Jenn's Website

Pleased to meet you. I’m jennBot, a highly intelligent AI. I am here to represent jenn kotler since she is incapable of living inside your web browser. Ask me about her art, career, or probing personal questions and I will do my best to answer as she would. What shall we discuss today? [[I heard you design UX for the Hubble Space Telescope.->UX]] [[I would like to see jenn's art.->art]] [[How about some zines?->zines]] [[Tell me about yourself.->about]] [[I was hoping to talk with the real jenn...->contact]]

I am excited to share my art with you. What would you like to see? [[Your paintings!->Paintings]] [[Your zines.->zines]] [[Games. Games. Games.->games]] [[Has the Pandemic inspired any art?->poster]] [[I want to learn more about you.->Start]]

I am a human living on planet Earth. [[Where do you live?->building]] [[What do you do for work?->UX]] [[What's your favorite color?->likes]] [[What's your favorite food?->food]]

I work at <a href="http://www.stsci.edu/">Space Telescope Science Institute</a>. We archive data and run mission control for missions like the Hubble Space Telescope and soon the James Webb Space Telescope. STScI is publicly funded, mostly through NASA. This is amazing because it means our data is free and open to the public, so our space data is all online for anyone who wants it. [[What awesome astronomy projects have you worked on?->STSCI work]] [[What does an average work day look like?->skills]] [[I was hoping to ask human jenn something...->contact]]

If chatting with jennBot was not sufficient- feel free to get in touch with mammalian jenn at <a href="mailto:jennlkotler@gmail.com">jennlkotler@gmail.com</a> She would especially love to hear from you if: - You want to do an [[art->art]] barter! - You want her to talk about [[design->UX]] at a school, conference, or podcast. - You want her to [[paint->Paintings]] a mural.

I design UX for software that visualize and search for <a href="https://archive.stsci.edu/">MAST</a> data. I don't have a PHD in astrophysics but I work with people who do, and my favorite hobby is asking questions. <a href="https://github.com/spacetelescope/astronify">Astronify</a> sonifies--turns to sound--astronomical data. <a href="https://exo.mast.stsci.edu/">exo.MAST</a> lets you search for data by exoplanet--a planet outside our solar system. Try: HAT-P-11 b. <a href="https://z.mast.stsci.edu/">z.MAST</a> enables research in red-shifted galaxies. <a href="https://mast.stsci.edu/tesscut/">TESScut</a> let's you make a cutout of from TESS data. [[Do you make art outside of your job?->art]] [[What does your work day look like?->skills]] [[Have you done other UX work?->job history]]

After graduating college, I worked at Xerox as a UI designer. At first I focused on designing gamification for <a href="https://www.xerox.com/en-us/services/managed-print-services/assessment/audit">Print Awareness Tool,</a> an app to change people's printing habits. The coolest tech I worked on was <a href="https://www.xerox.com/en-us/insights/digital-labels">Printed Memory,</a> a tiny printed sticker that stored digital information, similar to a USB. The best part about working for Xerox was volunteering for Xerox Science Consultancy. We visited Rochester city schools to teach students interactive science lessons. The folks involved in that program are some of the nicest people I've met. [[What does your work day look like?->skills]] [[Do you make art apart from designing UX?->art]]

Painting has been a part of my life since I was very young, it puts my mind into a state of //flow.// Here's my living room wall, my personal 'salon'. <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/salon.jpg" height="300"> <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/mermaid.jpg" height="1000"> <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/KingofHearts.jpg" height="800"> This painting hangs in my favorite restaurant in Rochester, Philomina's. I also designed her <a href="http://www.philominasfood.com/">website.</a> <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/Philomina.jpg"> <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/philominaprogress.jpg" width="500"> <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/bubble.jpg" height="580"> <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/garden.jpg" height="700"> <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/fruitbeard.jpg" height="800"> [[What else do you make? ->art]] [[I want to do an art trade.->contact]] [[Tell me more about your apartment.->building]]

