First BarCamp DeLand a success

BEACON PHOTO/SARAHROSE MINISTERI
Processing — BarCamp DeLand attendees watch a presentation by Stetson University professor Michael Branton at Abbey in Downtown DeLand. Branton shared his knowledge in a seminar called “Intro to Processing, Software Development for Arts and Media.”

By Sarahrose Ministeri
Beacon Staff Writer

posted Oct 11, 2012 - 9:09:04am

In Downtown DeLand Oct. 6, you may have noticed groups of excited-looking folks traveling the sidewalks wearing orange and black T-shirts proclaiming “BarCamp DeLand.”

Event coordinator Ray Villalobos, a businessman and a teacher at Seminole State College, had attended BarCamps in Orlando during the past two years.

He was inspired to bring the event to Downtown DeLand after attending and witnessing the popular Mardi Gras Dog Parade in 2012. If a parade could bring so many people to DeLand, a tech event would also attract people, Villalobos reasoned.

The first BarCamp DeLand brought more than 200 people to Downtown DeLand to share and learn. Event sponsors included the MainStreet DeLand Association, Stetson University and others.

“It was a super-successful first event,” Villalobos said.

More than 163 people attended seminars presented by 20 speakers in three Downtown bars: the Grotto, Abbey and Cafe da Vinci.

Speakers included well-known photographer and videographer Eric Breitenbach, who talked about documentary filmmaking, and multitalented artist couple Kelly and Courtney Canova, who spoke on “Photography and the Anatomy of Creative Inspiration.” DeLand celebrity designer Clark Orr — whose designs have been featured by Johnny Cupcakes — spoke about design, process and style, and inventor Dave Foster spoke on entrepreneurship and how to fund it.

Stetson University professors Matthew Roberts and Michael Branton also stepped off campus to give seminars at BarCamp.

“It was a great experience, and a chance to see a lot of young entrepreneurs and tech-savvy people come out, listen to each other’s ideas, and explore new ways of doing things,” Cafe da Vinci owner and BarCamp host Daniel Reed said.

Villalobos is already discussing plans for more tech and art events in Downtown DeLand. He invited anyone who’s interested to find updates at www.barcampdeland.org, or on the BarCamp Facebook page.

— sarahrose@beacononlinenews.com

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