Culture & Code From Clay to Code: Building Worlds with Ancient Art and AI
Oct 4, 2025
Visual artist Vanessa Rosa, known for her fusion of physical and digital media, shares her journey creating the Little Martians universe. She delves into blending ancient ceramics with AI, crafting interactive seed-beings designed to carry Earth's knowledge to new worlds. The conversation uncovers her off-grid residency, Mars College, and the marriage of handmade artistry with technology. She discusses how AI democratizes world-building, enabling independent creators to animate and narrate stories like never before. Tune in to discover this unique intersection of art and innovation!
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Design For Temporary, Sustainable Camps
- When creating off-grid projects, design modular, reusable infrastructure to build and dismantle quickly.
- Keep logistics manageable by staying near a town for supplies and emergency shelter.
Desert Residency Becomes Creative Lab
- Vanessa describes Mars College as a three-month, low-cost high-tech desert residency inspired by Burning Man and Black Mountain College.
- She built pallet-rack structures, scavenged local clay, and fired primitive kilns while living off-grid near the Salton Sea.
Clay Head Sparked Little Martians
- Vanessa recounts collecting local clay, digging a pit kiln, and making an elongated head sculpture in the desert.
- That physical ritual sparked the Little Martians concept and tied her work to ancient craft traditions.