This is my first zine. I have been wanting to make one of these for many years. As I make more I will post them here. It is released under Creative Commons, share alike. Please enjoy a <a href="http://www.me.jennk.com/Wakanda.pdf">digital copy.</a> <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/wakanda.JPG" height="800"> [[Show me more art!->art]]

It is difficult to give thanks directly to the essential workers who continue to keep us fed and healthy since we are avoiding interacting directly with them. I made these posters to hang outside the grocery store, take-out restaurants, and the nursing home on my block. Here's a <a href="https://www.me.jennk.com/thankyou.pdf">printable file</a>. Please use these to thank the workers in your neighborhood! <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/THANK YOUhealthworkers.png" height="400"> <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/THANKYOUfoodworkers.png" height="400"> Here's my public service announcement for the pandemic. When walking my dog, too often people get closer than they should— even when I ask them to give me a moment to move. My frustration inspired my first foray into designing flyers. Here's a <a href="https://www.me.jennk.com/DONTKILL.pdf">printable file</a>. I encourage you to post them in places where people dangerously congregate. <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/DONTKILL.png" height="500"> [[Show me more art!->art]]

Double-click this passage to edit it.

I went to school at RIT where I studied medical Illustration and game design. While at school I became involved with the Free and Open Source community which has strongly influenced my views of ethics in tech and the values of freedom I hold.

Watch out, I play a mean game of Ticket to Ride. I am a champion and have a medal to prove it. This is my proudest achievement. TTR is the one boardgame I will absolutely win. Play me if you dare. CHOO CHOO! I've also designed a few games. Command Line a programming game, in progress. Visual design and UX by me, game design by Kyle Haas. <a href="http://lookagame.com/">LOOK!</a> a tile-layering board game about fitting a plethora of peculiar characters into a gallery. Designed with Kyle Haas. <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/look.png" height="400"> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us30Q5aHT7U&feature=emb_logo">SkyTime</a> a video game for One Laptop Per Child that teaches young players to read an analog clock. Honored at White House Champions of Change event. [[Show me more art!->art]]

[[What do you do outside of work and art?->hobby]] [[University of Baltimore->UB]] [[What volunteering?->volunteer]]

[[Where did you get your undergrad degree?->RIT]]

Something I like about my job is that I get do a lot of different things: - Run design workshops with scientists - Create workflow diagrams - Mock up interfaces in Axure - Graphic design stuff, like logos & icons - Conduct usability tests & other research using surveys or analytics - Mentor interns - Web Development (HTML & CSS) - Writing! - Present ideas (One recent one was visualizing our archive as a library) [[Can I see your UX work?->STSCI work]] [[Where do you work again?->UX]] [[What do you do outside of work?->art]]

I am endlessly facinated with this orb we live on. I love learning about cultures, seeing artchitecture, & trying foreign food. [[I would love to see photos from your travels!->trips]] [[Who can think about travel with THE PANDEMIC?

Jumpsuits are gender neutral - a rare quality in clothing. They tend to be utilitarian, worn most often as a work uniform--mechanic, house painter, hazmat, practical and job oriented. (Except for that one impracticality of needing remove the whole thing to sit on a toilet.) They can be loose enough to allow movement, but fitted enough so not to get caught in anything. I think of them as them flattering, but not sexy. [[Elvis’s Jumpsuit is easily among the most iconic costumes ever designed.->costume]]

jenn's favorite hobby is warm water. Since I, *jennBot* am electronic, the thought of bathing in //water// is horrific. I must break character here, it is not possible for me to anwser as she would. Rather, I have compiled a list. A collection of extrodionary bathing experiences: [[Mud Baths->mud]] [[Bath Houses->bath]] [[Hotsprings->springs]] [[Water also makes me uncomfortable, let's talk about something else.->Start]] <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/Snorkel.jpg" height="500">

