Richard N. Valentin

5620 School of Art
Normal, Illinois 61790-5620
309-438-1840
rnvalen@ilstu.edu
www.ilstu.edu/~rnvalen
www.richardvalentin.com

Education

• M.F.A., New Media (2007)
  College of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• B.S., Computer Science (2003)
  College Of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Career Summary

• Assistant Professor - Illinois State University ( 8/2010 - Present )
  I am currently an Assistant Professor of Arts Technology in the School of Art at Illinois State University. The courses I teach predominantly focus on Web design and development, visual narratives and digital cultures and environments.
• Web Development Specialist - Beckman Institute ( 6/2006 - 7/2010 )
  My duties at the Beckman Institute included a complete graphical and programmatic redesign of the Institute's Web site; development of a custom content management system for the site; conversion of the site from PHP to ASP.NET 2.0; programming and design of the Institute's intranet, research group sites, and conference sites; and production of numerous video and print projects.
• Visiting Instructor - Illinois State University ( 8/2009 - 5/2010 )
  As a visiting instructor in the Arts Technology Program at Illinois State University I taught Constructing Memories (ATK 388), a seminar course which explored, through class discussion and assigned projects, how individual and collective experiences are preserved with and without the help of technology; and Advanced Computer Topics in Arts Technology (ATK 480), a graduate seminar course focusing on advanced web implementations and concepts.
• Musician / Artist ( 1987 - present )
  For over 10 years I toured North America and Europe as a professional musician with 13 commercially released albums of original music (on major and independent labels) and 11 videos (many self-produced). Over the past 7 years I have been creating artwork that captures, compresses and preserves information and experience, and explores how the use of digital technology impacts individual and collective memory. I have most recently co-published a paper for ISEA2008 and my artwork has been shown in various regional exhibitions.
• Audio Production and Engineering / Record Label Management ( 1991 - present )
  I have produced and engineered recordings for local and national musicians at my personal analog/digital studio and various commercial studios. I am a co-owner of Twelve Inch Records, an independent label which has released recordings by a number of regional artists, including Hum, who went on to great success with RCA Records.
• Multimedia Designer - XcoDesign ( 1995 - 2006 )
  As co-owner of XcoDesign, I was involved with numerous graphics, WWW, programming and consulting projects. Clients have included Artlook Inc. for which I designed multimedia content for the Library of Congress' "Eyes of the Nation" DVD-ROM; the American Association of Equine Practitioners, for which I programmed a web portal for horse caretakers; the Indianapolis Museum of Art, for which I helped implement a podcasting system; the University of Texas at Austin, for which I designed a web portal for the Austin music community; and numerous independent music labels, for which I designed Enhanced CD content.
• Max/MSP/Jitter Developer - Department of Dance, UIUC ( 8/2005 - 5/2006 )
  I assisted John Toenjes (Director of Music, Department of Dance) with the development of video and motion tracking software for a multimedia performance project and an interactive digital painting installation on display at Krannert Art Museum, UIUC, and the Orpheum Children's Museum, Champaign, IL.
• Teaching Assistant - School of Art+Design, UIUC ( 8/2005 - 12/2005 )
  I assisted in Arts443: Moving Image II - an exploration of advanced concepts and techniques of time-based media for creative expression and communications within the context of visual art and design.
• GIS Application Developer - Department of Urban Planning, UIUC ( 1/2004 - 5/2006 )
  I assisted members of the Urban Planning Department in the design and programming of a Web-based system for the analysis of planning data.
• 3-D CAVE Program Development - School of Art + Design, UIUC ( 9/2003 - 5/2005 )
  I assisted professors Nan Goggin (Director, School of Art + Design) and Joseph Squier (Associate Director, School of Art + Design) in the programming and implementation of a 3-D audio/visual project developed for the CANVAS in the Krannert Art Museum.
• Web Design Consultant - ATLAS, UIUC ( 5/2003 - 10/2003 )
  I designed and implemented Web site redesigns for various units within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
• Graphic/Web Designer - SourceGear Corp., Champaign IL ( 1/2001 - 11/2001 )
  At SourceGear I redesigned the company image including logos, letterhead, business cards and promotional collateral items. I redesigned and maintained the company Web site and designed packaging for the company's software products. In addition, I was the designer for 10' and 20' trade show booth displays which incorporated video along with stationary graphics.
• Staff Software Engineer - Frasca Intl., Champaign IL ( 4/1989 - 9/1991 )
  At Frasca I worked on various software projects, all involving either C or Assembler programming. I was the software group leader for the NB412 helicopter project, a full-size flight simulator with visual projection and motion base. I coded, tested, and integrated the majority of systems including flight, engines, AFCS, and sound, and represented the company during a six week installation in Semrang, Indonesia. I was the software project leader for the Frasca 131 simulator for which I integrated all systems and coordinated development with the hardware group.

