Squeaky Wheel: Here + Now Media Artist Showcase

HERE + NOW MEDIA ARTIST SHOWCASE
presented in collaboration w/ Emerging Practices at UB
FRI., JAN. 25TH @ 7:00 PM       LOCATION: SQUEAKY WHEEL

 <- - - - - - image from work by You Qi

Join us for an evening with seven Western New York-based artists who incorporate media art into their practice. See their work and exchange ideas. Consider this a more in-depth take on Pecha Kucha Nights, featuring  10-minute art presentations by Alex Derwick, Bobby Gryznger, Eliseo Ortiz, Byron Rich + Heather Brand, Liz Rywelski, and You Qi. This event is free and open to the public.

This event is organized in part by Emerging Practices (EP) at the University at Buffalo, a joint research, theory, and critical initiative bridging graduate students in the departments of Media Study and Visual Studies to explore the technical, tactical, cultural and communicative potential of emerging technologies in such domains as interactive multi-media, robotics, simulation systems, computational media, biotechnology, and image synthesis.

Alex Derwick was raised in Olean, NY. He graduated from SUNY Purchase with a BFA in Printmaking and is currently an MFA candidate at University at Buffalo. His work investigates the development of kids growing up on television, video games, and Internet videos. Through animation and cinematic processes, Alex strives to bring attention to media and how it is analyzed and acted upon by minors. He will be presenting several animations.

Bobby Gryzynger is a multimedia artist whose practice has included video, animation and computer art. Originally from Madison, WI, he is currently an MFA student in the Visual Studies department at the University at Buffalo. Bobby will be presenting short-form video work, an arduino-programmed kinetic sculpture in collaboration with Mark Snyder, and an image programming project in collaboration with Byron Rich.

Eliseo Ortiz was born in Monterrey, Mexico. He received a B.A. in communication science from ITESM (2009) and an M.A. in visual studies at visual arts school UANL (2012). He was recently awarded with a Fulbright scholarship for MFA Studies and has created a body of artwork on film and video that explores the construction of memory and space. Eliseo will be presenting +, a two channel 8mm film.

Byron Rich was born in the city of Calgary on the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains in Western Canada. After graduation from The University of Calgary with a BFA in photography and new-media, he spent time working in the non-profit art sector in Canada and traveling before beginning his studies towards an MFA at UB. His presentation will examine the intersection of the biological sciences and technological interfaces, and the human connection to the environment that is arguably diluted or potentially enhanced. Byron will be presenting with collaborator Heather Brand.

Liz Rywelski is an artist from Long Island. She comes from art collectives including Space 1026 and Philadelphia Institute of Advanced Studies. She has worked in collaboration with Aaron Levy at Slought Foundation, the doom-wop band Man Man, filmmaker and performance artist Ryan Trecartin, and in the Lefty Lucy Cabaret as Bonnie Showcase. Her work was selected for Arcadia University's Works on Paper 2004 and Philadelphia Selections 5. She has exhibited in group shows internationally at Terran Biennial, Urban Edge at P4 Milan, 96 Gillespie, and nationally at Phillips de Pury gallery, Yerba Buena Art Center, ICA Philadelphia, BoB Pavilion at Columbia University, Workshop Collective in LIKEARTBASEL, Little Berlin, and most recently at Hallwalls Artists & Models event, SHOWOFFS. Liz obtained her BFA from Moore College of Art and Design in 2002 and is currently an MFA in Visual Studies at University at Buffalo. She is fascinated with the perverted and ironic ways people, herself included, seek to realize an inner most self in the act of consuming products designed for the masses. Her work investigates consumption models as performed in big-box store shopping, catalog shopping, online shopping, window shopping and more.

You Qi was born in Beijing, China. She studied design in Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing (CAFA) and currently is an MFA candidate in Electronic Integrated Arts at Alfred University. She will be presenting a recent multimedia project.