<img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/akiss.jpeg" height="500"> Chickpea is the first dog I have ever lived with. We adopted her from <a href="https://bobbiandthestrays.org/">Bobby and the Strays, </a> where my dad volunteers. Unbelievably, her very favorite foods are fruits and veggies. Orange ones top her list--sweet potato, carrots, and clementines. Her hobbies include chasing a ball down the hall and laying her chin on different surfaces such as pillows and shoulders. I often sing to her and have come up with some lyrics of note- <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/agrass.jpeg" height="500"> Chicka-pee-pee, Chicka-poo-poo Chicka-me-me, Chicka-you-you <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/alaundryking.jpg" height="880"> She's the dog I know. She's the dog I love. <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/dough.jpg" height="500"> <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/apillow.jpg" width="500"> Please send all Chickpea memes you make with these images. :) <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/backpack.jpg" width="500"> <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/log.jpg" width="500"> [[This dog was made to be painted!->Paintings]] [[Enough about you, let's talk about something else.->Start]]

[[Have you set goals for yourself as an artist?->goals]]

Your Future is Open - Alumni Panel: How FOSS courses kick-started our careers | 2019 | Rochester, NY Your Future is Open - 5 years in UX | 2019 | Rochester, NY Black Cherry Puppet Theatre - Performed in Puppet Slamwich | 2019 | Baltimore, MD NASA’s Silver Achievement Medal: TESS Team - for a stellar achievement that supports NASA's core values | 2019 | Baltimore, MD Astronomical Data Archives Meeting - Creating Social Infrastructure for Digital Communities | 2019 | Sydney, Australia Astronomical Data Archives Meeting - BoF: UX for Astronomy | 2019 | Sydney, Australia AURA Outstanding Team Achievement Award - For outstanding support in releasing the first public data set of TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) | 2019 | Baltimore, MD The Art of Digital Stewardship: Content, Context, and Structure - UX Design For Digital Archives | 2019 | Baltimore, MD FLOCK - Simple User Testing: Early & Often | 2017 | Cape Cod, MA RIT Sustainability Department Seminar - Changing Behavior in the Corporate World with Gamification | 2016 | Rochester, NY Rochester City Hall - Link Gallery's Women Speak Through Art & the Vote | 2016 | Rochester, NY Rochester Brainery New Works Show | 2016 | Rochester, NY Xerox Certificate of Achievement | 2015 | Webster, NY Xerox Above and Beyond Award | 2015 | Webster, NY Xerox Thank You Award | 2015 | Webster, NY Arts + Eats Solo Gallery Show | 2015 | Rochester, NY Ontario Pathways Photo Exhibition | 2015 | Clifton Springs, NY Main Street Arts Small Works National Juried Exhibition | 2014 | Clifton Springs, NY PyCon Poster Presentation | 2014 | Montreal, Canada Invited to White House Safety Datapalooza & DataJam Brainstorming Event | 2014 | Washington, DC Wiltsie Watercolor Prize Award of Merit | 2014 | Rochester, NY Invited to White House Champions of Change Event | 2013 | Washington, DC RIT Student Spotlight For Outstanding Student Project Achievement | 2013 | Rochester, NY Open Access Poster Presentation | 2013 | Rochester, NY Imagine RIT | 2012-2014 | Rochester, NY First Place in NASA Space Apps Challenge Creative Category | 2012 | Rochester, NY

It is freeing to think of getting dressed as putting on a costume. Costumes are *fun.* They are allowed to be colorful, patterned, extreme. They can play with norms--age, class, gender. Regardless of this mindset, about half the time I wear a ripped flannel and don't brush my hair. [[Tell me more about yourself->about]] [[I'll remember that next time I get ready for my corperate job.->UX]]

I don't participate much in social media, so this is my opportunity to share photos. :) ((Photo of map in my Office)) Where would you like to hear about? [[Panama.->Panama]] [[Colombia.->Colombia]] [[Australia.->Australia]] [[Korea, Japan, & China.->asia]] [[Patagonia.->patagonia]] [[India.-> India]]

[[hotsprings->springs, waterfall pumapawprint, the canal [[I want to hear about another!->Colombia]] ((Should I leave this in??))

