State Of The Art

Ali Santana is a director and multi-disciplinary artist working with video, sound, collage, installation, and performance. Santana, a native Brooklynite is influenced by community, natural patterns, music and, ancient cultures. His work often explores topics related to Black American identity, observations of nature, and sensory perception. Ali's audio-visual works combine video art, performance and experimental cinema with booming beats, sound design and original recordings which are chopped, looped, and arranged in real-time to create an abstract method of storytelling that he dubs Boom Bap Cinema.Ali is an award winning educator having received the 2019 award for 'Innovation in Teaching Artistry' from the Association of Teaching Artists for his work with The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Teens Program. He enjoys sharing his artistic practice with students of all ages, teaching video art, collage, and beatmaking. He prioritizes accessibility, creative problem-solving and resourcefulness, emphasizing that anyone can use art as a tool for change.Visit his website: http://www.alisantana.com/Follow him @boombaye

Ziv Schneider is an artist and designer working with new and emerging technologies, often in the context of non-fiction storytelling. She is an alumna, former research fellow, and sometimes lecturer at NYU ITP.Ziv is currently a Creative Technologist at The Brown Institute for Media Innovation.Her recent project Sylvia is a storytelling experiment that disrupted the virtual influencer landscape for a short period of time. Unlike her “peers” who are designed to appear young forever, Sylvia was designed to age rapidly. She posted to Instagram from July to November 2020, and during these five months, her image aged five decades, from 30 to 80 years old.Check out @myfriendsylviaLearn more about Ziv's work https://zivschneider.com/Follow her on IG @zivschneider

Yuge studied drawing under Chinese contemporary painter Kaixi Cui 崔开玺 and eventually moved into Video Art after earning her Master of Fine Art from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Yuge’s work addresses connections, isolation and longing across urban and natural environments. She creates immersive experiences through digital collaging and sculptural reliefs. Yuge also directs and curates the 3300-square foot 150 Media Stream, a unique public digital art installation in Chicago. In addition to her MFA, she holds a masters degree in Computer Engineering from Syracuse University.Yuge has exhibited her work nationally and internationally including the Grand Rapids Art Museum; Elmhurst Art Museum; Spartanburg Art Museum; Ars Electronica Center at Linz, Austria; Chicago Cultural Center; SIGGRAPH Asia in Kobe, Japan; Microscope Gallery in NY among many others. Yuge’s work has been featured in various publications such as the New York Magazine, HYPEBEAST, and The Atlantic Monthly. Yuge received the Santo Foundation Individual Artist Award in 2017 and Honorary Mention in the 2020 Prix Ars Electronica. She is currently an artist at NEW INC, the world's first museum-led incubator for art, technology and design founded by New Museum. Follow her work @yugezhouLearn more about her work http://yugezhou.com/

In this episode, Peruvian artist Efraín Rozas talks with us about his career, projects, how he uses software programming to produce sound installations and his experience dancing with robots.-About Efraín Rozas-Peruvian performer/composer and robotics/software developer. His work was described as “A heady confluence of technology, culture and cognition” by The New Yorker, and “A deep psychonautic dive” by Wire Magazine. He will be resident at The Kitchen on 2021. He is recipient of the NY State Council on the Arts/ Wavefarm Media Arts Assistance Fund, Jerome Foundation/Harvestworks New Works Commission, and Knockdown Center (NYC) residency for time based art.He has performed at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Brooklyn Museum, Queens Museum, Levitation Festival, Museum of Contemporary art of Lima and Central Park Summerstage Fania Records 50th anniversary. His album Roza Cruz was named one of the best Latin American albums of the decade by Zona Sucia and Estereofonía. Featured at CNN, BBC, Washington Post, Daily News, and NPR.He holds a PhD (NYU) on new integrations of body, mind and technology through ritual and rhythm. He published the book “Fusión: a soundtrack for Peru”, and released albums via Names You Can Trust (NYC), Futura Resistenza (Amsterdam) and Buh Records (Lima).He produces the radio show “La Vuelta al día en 80 mundos” nominated to best “World Sounds” by Mixcloud.com. He was a professor at NYU music department and directs Tangible: Sound Research Lab (Lima). Based in Lima and NYC. Learn more about Efraín at http://efrainrozas.com/Follow Efraín @efrainrozasListen to his project ¨I enjoy the world¨

