IAM Contacts

Columbia College Chicago's Interactive Arts and Media department welcomes you "I AM Columbia" isle in Second Life

Columbia College Chicago's Interactive Arts and Media department was the first among Chicago area institutions of higher education to have a full time private island presence in Second Life. "I AM Columbia" isle was created initially to house the College's Manifest 2007 Urban Arts Festival (Manifest SL) and remains an educational, research and creative space for the Interactive Arts and Media Department, which manages the island. In the spring of 2007, Columbia College Chicago's "I AM Columbia" isle began its educational series of workshops and event programming.

Or visit us in-world at I AM Columbia Second Life Isle URL (SLURL). Second Life software and account required (available for free). Please check minimum hardware requirements before installing software.

The Center for Arts Policy at Columbia College Chicago has published a fine article entitled "Being Baccara and Chasing Amy - The Arist as Avatar, a Tale in Two Parts" as part of their Democratic Vistas Profiles series. The essay is penned by noted SL writer James Wagner Au.

The Interactive Arts and Media department prepares students to create innovative and compelling interactive art, media and games. Our students emerge with strong foundations in aesthetics, theory, technology, cultural understanding, critical thinking and creative problem solving. A combination of media theory and technology, enlivened by practice, prepares students for diverse and successful careers in interactive arts, multimedia web design, interaction and interface design, and game design. The Interactive Arts and Media Department is home to the Interactive Arts and Media major, the Web Development minor and the Game Design major. For more information about these degree programs, as well as our classes and core requirements, visit http://iam.colum.edu.

The highlight event of the 2006-2007 academic calendar was Columbia College Chicago's Manifest 2007 Urban Arts Festival and Manifest SL 2007. Over 500 student works and documentation of graduating seniors filled a nine-story exhibition center on I AM Columbia isle in Second Life. We also inaugurated our island with Spectacle Fortuna SL, an inworld colorful parade of avatars.

In addition to hosting its own education workshops, Columbia College Chicago's interactive Arts and Media Department faculty and staff participated and/or attended the following conferences, symposia and events:

Columbia College Chicago's interactive Arts and Media Department and its faculty has hosted and/or worked with the following virtual worlds artists and institutions:

Columbia College Chicago's interactive Arts and Media Department and its faculty and Staff have worked with or demonstrated virtual worlds technology for the following Columbia College Chicago departments and or their representatives:

The following classes use virtual worlds in their teaching and learning materials, including reading, discussions, and in-class demonstrations: 35-3610 Digital Media Culture, 36-1000 Media Theory and Design I, 36-2501 Simulation Design I, 36-1100 Game Culture, 35-3630 Computer Controlled Installation Environments.

Events on Columbia College Chicago's "I AM Columbia" isle in Second Life have been featured on television and in publications, including: Chicago Tribune, Chicago Reader, Crain's Chicago Business, Chicago Tonight (WTTW Channel 11), TimeOut Chicago, Toronto Globe and Mail, Canton Repository, Columbia Chronicle, Exibart, Echo magazine, Demo magazine, Frequency TV, ColumbiaONLINE, and Reservoir.

You can be a part of it: write us a quick email detailing your proposed project. Or call us with any questions. Want a Second Life demonstration for your staff or classroom? Demos ae available by appointment in your classroom or ours.

Many more photos of our work in progress at our Flickr photo page

Or visit us in-world at I AM Columbia Second Life Isle URL (SLURL). Second Life software and account required (available for free). Please check minimum hardware requirements before installing software.

The Center for Arts Policy at Columbia College Chicago has published a fine article entitled "Being Baccara and Chasing Amy - The Arist as Avatar, a Tale in Two Parts" as part of their Democratic Vistas Profiles series. The essay is penned by noted SL writer James Wagner Au.

Manifest SL Team:

Patrick Lichty, Faculty, IAM Department

Andrew Oleksiuk, Adjunct Faculty and Staff, IAM Department