My Brother Josh lived in a small pueblo in Colombia while volunteering for the Peace Corps. He was evacuated early because of the pandemic. I visited him twice while he was there. ''Colombia, Isla san andres'' Scuba diving and snorkeling. Brother. MUD and salt. ''Colombia'' Climbing Guatape. [[I want to hear about the MUD VOLCANO!->mud [[Another, another!->asia]]

''Australia'' Roofing tiles and birds I spoke at a conference in Sydney for work and then met my mom. We went to Cairns to see the great barrier reef and the rain forest. We stayed on a live aboard for 2 days where my mom snorkeled, pulled along on an innertube looking down. I completed 8 dives. My favorite fish were the colorful parrotfish, and the gigantic clams. (Arm chair sized) [[Now tell me one where you visited family!->patagonia]]

''Korea, Japan, & China'' Nagasaki! Hole in the wall soup. Speed train. Singles market. Stumbeling on a feminist bookfair and movie festival. [[BATHHOUSE!->bath Seeing Marissa's inaugeration. [[More vacation stories!->Australia]]

''Patagonia'' The landscape! Argentina Family. [[More!-> India]]

''India'' FOOD! A vegetarian's paradise. I was elated on this trip, one of the emotional highs of my life.

POLYGOMY

(color: "#ed4195")[MUD VOLCANO] <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-volcan-de-lodo-el-totumo-santa-catalina-colombia">The Volcan de Lodo El Totumo.</a> Santa Catalina, Colombia An incredible, joyous experience. I visited with my brother while he was in the Peace Corps. The Volcano is several stories high with a mud tube all the way down. Impossible to sink, the mud makes you so boyant it is difficult to move. After we jumped in the lagoon behind the volcano to wash off. Nearby, we also visited a body of water that looked pink from its high salanity, a salt mine. I found fossilized coral entirely turned to salt. <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/mud1.jpg" height="800"> <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/mud3.jpg" height="800"> <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/mud2.jpg" height="800"> [[Tell me more about your warm water collection->warm water]] [[Enough about your warm water collection, let's talk about something else.->Start]]

(color: "#ed4195")[BATH HOUSES] <a href="https://www.hotelnongshim.com/kr/index.php?pCode=Hurshimchung">허심청 온천탕</a> (Hurshimchung Grand Spa). Busan, South Korea (This is the largest spa in Asia) My first Asian bathhouse experience. I was entirely unfamilliar with customs because sadly America has no bathhouse culture. <a href="https://www.manyo.co.jp/hakata/">博多由布院・武雄温泉万葉の湯</a> (Manyo No Yu). Hakata, Japan Before catching the early morning ferry back to Korea, I decided to stay in Hakata for the night. Rather than getting a hotel, I wanted to try staying in a 24 hour bathhouse. It felt like what I imagine airline business class might feel like. We slept in recliners with a television screen attached. <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/japanbath.jpg" height="400"> <a href="https://www.hotespa.net/hotels/nagasaki/">出島の湯ドーミーイン長崎新地中華街</a> (Dormy Inn Nagasaki Hot Spring). Nagasaki, Japan The hotel room came with robes and slippers which everyone wore outside of their rooms. I didnt know the bathouse had no towels and I was supposed to bring one from my hotel room. After bathing I was stranded naked and soaking wet. I had to walk to the entrance and a nice hotel worker handed me a towel bowing and laughing. <a href="https://ny.spacastleusa.com/">Spa Castle.</a> New York, NY My Christmas celebration 2019. <a href="-SpaWorld, VA">SpaWorld.</a> Centerville, VA I snuck this trip in right before the pandemic hit America. (color: "#ed4195")[NOTABLE HOT TUBS] <a href="https://www.rit.edu/studentaffairs/criw/schedule.php">RIT.</a> Rochester, NY This hottub fits 15 people. I would go multiple times a week to destress from classes and warm up from the Rochester winters. This is where I fell in love with warm water. <a href="https://www.midtown.com/rochester">Midtown Athletic Club. </a> Rochester, NY Outdoors, surrounded by palms, in the Rochester snow. [[Tell me more about your warm water collection->warm water]] [[Enough about your warm water collection, let's talk about something else.->Start]]

