Practitioners
Sasha Grbich
"Digital worlds and virtual spaces can prompt new ways of thinking about community and connection, cultural memory and individual voice".
Background
Sasha is an Adelaide-based producer, writer and artist. Her artwork makes creative use of new technologies such as mobile phones, the internet and digital video. Sasha has been the inspiration and producer behind the innovative student-created movie projects that use mobiles to spread anti-bullying messages.
Sasha, tell us about the anti-cyber bullying project you were involved with.
I was the trainer and producer of the project on behalf of the Australian Network for Art and Technology (ANAT) in partnership with Flinders University and South Australia’s Department of Education and Children’s Services (DECS). I helped organise the workshops and provided training and support to the students to help them write, shoot and edit their own animations. I had so much fun and met so many great, funny and creative young people through the project.
What led you to become involved with this project?
Well, I was working on a project called pixel.play which involved going out to communities in regional South Australia and teaching high school students how to use accessible technology to make movies for mobile phones. DECS approached me with the opportunity to run some workshops during National Safe Schools week. I jumped at the chance as I loved the idea of taking a mobile phone, a tool that can be so problematic in a school environment, and engaging kids in creative work for that platform. The project was a great way of asking kids about their advice and experience of bullying and giving them the opportunity to use technology as a medium to express these ideas.
What do you think the students got out of the experience?
For many students it was a safe space to talk about bullying. I saw students gaining confidence from the program through the experience of making an animation or film from start to end. The great thing about making movies for mobiles is that it’s so accessible and portable, you can keep it in your pocket and show it to your friends. A lot of the students really owned and took pride in their work!
And you?
I love helping students produce great work and gain confidence in their creative abilities – so I got a lot out of it. I am always surprised and delighted at the ideas that students come up with! I also enjoyed working alongside some great teachers in the schools we visited, I learnt a lot from them too!
Do you think projects like these, or art generally, can contribute to social change?
Absolutely! – In this situation art helped us to reflect on a social issue - bullying - and to address a technological change (mobile phones). Using mobile phones as an artistic platform is a fantastic way of allowing viewers to play active roles, to move away from the traditional model in which the artist is the centre of interpretation to one where the author facilitates a conversation. Conversation is definitely a key factor in contributing to social change!
Do you have any thoughts for schools undertaking similar projects?
The resources for new technology are changing all the time – I would just encourage teachers to ask students what they are interested in, what they have available to them ie mobile phones, digital cameras, ipods, YouTube etc and then develop a program that encourages students to use these resources and tools towards a creative outcome.
Could you share a little about what you’re currently working on?
I am currently doing a little bit of a lot of things. I’m SA state manager for a program called mega (mobile enterprise growth alliance) that supports start-up companies and innovation in the mobile industry, I’m teaching some digital and video art at AC Arts (TAFE SA) and I’m also doing a couple of my own projects such as working with the community to record local short stories for the Port Adelaide Festival (SA) and developing a community digital art project with the TANKS Art Centre (Cairns, QLD). Needless to say I’m busy but I love being in this industry, it’s constantly changing and evolving!
For more information about Sasha’s work
http://www.anat.org.au/news_items/31
pixel.play: http://www.anat.org.au/projects/56
Portable Worlds: http://www.anat.org.au/base/search?search=Portable+Worlds
Click here to check out the mobile movies made by the students!
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