One week it's art, the next week we're all business. 

Immediately following our successful Public Art Camp, we welcomed a new group of students for our one week Entrepreneur Camp at Vector Space. Five students ages 10-12 spent one week launching a business and creating a line of products. The final event of their project is a booth at the Downtown Lynchburg Association's Get Downtown street festival on Friday, September 6th.

We began the week with a lesson on business: business plans, prioritizing expeneses, budgeting, market research, customer conversations, and more. During lunch we heard from guest speaker Becky Booth, Director of the Center for Economic Education at the University of Lynchburg, who had some great advice and sample youth-run businesses to share with us. Next, a lesson in sound and audio prepared students to create a custom line of speakers using a new technology called exciters. These nifty electronics turn any object into a speaker- although testing was needed to determine what makes the best quality speaker. Our students questioned and debated a few options before landing on an eco-friendly, digitally designed line of home audio speakers. 

On Tuesday students began designing their speakers. Using graphic design software to digitally draw their work, we made practice pieces on the laser cutter and the vinyl cutter. They learned to design stencils, how to cut and engrave on the laser, and how to design a one-color sticker. Each of these techniques went on to become the means of getting digital designs onto the wooden speaker panels, which also needed to be prepped for use via sanding and cutting. Wednesday each student was busy creating two speaker designs, while we also set out looking for a chair to become our pièce de résistance. With a bass speaker installed in the back of the chair, this full-immersion audio experience is one for the geekiest of video lovers. Guest speaker Aaron Skeen of Rosetta Coffee discussed pricing structures, marketing efficiency, and how to build a strong brand with our students.

On Thursday speaker producation continued, with guest speaker Jeff Gray of Scene 3 Designs sharing his business model, including all recycled materials and custom designed packaging, as well as advice for deisplay setup and selling at an event. Students learned to solder and began assembling the exciters to be ready to mount on the speaker wood. Feeling short on time and products, students used hand painting and abstract spray painting techniques to hurry the production process along. Students also decided that if sales go well and we exceed our expenses, the proceeds would go towards a pizza party and stocking the Lynchburg Free Pantry. 

On Friday students finished building, mounting, and testing speakers. We also turned our focus back to the business, deciding on our booth layout and creating necessary pieces to compete it. A screen printed table cloth and handmade display rack bring the look together. Tabletop information and tags on each speaker help inform customers about the products and the company. 

Are you looking forward to supporting a young entrepreneur at Get Downtown? Here is a preview of what our students designed and created this week:

- Porter: Locally themed speakers, including laser engraved Virginia state elements for the sophisticated shopper

- Lucas: Our graphic design maven, he has limited runs of laser engraved speakers available for makers and Lynchburg lovers

- Katie: A fruit theme and two methods of vinyl cut stencil painting set her colorful speakers apart

- Elizabeth: Her focus was unwavered from day one and her world map speakers will appeal to travel fans

- Connor: Targeting the pre-teen demographic, his laser-cut stencil and spray paint techniques will be on display

Each student brought a unique design aesthetic and possitive attitude toward teamwork to the project. We are proud of their work and hope to see lots of support at Get Downtown on Sept 6th from 6:30-10pm on Main Street!

This summer six teens spent one week under the guidance of Nugent Koscielny and Elise Spontarelli to design and create a public mural, and a website cataloging public art in downtown Lynchburg. The Lynchburg Public Art website and Sunset on the James mural were designed and created by Sage Grant, Virginia Blair Trost, Meredith Plunkett, Shelby Kent, Augustus Knebel, Carolyn Royster, and made possible by Vector Space, James T. Davis Paint and Design Center, and the James River Council for Arts and Humanities.

Before camp began, instructors scouted locations and decided on the stairs leading from Rivermont Ave to the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance. With Alliance leadership enthusiastic about the idea and an MOU with the City of Lynchburg (who owns the property), the site was secured for painting. We gathered supplies, including paint donated from James T. Davis, and power washed the steps to prepare them for painting.

On day one students were introduced to Vector Space and their projects for the week. They traveled to the stairs to prime them, which was a great opportunity for thinking and brainstorming art ideas. They were introduced to the basics of websites and web hosting, and logged in to our self-hosted Wordpress site to get started. By Tuesday, a consensus about the general design of the steps had been reached. Students wanted to focus on the James River, which mirrors the stairs, incorporating scenes of sunset and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Day two also began the process of photographing and cataloging public art in downtown. We traveled to 14 different pieces of art to learn about and photograph them. We met artist Arnulfo Jacinto at his "Greetings from Lynchburg" mural, and learned about his career as an artist.

On day three we were back at the stairs, splitting the group in half to break up time spent in the heat and sun. While one group painted in the background of the sky, the other worked to upload photos to the website, modifying the theme and content as needed. The groups switched after lunch, continuing to upload content tot he website and paint in the background colors of the stairs. On Thursday we continued detail work for both projects. Modifying the website theme and plugins resulted in a more cohesive look and better functioning site. Stair details were first chalked and then painted, adding clouds, sun, mountains, buildings, and wildlife. We took a break to hear from local artist Christina Davis, who shared how she went from high school art student to professional artist, dabbling in various types of art along the way. Her insight and advice were great reminders for our young artists. The News & Advance also stopped by to chat and photograph our progress.

