Position @ UArts
Director and Assistant Professor, UArts Multimedia department

Alma Maters
State University of New York (SUNY) – Buffalo for engineering and then painting
Ohio State for painting (“And I did a lot of work at a research lab called the Advanced Center for Computing and Design,” Chris says. “That’s where I became accidentally marketable.”)
 
Current Project
Chris is designing a video installations project for Syracuse University’s campus. “Syracuse was a GI Bill university – in the ‘40s the campus looked like barracks. Now the buildings are new and beautiful.”  They’ll make great three-dimensional canvases for Chris’ ideas.

Latest Accomplishment
Last year Chris’ interactive fine arts piece premiered at the Annenberg Center. Working with composer Andrea Clearfield, Chris and his team adorned the bodies of a cellist and his cello with motion sensors. A video played in time with the musician’s movements.

What on earth is Multimedia?
“Multimedia is a way of thinking about art, design and entrepreneurship that starts with your ideas. Then you look at technology, media and ways of communicating and you pick the right tools for the job.”

What are Multimedia students into?
“Everything. Multimedia students are explorers…in high school maybe they were in band and took art classes. There are a lot of ‘ands’ in their lives.”

How did you arrive at UArts?
While taking a break from his design firm in New York City, Chris taught in UArts pre-college program. “That was the moment I learned I was more excited about what my students were working on than my own projects.”