In this episode, we speak with video artist Kameron Neal who uses his body and personal narratives to explore intimacy and to challenge socio-political ideologies. -About Kameron Neal-Kameron Neal is a queer Black video artist, designer, and performance-maker based in NYC. Forbes described Kameron’s solo exhibition at Detroit Art Week 2019 as “an absurd escape that simultaneously provokes and entertains.” Kameron is currently in residence at CultureHub, The Public Theater’s Devised Theater Working Group, and the Bemis Center. As a Resident Artist at Ars Nova, he co-created MukhAgni, an irreverent multimedia performance memoir, with Shayok Misha Chowdhury; the piece was curated in Under the Radar 2020. His stop-motion self-portrait Liquid Love was awarded Best of Show at Digital Graffiti Festival 2017 where he returned in 2018 as an artist in residence. Kameron’s video art has been featured in music videos for Billy Porter and Rufus Wainwright. His work has also been seen in National Geographic, HYPEBEAST, Studio Magazine, and at BAM, New York Theatre Workshop, SohoRep, La Mama, Bushwick Starr, New Orleans Film Festival, Blue Balls Festival, the Type Director’s Club, Vox Populi, and Williams College Museum of Art.Learn more at kameronneal.comFollow Kameron @kamer_n

Today we speak with Mona Kasra, new media artist, interdisciplinary researcher and Assistant Professor of Digital Media Design at the University of Virginia. Mona uses her tech to explore, document, and augment nature, culture, theater and more. Together, Mona and Gabe discuss her trajectory into the arts initially through video experimentation, the significance and history of selfie-rallies, and her collaborative interactive and immersive VR projects which merge nature and music, and preserve and present traditional aboriginal dances.Projects DiscussedIt's Misogyny That's Humiliating Gif Animation (2013) Dwelling in the Enfolding (2020) created in collaboration with Matthew Burtner (composer)Embodied Cultural Practices & Immersive Media (2019-Present) created in collaboration with Luke Dahl (UVA Music Dept) and the indigenous community of Peppimenarti-About Mona Kasra-Mona Kasra is a new media artist, interdisciplinary researcher, and Assistant Professor of Digital Media Design at the University of Virginia (UVA).Her research trajectory involves exploring the confluence of media technologies, art, and culture, reflecting on the impact of emerging media on personal, political, and creative expression, and experimenting with affordances of such media for artistic practices of performance and installation. Currently, she is researching representational, affective, and creative possibilities of immersive media, and designing experimental and performative experiences in Virtual Reality (VR/360). One of her latest projects is in collaboration with music prof Luke Dahl where we will be exploring how motion capture,  spatial audio, and interactive XR environments can represent and transmit embodied cultural practices. Mona was born in Tehran, Iran. I hold a Ph.D. in Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication from the University of Texas-Dallas, an M.F.A. in Video/Digital Art from California State University Northridge, and a B.A. in Graphic Design and Visual Communication from the Art University of Tehran.Learn more about Mona at https://www.monakasra.com/Follow Mona @monaism

Multidisciplinary artist, Emilio Chapela uses a diverse range of mediums and media to delve into concepts around time. Together, Emilio and SOTA host Gabe BC, discuss cosmic micro waves, the Big Bang and its relation to white noise, and the construct of time.Projects DiscussedUsumacinta Noise PaintingsAsk GoogleThe Earth is dying… (from the "Ask Google" series)-About Emilio Chapela-Emilio Chapela is a visual artist with a background on mathematics, photography and the moving image. His work explores intricate connections between science, technology and ecology through the art practice. He enquires on notions of time and space that are manifested through various forces and agencies such as astronomical phenomena, light, gravity, rocks, plants, volcanoes and rivers.Challenging our fixed notions of time and space, Emiio aims to develop a practice that visualizes our bonds and connections with humans and nonhumans to reconcile with the world’s temporalities and movements.Emilio is interested in the poetic possibilities of the visual arts as a means to establish a connection with the world. Emilio enjoys writing, walking, hiking and stargazing, which are tools that he deploys in his art practice.Learn more by visiting http://www.emiliochapela.com/Follow Emilio @echapela

