About Æon
My goal is to transform the creative landscape with innovative technology, drawing inspiration from the idea of Aeon—a marker of profound change. I am committed to introducing new technologies that amplify artistic potential, merging my technical skills with a creative mindset.
I am focused on bridging the gap between art and technology, crafting and implementing solutions that elevate creative projects. My efforts are aimed at supporting a wide range of creators, driving innovation, and expanding the limits of the imaginable.
Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts (B.F.A.) - Studio Art
Endicott College - Beverly, MA
Sept 2010 - June 2014
Graphic Design, Photography, Animation, Audio & Video, New Media, Contemporary Art History, Color Theory, Drawing, & Painting.
Software Engineering Bootcamp
General Assembly: Los Angeles, CA
Jan 2020 - April 2020
420 hours of instruction (not including assignments & projects) in Python, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, React, Github, Unix CLI
Certificate: Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality
MIT xPRO - Remote
March 2023 - May 2023
XR Design, Game Design, Immersion & Interactivity - Design/Prototyping: Unity, A-Frame
Certificate: No Code AI
MIT xPRO - Remote
June 2023 - Sept 2023
Machine Learning, Data Science, Computer Vision, Recommendation Systems, Decision Trees, Random Forests, Large Language Models, Neural Networks, and Deep Learning.
Portfolio:
Jordan Wolfson Studio (Contemporary Artist)
Role: Creative Technologist / Programmer / Robotics Animator
08/2022 - 01/2024
In my role for the National Gallery of Australia, I was tasked with sequencing and animating a robotic sculpture, which included developing custom software for programming the artwork and executing 3D animations for the Red industrial robot. My responsibilities spanned from managing the Task Sequencing Engine for choreographing the robotic performance to designing and implementing Spatial Intelligence Systems. This role required expertise in animation, motion planning, and motion design using a Custom Dynamixel Robot, ABB, Gantry Carriage, and Chain Winch, coupled with ensuring seamless real-time interaction with the environment.
The video in this portfolio demonstrates some of the movements I programmed, highlighting the use of active markers on the cube and chain. My work was integral in utilizing a sophisticated motion control system tailored to each robotic component’s unique operational requirements, ensuring optimal performance and durability. This involved not only technical programming but also comprehensive error handling, system servicing, calibration, and documentation, all contributing to the functionality and success of the robotic artwork.
Technologies:
Overdrive Motion Control, Task Sequencing Engine, Motion-Capture (Motive), Machine Vision 3D cameras, Linux, Linux CLI, Git, Python, OpenGL, JSON, XML, RPM, Adobe Suite.
Preview: 5-Minute Glimpse into the 30-Minute Performance
Interactive System Development & Testing
OptiTrack : Motion Capture Cameras
OptiTrack cameras play a crucial role in providing robots with an extensive understanding of their spatial surroundings, enabling them to recognize their own location, the positions of other robots, objects within their environment. The system employs rigid bodies, delineated by active markers, to track the three-dimensional coordinates and rotations of these entities. This setup is instrumental in facilitating precise motion capture through a combination of active markers, which emit light detected by the cameras, and passive markers that reflect the infrared light from the cameras. This dual marker system ensures a comprehensive and accurate capture of motion.
The captured position data is essential for enabling interactions between robotic components, ensuring they move in synchrony and harmony. Additionally, the OptiTrack cameras gather data crucial for robot-environment interactions, allowing the robots to adapt to changes within their surroundings in real time. The OptiTrack Motive software underpins this system with functionalities for camera calibration, world-space calibration, and the management of both active and passive markers. It is responsible for creating and handling rigid bodies, thereby laying the foundation for sophisticated robot interactions and an adaptive performance environment.
IFM O3D305 : 3D Cameras, PointSelect.py (Custom Software)
The 3D depth cameras assigned distinct identifiers to each blob, enabling us to track individuals within the space. This tracking data was essential in guiding the Gantry carriage towards these individuals, as well as orienting the cube faces in their direction. While not visible in the video, our system had the capability to choose a unique animation style tailored to each individual. Additionally, within the height settings of PointSelect.py, we could specify the cube's arrival height relative to the person's stature. This adjustment included options like head height, chest height, and waist height for adult participants.
