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Teens get creative at new maker space (3 photos)

First workshop Tuesday

Jessica Arbic is already an artist.

The 18-year-old creates characters on the computer and prints stickers of them.

With the new Digital Creator program officially launched in its new space in Timmins, she has a place to further hone her talents.

Digital Creator is a free drop-in maker space geared toward teens. It’s set up at the Timmins Museum: National Exhibition Centre and has all the tools you need to explore technology, or just sit back and relax.

It also features structured workshops across the street at the Timmins Public Library.

For the launch of the program today, teens were exploring the computer programs and learning more about photography.

Arbic is familiar with some of the software, but was getting used to a new computer system today while getting creative with friend Kayla Pichette, who’s interested in graphic design and photography.

Arbic has been drawing since Grade 4 and got back into it last year.

On the computer, she creates unique characters from scratch. Doing a full-time co-op placement at John’s Neon Signs she’s been able to print stickers of her creations.

The unique designs come from her head, taking on a life of their own throughout the process.

“I usually surprise myself and see what I can do,” she said.

“I know the body the way that I want it, but not the full character or how the colours will appear or how she will show to people.”

With an interest in digital editing, Chance MacIver also stopped by to check out the program.

He used his time at the launch to experiment with editing using Premiere Pro.

“I’m really interested in it, adding different layers and mixing colours,” he said.

At home, he said he plays around with programs to see what he can do.

With the Digital Creator space now open for drop-in times, he said he’ll be back.

The Digital Creator program lead in Timmins is Tyler Levesque.

At the drop-in sessions, which start this week, teens will be able to explore DSLR photography and lighting, along with learning how to use Adobe Suite to edit film, make vector drawings, and more.

“It’s for all spectrums, it’s for kids who want to show up, take their own photographs, learn how to light their own shots, learn how to manipulate their own images or edit. And it’s also for kids who are just looking for something to do after school,” Levesque said before the launch.

With a green screen at the library, and the technology in the Digital Creator space, Levesque said students have all the tools to make a vlog or podcast.

The programming starts Tuesday with a Meme Building workshop from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the library, followed by drop-in sessions throughout the week at the Digital Creator Space at the museum.

Other upcoming events include:

Saturday, Jan. 27 – Podcast 101, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. at the library

Tuesday, Jan. 30 – Light Painting, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. at the library

Saturday, Feb. 3 – Experimental Photography, 10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., and 1:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. at the library

Wednesdays and Thursdays – Drop-in DGTL Creator Space, 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. at the museum

Fridays, Drop-in DGTL Creator Space, 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. at the museum

To register for a workshop, email Levesque at [email protected].