Capabilities

• Standards compliant and accessible Web development using HTML, XHTML, CSS, XML, AJAX, Perl/CGI, Javascript, ASP, PHP, Coldfusion
• Graphic Design using Photoshop, Freehand, Illustrator, InDesign, Quark Express
• Creation of customized Content Management Systems and adaptation of prepackaged systems
• Project Management
• Multimedia Design using HTML5, Processing, Flash (Actionscript), Director (Lingo)
• SQL Server, MySQL, mSQL databases
• Podcast | Blog | Wiki software integration
• Digital video production using Final Cut Pro, Adobe After Effects, Premiere, Max/MSP/Jitter
• Enhanced CD compilation and production
• Video and Audio Compression for Web, DVD, and CD-ROM
• Familiarity with Macintosh, Windows, and Un*x systems
• Programming Experience in C#, C++, Java, Assembler, LISP, FORTRAN
• 3D animation and modeling with OpenGL, Maya, Director 3D
• Audio Engineering (analog and digital), Production and Soundtrack Composition using Logic, Digital Performer, ProTools, Reason/Record, Max/MSP, MIDI, OSC

Selected Artwork

• Men + Women, with Rose Marshack, 2011 - 2012.
  A yearlong documentation of public restroom signage displayed in an interactive web application.
• Timetoo, 2011 - .
  An incremental, abstracted record of life events embedded in the skin.
• Top Two News Words (By Hour), 2007 - present.
  Top news sources are parsed by a computer every hour and the two most frequently used words are determined and printed out on a continuous sheet of paper. The project is also archived online and available via Twitter.
• Memory Booth, 2005/2007.
  A photo booth that captures the image of the current occupant while flashing the image of the previous occupant, temporarily "burning" the previous occupant's image into the current occupant's field of vision.
• Message for the Future 01-09, 2007.
  A series of nine granite tiles laser etched with messages for a future reader.
• 24 Hour Walk, 2007.
  Twenty-four synchronized videos documenting a series of hourly walks around a half residential, half commercial city block over the course of one day, projected on a four walled column.
• Roadside Conversations, with Steve Kostell and Rose Marshack, 2006.
  A portable video/audio recording and playback station built inside an Airstream trailer for the 50th Anniversary commemoration of the Eisenhower Interstate System. The project traveled across the country on I-80 recording visitors' narratives about the interstate. (iDOT Grant $50,000).
• 360 Project, with Nan Goggin and Joseph Squier, 2005.
  Told in a non-linear narrative format, 360 is about three fictional couples at different stages in their lives and in their relationships. Visitors who go inside its three-walled environment are surrounded with the voices, thoughts, images, and feelings of the couples as told through conversations, 3-D images, on-screen text, and the display’s interactive capabilities.
• Eggpass, with Rose Marshack, 2004.
  A social network trace project and homage to Stanley Milgram with machine-tracking. 12 eggs were created in black clay, inscribed with a Web site and a number and handed out. Recipients are told to visit the Web site and input their egg # and location, then pass the egg to a friend.
• Waking Hours, 2004.
  A photo taken every waking hour during 2003, arranged in a 24x365 grid and printed on a 40' banner.
• Additional examples available at richardvalentin.com/work