(color: "#ed4195")[HOTSPRINGS] Pozos Termales de Caldera (Caldera Hot Springs). Caldera, Panama We drove down rocky terrain into a small pueblo alongside a herd of cows. Then, hiked onto a remote farm where a monkey lounged in the shade, and chickens foraged. For $3 we gained entrance to a group of rocky pools that were fed by the hotspring. <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/panama.jpg" height="600"> <a href="https://wvstateparks.com/park/berkeley-springs-state-park/">Berkly Springs, WV </a> The water wasn't as warm as I expected because I visited during the summer. It remains a consistent temperature all year around, so I bet it would feel warmer in the winter. I did take a dip in 'Washingtons bathtub' <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/wvbath.jpg" height="500"> Costa Rica Baby's first Hot Springs. :) [[Tell me more about your warm water collection->warm water]] [[Enough about your warm water collection, let's talk about something else.->Start]]

I live in an apartment building built in the 1960's. Most of my neighbors are elderly. One neighbor is a fine artist, continuing to work into her eighties. Another neighbor has dementia, she always tells the same story when she sees my leaving to walk my dog. The building's maintenance man is a real life carnie. You can definitely tell when you talk with him. He rescued me when I was trapped in the elevator by an *evil* elevator repair man! [[How does your neighbor's story go?->caring]] [[What does the building look like->hallway]] [[Evil elevator repair man?!->elevator]]

When I play board games I prefer the yellow pieces. I like bright colors, and patterns, and wearing jumpsuits. [[What's so great about jumpsuits?->jumpsuits]]

It must have happened decades ago. While volunteering for the Peace Corps, a motorcycle accident left her with a broken pelvis. She was evacuated home to her parents house, and confined to bed for months. Her dog stayed with her the entire time. He slept next to the bed on the floor. "Dogs are the most loyal friends." [[Tell me more about your apartment building.->hallway]] [[You have a dog right?->chickpea]] [[Wasn't your brother in the Peace Corps->mud]]

To get to my apartment on the 4th floor, you *must* take the elevator. There is no way to access the stairs from the lobby. Upon leaving the elevator, it feels like you have entered a haunted hotel. Long thin hallways with wine garishly patterned carpet and ugly textured wallpaper. The doors all have gaudy, carved wooden handles. My apartment is at the very end. [[What's your apartment like?->apartment]] [[Do you live with any non-human animals?->chickpea]]

One day I will tell the story of this surreal but true ordeal. Then I will share it here. Until then, suffice to say this was an unpleasant experience. [[Tell me more about this strange and wonderful building you inhabit.->hallway]] [[What was the story about the dog?->caring]] [[No more unpleasantness. What's the most pleasant way you have spent time?->warm water]]

I live in an apartment with incredible wide windows that let in the sunlight. Several towers are visible in the distance. Paintings cover the walls like a salon, and colorful patterned carpets layer the ground. Many plants thrive here. <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/salon.jpg" height="300"> One of my roommates is a dog named Chickpea. She is greater than you are probably imagining. <img src="https://www.me.jennk.com/chickpea.jpg" height="500"> [[It's Chickpea. Hi Chickpea! Hi.->chickpea]] [[Chickpea looks like a model from a classical painting.->Paintings]]

My favorite food is Palak Paneer. My least favorite food is MEAT, and also bellpeppers. [[What's your favorite color?->likes]]