Press Video Link
Task Sequencing Engine Programmer
The Task Sequencing Engine (TSE) serves as the critical infrastructure for the performance program, orchestrating the sequence and timing of events to ensure each performance is unique through the integration of live data. This allows for dynamic responses and interactions from the robotic components, accommodating variations in timing and position. My role involved scripting the performance, along with designing and developing modifications to the TSE to meet the project's changing requirements. This necessitated a deep dive into the TSE's architecture, written in Python, and a collaborative effort with COI's software engineers to fortify the system's robustness.
A significant contribution I made to this project was in software development, particularly in creating mechanisms for specific interactions triggered by certain conditions, effectively updating the sequencer to operate like a decision tree. This functionality enabled actions based on conditions such as relative position, direction, distance, and specific interactions related to height or body parts. Although not all these features made it to the final performance, the technology supporting these capabilities was developed and refined, ensuring a high-quality implementation
LG - Frieze New York
Role: Creative Technologist / Designer / Software Engineer
The project aimed to develop digital didactics for enhanced information display, incorporating an additional LG product. This approach allowed viewers to access information about multiple screens through a single interface, offering advanced features like an image viewer to see video screenshots at various time points. This was particularly useful for long-duration videos, enabling viewers to glimpse different moments without watching the entire content.
An interesting part of the project was the minimal input from LG after they approved my initial prototype. They granted me full control over the design and build process. The only exceptions were the use of all-caps text at the top of the screen and the last-minute inclusion of a process video for the artwork on “Screen 3”, which I was informed about only on the opening day and readily incorporated.
Didactics web-app (React, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Heroku)
App Designs
VOiiiD.com
Role: Creator (Personal Project)
Interactive Web-Animations (React, Javascript, HTML, CSS, P5.js, webGL, GitHub)
If the animation screen background appears black, open VOiiiD.com directly.
Hover below to interact with the animation.
Select another shape for more Animations.
Video Experiments ( Canon DSLR, Adobe Premiere )
Ecosystem
Role: Product Developer / Software Engineer
Developed both a desktop web app and a mobile application, using technologies like React, Electron, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Node.js, and React Native.
In my role, I focused primarily on product development and also worked as a full-stack engineer for the web app. Our goal was to create a system capable of handling complex artworks with numerous nested components, for which we utilized decision-trees and ERDs in our back-end architecture. My art world expertise became vital for product design as the team grew. I frequently acted as a liaison between product development and software engineering, later concentrating on front-end development to enhance the visual and interactive aspects of our product as the software team expanded.
Web Design & Development (Adobe XD, Notion, React, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, GitHub)
Mobile Design & Development (Adobe XD, Notion, React Native, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, GitHub)
Descanso Gardens
Immersive Art Technician / Scenic Artist
Curatorial
Role: Senior Art Technician
In my role, I was extensively involved in developing Art Handling Training Programs, which covered critical aspects like risk assessment, handling, installation, deinstallation, and packing of artworks. Part of my responsibilities also included creating Technician Training Documentation, developing comprehensive policies and procedures, and managing various projects. My expertise extended to assisting in curation, contributing to exhibition design and planning, and actively participating in installation, packing, and fabrication processes. My work often required dealing with multimedia components, and I was adept at managing inventory, ensuring everything was meticulously organized and accounted for.
My skills and abilities were instrumental in understanding and utilizing various tools, equipment, and procedures necessary for the safe and secure handling of art. This included the installation or suspension of artworks in different environments such as drywall, plaster, brick, concrete, wood, and metal. Additionally, I specialized in creating custom packing solutions for unique, high-value art objects of varying shapes and materials. It's important to note that my involvement in this industry included working under numerous NDAs and maintaining anonymity, hence the projects I am able to share are limited. These experiences, however, have given me a comprehensive understanding and hands-on expertise in the nuanced field of art handling and management.
LAX Airport: Debra Scacco Installation
This particular installation necessitated meticulous planning and flawless execution. Given the setting - an airport - it was crucial to ensure complete safety and eliminate any potential liabilities. The piece had not been previously installed on such a scale.
The process involved close collaboration with an engineer and the artist. The goal was two-fold: to guarantee the installation was safe and free of any hazardous elements, and to ensure that it met the artist’s aesthetic requirements. This required a delicate balance of technical precision and respect for artistic integrity, showcasing the depth of my problem-solving skills and ability to work cohesively with diverse professionals.
Private Residence : Installation
This project presented a unique challenge due to structural limitations. The floors could not bear the Weight of forklifts, and the entrance allowed only specific dimensions. Custom ramps were built to allow Scissor lifts to enter through the front door.
After setting up, our first task was to install the support on the wall (luckily I enjoy heights). After that, we set up the scaffolding.