AIYA is a digital human that analyzes the world’s problems and philosophically weighs in with knowledge from our greatest thinkers and problem-solvers. Inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray, creators Lady PheOnix and Jacqueline Assar designed AIYA to emote and age as she consumes media content in real-time.In this episode, we discuss how Project AIYA explores heightened humanity in AI, the future of grieving, and the role digital humans may play in our future. -About Lady PheOnix-LADY PHEONIX is a curator of contemporary art and a passionate producer of creative works at the intersection of visual art and technology. She elevates and amplifies the work of artists through curated group shows organized in her virtual gallery, @yesuniverse.art on Instagram. She has organized exhibitions for the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco, 836M in San Francisco, Library Street Collective in Detroit and HuffPost Arts. As an autodidact, she began curating in 2015 as a form of creative self-care. #theyesuniverse has reached a global audience of millions, making it a virtual institution. Lady PheOnix is regarded as one of the most influential virtual gallerists and curators, having built an engaged community of dynamic artists and collectors by leveraging virtual space’s ability to generate and facilitate new forms of collaboration. She currently lives and works in the Bay Area.Follow Lady PheOnix @yesuniverse.art-About Jacqueline Assar-JACQUELINE ASSAR is an XR creator with an academic background in cognitive science. Her work explores the relationship between humanity and emerging technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. She currently works at Magic Leap. Prior to Magic Leap, she founded Coresights, a virtual reality healthcare platform with real-time biometrics backed by MIT Play Labs. She was selected as a 2016 Oculus Launchpad Fellow, a Microsoft SH//FT Spotlight recipient and her work has been shown at the MIT Tech Conference, Institute of Contemporary Art, TEDxYouth and Games for Change. Her most recent project AIYA explores the creation of digital humans with traditionally non-digital traits such as empathy, grief, and aging.Follow Jacqueline @wonderxmotion

In this episode we speak to Melinda Lauw, Co-Creator and Artistic Director of Whisperlodge, an immersive performance of live ASMR. Melinda guides us through the history of ASMR, common misconceptions around ASMR culture, how Whisperlodge took a medium that solely existed online and brought it into the physical world with live experiences. Melinda also treats us to an impromptu ASMR experience on air.-About Melinda Lauw-Melinda Lauw is a Singaporean artist, curator and performance creator based in San Francisco.Melinda is the co-creator of Whisperlodge, an immersive spa for the senses. Combining her interests in immersive theatre and ASMR, Whisperlodge is based on the idea of providing ASMR in a live, one-to-one environment, translating the work of ASMRtists on Youtube, into a tangible, physical performance.Her co-creators are Andrew Hoepfner, creator of Houseworld, and Steph Singer, founder of Bitter Suite. Whisperlodge has completed two sold-out runs in 2016 and is currently preparing for more performances.Learn more at https://melindalauw.com/-About Whisperlodge-Whisperlodge is an immersive spa for the senses. Based on ASMR, Whisperlodge provides one-to-one live ASMR treatments for our guests in a safe and relaxing environment. Whisperlodge is designed to relax the body and mind, expand awareness and heighten the senses.Co-created by Melinda Lauw, Andrew Hoepfner, and Steph Singer, Melinda now serves as its creative director.Whisperlodge has performed 7 sold-out runs in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles, and have been featured in The Atlantic, Buzzfeed, VICE, Nylon and TimeOut. Melinda will also be speaking at the Immersive Design Summit 2018 in San Francisco.Learn more at https://whisperlodge.nyc/Follow them at @Whisperlodge

