July 12th, 1998

11/1/01

Chair

Search Committee

Department of Visual and Media Arts

Emerson College

120 Boylston Street

Boston, MA 02116

Attention Susan Smith, Chair:

I am sending my portfolio in regards to the position for Media Artist, Assistant Professor. I am currently working freelance as a Technical Director for an internet start-up called N-Tonic, a multimedia production company creating web sites, DVD's, animation, and animated email campaigns. This is a spin-off company from another internet start-up where I also worked as a Technical Director. I have for the past 2 years worked educating all of our production staff and technically supervised and directed all projects mostly using Flash, Flash programming, Director, Javascript, HTML, PHP, Generator, and the basics like Illustrator, Photoshop, AfterEffects, Final Cut, Quark, etc. I also frequent new media conferences such as Edgewise and Flash Forward and teach technical applications. Recently, I taught Advanced Flash Animation in Brazil, Rio and Sao Paulo for Anima Mundi Film Festival.

As an artist, I have transferred my technical knowledge to my art making practice in the form of performance, sculpture, and web based works. My interests lie primarily in code, systems, and art that has a sense of Modernist self-awareness complicated by human identity. I am currently working on a series of pieces: sculpture and computer based work in an installation setting that investigate the computer as a substitute/prosthetic for human communication, intelligence, and emotions. The project is about communication and miscommunication, expressionism through the prosthesis of the computer. These themes run through my work, as well as an interest in power structures, strength through positions of marginality, and the Post-Human.

I have found teaching to be the most rewarding part of my job as a director. My experience in workshops has also been foundational to my own development and my work. I am applying for this position in the hope of expanding my skills and abilities as well as offering what I have gained from being a technical worker for corporations as well as experience as a working artist.

Portfolio Site: http://www.runwhiletrue.com/run

My information:

Larissa Bank

314 N. Curson Avenue

Apt #203

Los Angeles, CA 90036

(h) 323.939.3157

References:

Debra Callabresi, Founder, N-tonic, 1020 mission St, Suite F, South Pasadena 91030

Cel (818) 231-1288

Lea Zagury, Director, Anima Mundi Film Festival, Brazil

(She brought me to Brazil to teach Flash)

LA home (323) 662-1353

Brazil (55-21) 543-8860

Shiela Sofian, Instructor at College of the Canyons and Independent Animator, Valencia, CA (former co-worker)

Home (626) 398-3590 Cel. (626) 676-1183

Andrew Bucksbarg, Instructor at Chaffey College and New Media Artist

(Collaborated with me in many projects over the past 5 years)

Home (323) 465-3299 Cel. (323) 972-3685

I am sending a confidential credentials file under separate cover. Please include it with my application and feel free to contact me for additional information.

Sincerely,

Larissa Bank