Education: Master of Fine Arts from Illinois State University 2007 With Honors
Bachelor of Arts from Eastern Illinois University (emphasis 2D) 2003

Department: Fine & Performing Arts

Office: Burgess, Third Floor

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Art and hacking are both forms of social engineering; art is just an intellectual and visual hack. My current research examines systems. Systems designed as a method of control, as a set of rules or guides that lay out the proper response to certain actions. Systems that create or change the ways we perceive art.

As an artist my work is inspired by technology, science fiction, warfare, and dystopian themes. These themes are also investigating systems of control. I take these concepts and put them in a context so that the viewer may see new perspectives on the military and political decisions of the present.

My interests in art include intermedia, interactive, performance, wearable-art, electronics, digital, conceptual, as well as sculptural art. Groups like the Fluxus or Situationists and artist like Tinguely, artists who investigated systems and interactivity, have informed my practice. Contemporary groups like UBERMORGEN or SWAMP are also used to communicate and contextualize my work. I look to other media, for instance Terry Gilliam’s film Brazil, as inspiration for the form of my work.

My process involves blending new media practice with traditional sculptural techniques to form a hybrid. Pieces are meticulously crafted by hand, using a mill, lathe, various hand and power tools though I also include more contemporary methods like 3D printers, laser cutters, hand printed electric circuits, and programing also. This way I am allowed the time to adapt the form of the work to the function. Video, photography, digital image manipulation, and performance have all become standard practice in my current research. Some of these works are highly engineered wearables that use microcontrollers, robotics, and code to affect the wearerʼs actions. Others are scripted algorithms that reinterpret or create art using various stimuli (sensors, images, sound, the internet, etc). All of the work looks at systems and control, and often ways to subvert those systems giving context to our relationship with them.

TEACHING INTERESTS:

I teach art and design including digital and analog processes. These include design (digital and otherwise), drawing, sculpture, art appreciation, art history, digital photo, and I have also taught coding and physical computing for the arts.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY:

Along with being a member of the New Media Caucus I have several shows up this year in and around the Chicago area and in New York. I also hope to assist students in forming a new art & design club, and to bring interesting and thought provoking artists like Jason Patterson to the campus.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:

I am an active member of Bike Blono an organization which advocates for bicycle rights in Bloomington Normal. I also hope to plan more arts events to take place on campus throughout the year.

UNIQUELY EUREKA EXPERIENCE:

Eureka College’s small community and the collaborative environment of a small liberal arts school are what attracted me to the college. I hope to grow the Digital Media & Design program, and meet new friends this academic year!