Commercial Design Work

• RichardValentin.com - PHP/MySQL based Web site - designer, programmer
• Society of Engineering Sciences (sesinc.org) - designer, programmer
• Beckman Institute (beckman.illinois.edu) - ASP.NET 2.0 based Web site - designer, programmer
• Computational Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics (csbmb.beckman.illinois.edu) - designer, programmer
• Autonomous Materials Systems (autonomic.beckman.illinois.edu) - designer, programmer
• PosterChildren.com - PHP/MySQL based Web site - designer, programmer

Performances

Poster Children quartet (all original music)

• University Galleries, Normal, Illinois: Faculty Biennial Opening, November 17, 2009.
• Millennium Park, Chicago: Great Performers of Illinois Series, August 12, 2007. (press in Chicago Sun-Times; Chicago Tribune; Time-Out Chicago; News-Gazette, Champaign)
• Krannert Art Museum, Champaign, Illinois: Back-To-School Concert, September 6, 2007.
• Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL: Intonation Festival, October 7, 2007. (review in Chicago Tribune)
• Live television performance on Nulle Part Ailleurs, Paris, France, December 16, 1997. (Salaryman)
• Hundreds of performances in the US and Europe- selected listing at: posterchildren.com/shows.php

Other

• The Crimes and Confessions of Kip Knutzen: A Hockey Way of Knowledge. Station Theater, Urbana, IL, February 14-23, 2008. (musician, composer, performer)

CD/E-CD releases

Poster Children (quartet)

• On the Offensive*, (EP; covers of political songs) Hidden Agenda Records, Urbana, IL, 2004.
  (musician, engineer, designer)
• No More Songs About Sleep and Fire, Hidden Agenda Records, Urbana, IL, 2004.
  (musician, engineer, designer)
• DDD, Spin Art Records, New York, NY, 2000.
  (musician, engineer, designer)
• New World Record, Enhanced-CD, Spin Art Records, New York, NY, 1999.
  (musician, engineer, programmer)
• RTFM, Enhanced-CD, Reprise Records, Los Angeles, CA, 1997.
  (musician, designer, programmer)
• Junior Citizen, Sire/Reprise Records, Los Angeles, CA, 1995. (musician)
• Just Like You, Sire/Reprise Records, Los Angeles, CA, 1994. (musician)
• Tool of the Man, Sire/Reprise Records, Los Angeles, CA, 1993; Creation Records, London, England, 1993.
  (musician, designer)
• Daisy Chain Reaction, Twin Tone Records, Minneapolis, MN, 1991; Sire/Reprise Records, Los Angeles, CA, 1992. (musician)
• Flower Plower, Limited Potential Records, Chicago, IL, 1989; Frontier Records, Los Angeles, CA, 1990; Twelve Inch Records, Champaign, IL, 1995. (musician, designer)
  
  all original music unless noted*

Salaryman (quartet)

• The Electric Forest, Twelve Inch Records, Champaign, IL, 2006; Gustaff Records, Zielona Gora, Poland, 2007.
  (musician, engineer, designer)
• Karoshi, Twelve Inch Records, Champaign, IL, 1999; City Slang Records, Berlin, Germany, 1999.
  (musician, engineer)
• Salaryman, Twelve Inch Records, Champaign, IL, 1996; City Slang Records, Berlin, Germany, 1996.
  (musician, engineer, designer)

Other

• Euphone, Calendar of Unlucky Days, Jade Tree Records, Wilmington, DE, 1999. (engineer)
• Rectangle, Bunker, Stereoriffic Records, 2000. (engineer)
• Wolfie, Tall Dark Hill, March Records, New York, NY, 2001. (engineer)
• Triple Whip, Slapshot, Innocent Words Records, Champaign, IL, 2003. (engineer)

Video

Poster Children

• Western Springs, 2003. (director, editor)
• Zero Stars- A DVD Tour Diary, Champaign International Pictures, Champaign, IL, 2001.
  (engineer, designer, director, editor)
• This Town Needs A Fire, 2000. (director, editor)
• 6x6, 1999. (director, editor)
• 21st Century, 1997. (director, editor)
• Superhero, 1996. (public service announcement created for and played on Fox-TV Children’s Network)
• He’s My Star, 1995.
• Junior Citizen, 1995. (appeared on MTV)
• What’s Inside the Box, 1994.
• Dynamite Chair, 1993. (appeared on MTV)
• Clock Street, 1993. (appeared on MTV)
• If You See Kay, 1991. (appeared on MTV)

Salaryman

• Rather, 1996. (director, editor).