Lauren Lee McCarthy creates experimental performances that take a close look at our intimate relationships with smart devices and our interactions with one another in our increasingly tech-driven and surveilled existence. In this episode, we discuss a selection of Lauren's thought-provoking experiments, including LAUREN in which she takes on the role of an Amazon Alexa, Follower wherein she becomes a physical, IRL "follower," and more.Projects Discussed:LAURENFollowerLater Date24h HOST -About Lauren Lee McCarthy-Lauren Lee McCarthy (she/they) is an LA-based artist examining social relationships in the midst of surveillance, automation, and algorithmic living. She is the creator of p5.js, an open source JavaScript platform that aims to make creative expression and coding on the web accessible and inclusive for artists, designers, educators, and beginners. She is Co-Director of the Processing Foundation, a non-profit whose mission is to promote software literacy within the visual arts, and visual literacy within technology-related fields—and to make these fields accessible to diverse communities. She is an Associate Professor at UCLA Design Media Arts.Lauren's work has been exhibited internationally, at places such as Ars Electronica, Barbican Centre, Fotomuseum Winterthur, SIGGRAPH, IDFA DocLab, Science Gallery Dublin, Seoul Museum of Art, and the Japan Media Arts Festival. She's a 2019 Creative Capital Grantee, ZERO1 Arts Incubator Resident, and has previously held residencies with Sundance New Frontiers, Eyebeam, CMU STUDIO for Creative Inquiry, Autodesk, NYU ITP, and Ars Electronica, among others. She's the recipient of grants from the Knight Foundation, the Online News Association, Mozilla Foundation, Google AMI, Sundance Institute New Frontiers, Turner Broadcasting, and Rhizome. She holds an MFA from UCLA and a BS Computer Science and BS Art and Design from MIT.Learn more at https://lauren-mccarthy.com/Follow Lauren at @LaurenLeeMack

We speak with producer and director, Jennifer Juniper Stratford who uses analog media to create video art pieces inspired by the look and feel of 80s and 90s late-night TV. Jennifer and SOTA host Gabe dive into topics ranging from analog broadcasting tools to Dungeons and Dragons, music videos, and more.Projects Discussed:MoCA LOTIONJohn Maus, Touchdown (music video)-About Jennifer Juniper Stratford-Jennifer Juniper Stratford is a photographer, director, and artist based in Hollywood, California.Her photographs have appeared in magazines and publications around the world. and she has directed science-fiction serials, video installations, title sequences, concert visuals, short films, and music videos.In 2004, she established Telefantasy Studios, an underground television studio and analog media lab. Inspired by decades of video art, late-night television, and experimental film Telefantasy Studios is dedicated to the creative use of analog broadcast tools on the verge of becoming obsolete and integrating them into the digital age. Her work has been exhibited, broadcast, and screened internationally and includes MoCA, The Hammer Museum, LACMA, The Getty, Cinemarfa, CPH:DOX, The Museum of the Moving Image New York, New Beverly Cinema, BAM Cinématek, and on public access stations across the United States, and various exhibitions in cyberspace. In 2016 she was awarded a grant from the Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts.Learn more at http://telefantasystudios.com/Follow Jennifer at

Ghostwriter turned creative technologist, Ross Goodwin uses machine learning to develop fully automated writing machines. Goodwin's inventions have authored poetry, stories, and even film scripts. Tune in to learn more about his projects, what he calls "narrated reality," and how his creations are intended to be used as tools for human writers, singers/song-writers, authors, and directors. Select Projects:SunspringPlease Feed the LionsOn the Road-About Ross Goodwin-Ross Goodwin is an artist, creative technologist, hacker, gonzo data scientist, and writer of writers. Goodwin is a graduate of NYU ITP & MIT and a former Obama administration ghostwriter. He employs machine learning, natural language processing and other computational tools to realize new forms and interfaces for written language.Learn more about Ross at https://rossgoodwin.com/Follow him @ross.good.win

Heidi Lee harnesses technology to create surreal headwear that walks the line between fashion, design, and fine art. Her whimsical pieces derive inspiration from mythology and have been worn by celebrities, including JLO, Madonna, Missy Elliot, and Lady Gaga. In this episode, we discuss her trajectory into millinery, her first creations, including an origami hat, and take a deep dive into some of her most recognizable designs, like the Endless Echo Hat.-About Heidi Lee-A RISD graduate and recipient of the 2012 MET Museum Costume Institute Accessory Design Award, Heidi Lee is a NYC-based artist and designer whose hats have featured in VOGUE, V, W, Visionaire, Dazed & Confused, MTV, SHOWstudio, NYT, New York Magazine, The Creators Project, etc. Exhibitions include The National Centre for Craft and Design (UK) "The World is Your Dressing Up Box" and MAD Museum’s “MAD Biennial: 100 Makers that manifest the cultural capital of NYC." Her clientele include JLO, Billy Porter, Anne Hathaway, Madonna, G-Dragon, Lady Gaga, Missy Elliott and Lauryn Hill.Learn more at https://www.heidi337.com Follow Heidi at @HEIDI_337