Friday spirits and temperatures were high. The whole group spent the morning at the stairs to finish up before afternoon heat set in. As students finished up our friends at the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance stopped by to thank the students and offer cold water and refreshments. We packed up our supplies, high fived, and brought everything back to Vector Space. During lunch we heard from guest speaker Nancy Lilly with Lynchburg Water Resources, who let students know about another opportunity to create public art in downtown Lynchburg: Art Storm. In the afternoon Meredith and VB interviewed their peers to gather artists statements, while Augustus brainstormed and collected feedback about a name for their mural. The finishing touch was adding the newly minted "Sunset on the James" mural to the lynchburgpublicart.com website! You can read the students artist statements below, and visit the website and the mural site to see their work. 

Sunset on the James

Artists: Sage Grant, Virginia Blair Trost, Meredith Plunkett, Shelby Kent, Augustus Knebel, Carol Royster.

Shelby: Favorite part about the stairs are how the animals provide a cartoon texture and add personality. She also likes the sun set and how the clouds give off different perspectives from various distances with the shading, which was her goal. Shelby thought that these stairs always needed something and was happy she could contribute. She thinks that the staircase will inspire the public to pursue their dreams.

Carol: When she looks at the staircase she feels a need to smile and is happy with the colors bouncing off of the stairs. Carol’s favorite part of the stairs is the sunset because it is filled with the most color and she likes the gradient affect. She thinks that the stairs will draw people to them and will be a popular place for pictures to be taken.

Augustus: He has a feeling of accomplishment when he visions the stairs. His favorite part about the staircase/mural is that the river in the painting reflect the James River and Lynchburg’s history. He thinks that the mural will mostly draw attention to drivers and people taking a walk or run.

Sage: The look of the stairs brings Sage a sense of happiness from all of the colors. She thinks that it effects Lynchburg in the way it adds more character to our town. She also enjoys the thought of people taking pictures by the staircase.

Virginia Blair: When VB hears the word stairs, it brings her a feeling of elation. She immediately pictures the painted stairs. When she looks at them, she thinks of her best friend and the fun they had contributing and giggling. It reminds her that best friends can help you through any tough times. VB thinks that the “Sunset on the James” mural will add warmth into the city and brighten everybody’s day.

Meredith: She takes pride in the stairs and the fact that they were completed in a week. After painting the stairs Meredith felt more confident and how the color will take your eyes. It lifted her up when she heard people honking their horns and that they appreciated the fact that something was changing Lynchburg in a short amount of time. When working on the mural she never stopped laughing with her best friend at the same time as working together to contribute to the painting.

Where: On stairs outside Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance, 300 Lucado Place

When: 2019

Paint

A set of stairs that has a mural of the James River and a setting sun.

Coach Tay, mentor, Adam Spontarelli, Instructor, and three Empowerment Students ready to skate.

This Spring five teens from the Empowerment Academy, an alternative education environment for Lynchburg City Schools students in need of credit recovery, SOL support, and/or specialized academic assistance, spent three hours each week building skateboards at Vector Space. 

Now one does not just walk into a makerspace, even one as well-equipped as ours, and whip out a skateboard. No, these students spent the first four weeks of the project welding together a hydraulic press and pouring a concrete skateboard mold. While boards were being pressed, we skipped ahead to designing the graphics. Students built a custom screen printer and used the vinyl cutter to cut designs created in vector graphics software (Inkscape). Once boards were glued and pressed, it was time to cut them into a skateboard shape on the bandsaw, route and sand the edges, screen print the boards, apply grip tape, and attach trucks, bearings, and wheels. Ta da! Twelve weeks later each student was ready to give their boards a test run at the Riverside Skate Park. Helmets and boards in hand, students walked down to the skatepark followed by a visit to Scene3 boardshop. 

With our press already built, Vector Space will be offering a one-week summer camp in July for students to press, design, print, and assemble their own board. Check out the registration page here: https://vector-space.org/skateboard-camp

What is this?

The Lynchburg Computer Club meets twice a month at Vector Space to share technical ideas and experiences in a variety of computational fields among people from a variety of backgrounds. The first Wednesday of the month is a talk on a topic that spans the Venn diagram of electronics, computing, and mathematics, ranging from fundamental knowledge as old as Jacquard’s loom, to bleeding edge technologies. The second meeting of the month is on a Saturday morning (the date of which is announced at the first meeting) and is an informal meetup for people to casually talk about similar topics and work on projects together. Think of it like a Brazilian Samba School that values computation. It’s a chance to get outside your bubble and to see how others use computers to solve problems found in industry, academia, government, and the home lab.

