TouchDesigner Meet Up
25/06/2025
This week we kicked off our new cultural incubator program Sourdough. The beta version of the program includes three participants all developing new projects for their creative communities. They will meet together on a weekly basis for mentorship and workshops from leading artists and cultural producers from around the world.
Learn more about the program and the participants at sourdough.art
Jennifer A. Quintanilla
Jennifer A. Quintanilla (she/her) is a Salvadoran-American New York native who has been calling Canada her home over the past few years. She holds an M.A. in Film and Media Studies from Concordia University.
In addition, she recently earned an Arts in Medicine Graduate Certificate from the University of Florida. Her experience there led her down the path of developing a creative wellness initiative. Her project centres on how film can serve as an outlet and tool to unearth possible solutions for mental and emotional health & well-being.
Abdul Muse/KAR33M
Abdul Muse (he/him) is an award-winning entrepreneur and singer/songwriter. He is the founder of Woke Studios; an artistic residency for Afro-diverse emerging artists to find support for their debut work.
As an award-winning Afro-soul artist famously known as KAR33M, he creates narrative-style music to provide a unique perspective into the African diaspora. His project focuses on how to build alternative blueprints for success for afro-diverse genre artists within the music industry, while uncovering resources to guide their path.
Mikayla Gordon/Seiiizi
Mikayla Gordon (she/her) was born and raised in Ottawa. Her artist name is Seiiizi. She became a self taught Emcee, DJ and Producer with artistic roots in Hip-Hop and reggae. Since 2015, Mikayla/Seiiizi has been creating spaces for creatives to learn and showcase their talents. Seiiizi strives to build the urban arts community, while fusing her own unique twists on tracks and mixes.
Her project focuses on supporting multimedia immersive showcases of emerging artists in the Ottawa region, while connecting them with new audiences.
Artengine TouchDesigner Meetup: Under the Hood with Michaela van Beinum
Join us at Artengine on Wednesday, May 22nd at 6:30 PM for an engaging artist talk with the incredibly talented Michaela van Beinum! Get ready to journey into the fascinating world where abstract art seamlessly blends with cutting-edge technology.
Michaela, an abstract artist and electrical engineer, will take us under the hood of some of her captivating TouchDesigner projects. Discover the creative processes, technical intricacies, and boundless inspiration that fuel her unique multimedia installations. Learn how she masterfully fuses projections, code, and even recycled materials to craft truly immersive and thought-provoking experiences.
With over five years of dedicated artistic exploration, Michaela has honed her craft to evoke emotions, challenge perceptions, and ignite a sense of wonder in her audience. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain insights into her innovative approach, ask questions, and connect with fellow artists and technology enthusiasts in Ottawa.
Wednesday April 16th
6:30-7:15 Warm Up and Chit Chat
7:15-8:30 Show and Tell or Pitch a Project
For this edition of our TouchDesigner MeetUp we have invited a number of local artists to show us under the hood of their TouchDesigner projects.
We also want to hear from you. Bring your ideas for a fun exchange on the project potential of TouchDesigner.
What to expect:
Meet and connect with other local artists
Get inspired by cool projects at the intersection of art and technology
Be able to share ideas and ask questions
No need for laptop
As always SNACKS!
Residency showcase by Valérie Chartrand opens April 24 at Artengine
Ottawa, ON – Artist Valérie Chartrand invites the public to Flutterings, an exhibition exploring the impact of climate change on monarch butterflies, presented at Artengine in Arts Court from April 24 to May 10, 2025. The opening reception will take place on April 24 from 6 PM to 8 PM.
Inspired by scientific research conducted in Dr. Heather Kharouba’s lab at the University of Ottawa, Flutterings bridges art and ecology. Chartrand’s works incorporate UV-printed plant resin, thermochromic pigments that fade with heat, UV dyes, and solar-powered blooms, each material chosen to evoke the effects of warming on ecosystems and the delicate interdependence of life.
The exhibition also serves as a poetic memorial to monarch butterfly specimens used in research, honouring their role in advancing our understanding of climate impacts on insect life and supporting the survival of future generations.
Flutterings is the result of a residency with the Kharouba Lab and Artengine, supported by the City of Ottawa’s Creation and Production Fund. The project highlights the strength of a collaboration between art and science in addressing ecological change.
Exhibition Details:
Opening Reception: April 24, 6–8 PM
Exhibition: April 24 – May 10, 2025 (Tuesday to Saturday, 10 AM – 5 PM)
Location: Artengine, Arts Court, 2 Daly Ave, Ottawa
Exposition de résidence de Valérie Chartrand – Ouverture le 24 avril à Artengine
Ottawa (Ontario) – Valérie Chartrand invite le public à découvrir Papillonnements, une exposition qui explore l’impact des changements climatiques sur les papillons monarques, présentée à Artengine dans la Cour des arts, du 24 avril au 10 mai 2025. Le vernissage aura lieu le 24 avril de 18 h à 20 h.
Inspiré par les recherches scientifiques menées au laboratoire de la Dre Heather Kharouba à l’Université d’Ottawa, Papillonnements établit un pont entre l’art et l’écologie. Les œuvres de Chartrand intègrent de la résine végétale imprimée avec UV, des pigments thermochromiques qui s’effacent sous la chaleur, des teintures UV, ainsi que des fleurs alimentées par l’énergie solaire — chaque matériau étant soigneusement choisi pour évoquer les effets du réchauffement sur les écosystèmes et l’interdépendance fragile des êtres vivants.
L’exposition se veut également un hommage poétique aux spécimens de monarques utilisés dans la recherche scientifique, honorant leur rôle dans l’avancement de nos connaissances sur l’impact climatique sur les insectes et leur contribution à la survie des générations futures.
Papillonnements est le fruit d’une résidence avec le laboratoire Kharouba et Artengine, soutenue par le Fonds de création et de production de la Ville d’Ottawa. Ce projet témoigne de la richesse d’une collaboration entre l’art et la science pour sensibiliser aux enjeux écologiques actuels.
Détails de l’exposition :
Vernissage : 24 avril, de 18 h à 20 h
Exposition : 24 avril – 10 mai 2025 (du mardi au samedi, de 10 h à 17 h)
Lieu : Artengine, Cour des arts, 2 avenue Daly, Ottawa