Board profiles

Kathryn Blair

Kathryn Blair is a PhD student in the Computational Media Design program at the University of Calgary. Her work provides contexts in which people can explore the way our societies use algorithmic decision-making. She also creates wearable pieces exploring the relationship between the body and technology, and can often be caught scheming how to hack things to be controlled by EEG headsets or soldering into the dead of night. She has been a director on the EMMEDIA board since 2018 and serves on the HR Committee.

http://kathrynblair.com/

NICOLE SANTANGELO

Nicole Santangelo is an artist experienced in providing exceptional customer service, collaboration and assistance. She currently works as a Library Experience Assistant at Calgary Public Library. Nicole is the Director of the Programming Committee Liaison for EMMEDIA.

Chris Kerich

Chris Kerich is a PhD student and artist interested in the ideology of digital systems. He is currently finishing the writing of his dissertation at the University of California, Santa Cruz which focuses on the different political affordances of “game infrastructure”, which include things like physics systems, polygonal modeling, and procedural generation. His artwork often functions as the concrete corollary to his written work, and has been exhibited across the world. Chris’ work has shown in Boston, Toronto, San Francisco, and Milan in various festivals and exhibitions. Most notably, Chris’ work has also been shown in Austria as a part of Ars Electronica, the largest digital arts festival in the world. His latest work is Three Impossible Worlds, a set of Minecraft mods illustrating anti-colonial ways of reforming Minecraft’s world. Chris joined the board in 2022 and is our current Treasurer.

LAURA ANZOLA 

Photo credits: Krista Bell
Laura is a new media artist based in Calgary who works with animation, digital arts, and design. She explores many different animation and projection techniques, ranging from traditional animation styles to live interactive video. Director for the Board at EMMEDIA.

MARCUS ODGEN

Macurs is a journalist with a deep passion for culture and community. They hold a diploma in journalism from SAIT and a bachelor’s degree in film studies from the University of Calgary. Currently, they serve as an associate editor at Big Kitty Magazine and contribute as a freelance writer to various publications. Most notably, they are one of the newest members of the Board of Directors at EMMEDIA.

Jeremy Bailey

Jeremy Bailey is a Toronto-based self-proclaimed Famous New Media Artist. "Since the early noughties Bailey has plowed a compelling, and often hilarious, road through the various developments of digital communications technologies." (Morgan Quiantance, Rhizome) Bailey has performed and exhibited all over the world, from bathrooms in Buffalo to museums in Moscow.

vern hume 

Vern currently produces an independent speculative fiction podcast and pursues personal creative projects. He is passionate about the online world, podcasting and independent media production. Vern worked at Athabasca University in University Relations, holding various roles, including Intermin Director, Brand and Marketing, Manager, Insights and Analytics and Manager of Web and Online Strategy. Before that, he was a partner in a small successful multimedia company. He became interested in multimedia while working at the Banff Centre for the Arts, Media Arts Program as the Assistant Artistic Director of Video Art and Interim Program Director.
Vern started his career in the media arts, helping to found three artist-run organizations in Western Canada: Video Pool, Ace Art Inc., and our beloved EMMEDIA. At the latest, he is one of the Directors of the Board. 

James graham  

James is a professional who not only holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) with a Human Resources Co-operative Education Major and International Business Minor, but extensive experience as a Human Resources Programs Developer in Calgary, Alberta. Following his line of work, he is our current Director (HR Committee Chair).