laura came to Champaign-Urbana after completing degrees at SIU-C and U of I in environmental sciences. She came here to visit—and has no regrets about staying.
Stewart Dickson, MakerSpace Urbana
As a programmer of three-dimensional computer-generated imagery, animation and digital cinema, Steward discussed MakerSpace Urbana, an open community lab where people of diverse backgrounds can learn, teach, tinker, collaborate, share, innovate, socialize, and create a blend of arts, humanities, science, and technology.
Hector Mandel, The Sky is the Studio
Hector specializes in digital images captured while falling at 120 miles per hour under serious time contraints. With 1,152 skydives logged over the past 22 years, he has been simultaneously taking pictures for eight of them.
Will Leinweber, merge.fm
Co-founder of merge.fm, a local startup that lets musicians share their creative process with their fans, Will recently got a master’s in bioengineering from U of I— and stuck around Champaign to get merge.fm off the ground. He’s working on becoming a coffee snob, but, he says, it’s tough work.
Deke Weaver, Elephant, a Performance
An award-winning writer-performer-media artist, Deke was the senior animator for the Showtime Networks and is currently an assistant professor at the University of Illinois’ School of Art and Design.
Peter Exley, PKN Chicago Organizer and President of Architecture Is Fun
Peter Exley is the co-host of PechaKucha Night Chicago. He has a new driver’s license which says he is 5’10” and 140lbs. Like most things issued by the State of Illinois, that’s a crock of sh*t.
Matt Childress, Funstainable Transportation
Matt says, “Just like the funny little mice of Pinky and the Brain, I work on a funny little computer, drive a funny little car and have accumulated quite a few funny friends—many of us with grand delusions of making over our world. It is happening.”
Rose Morefield, Making Wild, Wearable Thoughts a Reality
Sewing since age 12, sculpting fabric for over 14 years, and collaborating with designers, performers, and artists, Rose is a costume technician with a flair for creating piece that redefine and extend the human form.
David Monk, Preserving Prairie Where There Is None
Known in the Champaign-Urbana community as the “Prairie Monk,” David is dedicated to reserving, restoring, and interpreting the natural and cultural landscape of east central Illinois.
Nan Goggin, What Inspires Design
An artist, designer, professor, wife, and mom (whew!), Nan Goggin is the tireless director of the University of Illinois’ School of Art and Design. She discussed the many elements around us that constantly serve to inspire, enliven, and guide our creativity.
Joanne Manaster, My Little Black Book of Scientists I Love
Joanne teaches upper-level science lab classes at the U of I. On her website, Joanne Loves Science.com, she presents science in
whimsical and unexpected, yet meaningful, ways. For her presentation, she played a time-traveling beauty who can
visit any scientist she desires, describing them in her “little black book.”
Michael Morgan, Designing Your Life
Poised, graceful, elegant, and smooth. Michael is none of these. But he IS very passionate about music, design, family, friends and humor. He discussed integrating them together for a fulfilling life.
Gimme 5! Join us for PKN C-U Vol. 5 this Saturday, March 5, at Canopy Club!