There are few places in the country with as much brain power per hectare, yet still small enough to drive across town during your lunch break. Let’s take advantage of this opportunity and bring something unique to Lynchburg. Tell the boss your new knowledge will double profits (it won’t).

These talks are put on by people like you. People with specialized experience in computing who can share that experience with a general audience. So please take the time to put in as much as you get out, volunteer to give a talk.

How Does This Help Lynchburg?

What does a group of typically highly paid and highly educated people nerding out over computers do for our city? Well first of all, communicating with knowledgeable people from a variety of fields in informal settings to discuss technical topics is a guaranteed way to expand the knowledge of the participants. Smarter and more connected professionals help our community thrive, which hardly needs to be explained. But instead of highlighting what this does for professionals, I want to focus on the benefits a group like this will have for the whole community.

If you observe a class in your local school, you'll see that computers aren't being used the way professionals use them; as tools to solve problems, to bring our creative ideas to life, or as tools for computation. Instead, they serve as test taking apparatus, a more efficient means of drilling exercises and testing than can be done with paper. And that's it. With the exception of a select few students taking specialized classes in high school, the only computer programming being done is as Seymour Papert put it, "using the computer to program the kid". And the effect is clear, there's a cultural phobia of computers that undoubtedly stems from a lack of understanding. It was true when Papert said those words in 1980, and it's every bit as true today. It's reflected through the public's understanding of computers and in the declining rate of completed computer science degrees.

Even without a visit to the schools or a deep dive into the data, you've probably had a glimpse of the problem while inside the walls of your institution. The new hires look every bit the same as you do, the only difference being that they seem so much less prepared than you were. Same people, less knowledge. I know, it's a cliche, romanticizing past generations and criticizing the new, including the easy target of our schools. But when we work behind closed doors, whether it's in the office or in our basements, our progress is only visible to those already in the know. To everyone else, you and the things you're working on don't exist. It's not that the public doesn't want to care, it's that we don't even give them the chance to care. They don't understand what we're doing, we don't tell them, so they go on not asking or caring, and the cycle continues, attracting the same select few that just happened by chance to be exposed to the field in a positive way.

If we want people to treat computers like we do, then we need to show them how it's done, we need to lead by example in a public setting and invite others to see. This is a major motivation for Vector Space in general, as this issue of hidden work is certainly not a problem unique to computing. The stereotypes of who does woodworking, sewing, metal work, etc. are well known and unlikely to change if they continue to happen in a vacuum, where skills never transfer to anyone different, they simply pass down through families and sometimes close friends. I've only chosen computers as my focus for this particular club because I so thoroughly enjoy them, and because I have a strong urge to help shape their cultural understanding and value.

If you want to see change like I do, this is your chance. You may think it's small, but if you, the computer scientists and enthusiasts, aren't willing to share your passion, then nothing will change. Because right now, the people who are willing to come out of their caves and share what they know rarely have your background, they aren't able to see or articulate the importance of this thing you know so dearly.

The ingredients for making Lynchburg a thriving community of intellectual thought are here: people with knowledge, from a variety of industries and academic fields, living in an easily navigable, small city, with a low cost for innovation, and access to what I believe (clearly with bias) is the perfect venue for bringing such people together.

Five teens participating in a rocketry program at Vector Space are national finalists in the Team America Rocketry Challenge. The Final Fly-Off is at Great Meadows in The Plains, Virginia on Saturday, May 18, 2019. There, 102 teams from around the country will compete for more than $100,000 in cash and prizes, the title of National Champion, and the honor of representing the United States at the International Rocketry Challenge in Paris, France from June 19 - 23, 2019.

The Vector Space team is lead by National Association of Rocketry member Mark Miller and Vector Space Director of Education Adam Spontarelli, and is one of only four teams in Virginia to qualify. Nationally 830 teams competed to attend the finals, with 76 of those teams from Virginia. Students have spent more than forty hours designing, building, and modifying their rocket each week at Vector Space since February. They spend Sundays at Sweet Briar College, test launching their rocket and recording flights, making note of needed adjustments. “This competition is designed to be a scaled down version of an actual aerospace payload mission”, says Miller, “it teaches the students about all the factors which can affect their flight and what is required in order to accomplish the mission.”

In order to prepare for the national finals, the team has extended their program and brought on former NASA astronaut and STEAM education advocate Leland Melvin as a sponsor and supporter. With Melvin’s support the team will purchase more motors and igniters for their rockets, acquire team uniforms, and make the trip to Northern Virginia in May.

The Vector Space team consists of high school students from around the area: William Jeon, Jefferson Forest; Zachary Wesbrook and Ian Hanrahan, homeschooled; Dustin Thomas, Cornerstone Christian Academy; and Savijon Hunter, E.C. Glass.

The Team America Rocketry Challenge is the world’s largest student rocket contest and a key piece of the aerospace and defense industry’s strategy to build a stronger U.S. workforce in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and the National Association of Rocketry (NAR), the Team America Rocketry Challenge was created in the fall of 2002 as a one-time celebration of the Centennial of Flight, but by popular demand became an annual program.