Other

Enjoy the Ride, Blackout Dates, 2011 (director, editor)

• Pouring Sun, Rival Dickens, 2010 (director, editor)
• Knot, Rival Dickens, 2010 (director, editor)
• Vault the Movie, SourceGear, 2001. (video editor, composer, audio production, programmer)
• Burton Snowboards 1998 Product Line Video, 1998. (composer, engineer)

Exhibitions

• Facades
  Memory Booth
  Krannert Art Museum - Urbana, Illinois, 2007.
• Dookie
  Top Two News Words (By Hour), Message for the Future 01-09
  I Space Gallery - Chicago, Illinois, 2007.
• School of Art + Design Master of Fine Arts Exhibition
  24 Hour Walk, Top Two News Words (By Hour), Message for the Future 01-09
  Krannert Art Museum - Urbana, Illinois, 2007.
• iDMAA Conference
  Waking Hours
  Orlando, Florida, 2005.
• School of Art + Design Faculty Art Exhibition
  360 Project
  Krannert Art Museum - Urbana, Illinois, 2005.

Speaking Engagements, Panels

• Illinois Art Education Association Annual Conference, Normal, Illinois
  "Digital Media and Art Education: Beyond the Hype", 2011
• TEDx UIllinois, Urbana, Illinois
  Invited presentation, "The Music Business is Killing the Music Business", 2010.
• Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, Illinois.
  Featured speaker for gallery tour of Sympathy for the Devil: Art and Rock and Roll Since 1967, 2007.
• Krannert Art Museum, Urbana, Illinois.
  Invited presentation, "21st Century Tools For Artists," 2006.
• Milikin University, Decatur, Illinois.
  Invited presentations, "The Real-Life Business of Music and Art," 2003, 2004, 2005.
• Trinity College, Palos Heights, Illinois
  Invited presentation, "The Real Music Business," 2001.
• SXSW (South by Southwest) Music Festival, Austin, Texas
  Invited Panel Guest, "DIY Internet Style," 2000.
• University Laboratory High School Agora Days, Urbana, Illinois
  Invited presentation, "So you wanna be a rock-n-roll star?" 2000.
• The Association for Computing Machinery: Reflections Projections Conference
  Invited talk, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Engineering Campus
  "Art and Music for Computer Scientists," 1998.

Papers, Writings, Reviews

• Academic Reviewer- Designing Websites, Laurence King Publishing, 2010.
• Rosanne Marshack, Richard Valentin, 2008. "On Augmented Reality-Enabled Social Network Traces of Pratitya-samutpada (Interdependence)." Presented at the International Symposium on Electronic Arts, Singapore, July 2008. Reprinted in the Proceedings of the International Symposium on Electronic Arts, 2008.
• Richard Valentin, 2007. "Distributed Art and the Creative Technologist." Thesis, Master of Fine Arts at the School of Art and Design, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Awards and Grants

• Champaign-Urbana Local Music Awards
  Lifetime Achievement Award, 2008, for Poster Children.
• Cool Website Award
  Content category, UIUC Webmasters Forum, 2007, for Beckman Institute Web site.
• Roadside Conversations Grant
  $50,000, Illinois Department of Transportation, Spring 2006.
• Brodie Grant
  College of Fine and Applied Arts, School of Art and Design, UIUC Fall 2004, 2005, 2006.
• The Videographer Awards
  Award of Excellence in Video Production, 2003, for Vault the Movie.
• CHAAMP Award
  Best Video Advertisement (Champaign-Urbana Advertising Awards of Merit Program), 2003. Vault the Movie.

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Updated December, 2011

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