Production Assistant
Matt Swift is the part-time Production Assistant for Nicolettecinemagraphics. His roles include general oversight of productions, graphic design, digital restoration, cinematography, audio recording, video editing, and much more.
Artist C.V.
Artist News
Bio
His background includes a Bachelor of Arts in both Film Studies and Art History with a Minor focus in Fine Arts from the Ohio State University and a Masters in Library and Information Science with a focus in digital collections preservation and access from Kent State University. In 2007 Matt was inducted into the International Library & Information Studies Honor Society (BETA PHI MU). For over 10 years he has been performing freelance work locally in the form of providing audio/visual digitization consultation and creating video, photo, graphic arts, and paintings for the purpose of art exhibition. He has led workshops in media arts for non-profits such as 4-H and The Greater Columbus Arts Council. He has a long history of curating moving image programs and teaching film around Columbus, Ohio as part of organizations such as The Columbus Moving Image Art Review, The Journal of Short Film, The Ohio State Film Studies Program, Reelabiltites Film Festival, The Columbus International Film + Video Festival, Comfest, and the Independents Day Festival.
Art Statement
Matt Swift is an all-around visual artist living in Columbus, Ohio. His work is not limited to any one medium or mode including photography, painting, video, digital compositions, mixed media and anything else that may be a source of inspiration. With an education in Art History, Film and Media Studies, and Library Science, the majority of his work stems from a deep connection to the historical avant-garde and experimental movements of all art forms. Juxtaposition of styles to find new abstract connections is where most of his work begins. Every piece is scientifically and creatively an experiment with a hypothesis that is tested and either is proven or disproven. What engagement occurs when you mix meditation and action painting to create a wall scroll combining the styles of Jackson Pollock and Zen Buddhist painters? What about the combination of purist structuralist cinematic techniques with the motivations of Norman McLaren’s frame by frame hand etched animations inspired by music? The end result encompasses a documentation of the experiment fit for a postmodern world, updating and educating about the styles of old through the lens of the plethora of information that is at the fingertips of our ever shrinking but also expanding digital world.
His current work is a conversation with alternative methods of landscape and portrait painting as performance to overcome his physical disability using various digital technologies. His recent work explores the intersection of human interaction and programmed robotics. His paintings embody the artist’s movements, application of paint, and interference with a robotic vacuum cleaner which through random object avoidance and rotating brushes serves as the mark making tool.
Additional Information
In 2014 Matt was awarded a Greater Columbus Arts Council Media Arts Fellowship for his work in moving image art.
For more information about Matt, read his blog, visit his Mubi website, to view, review and discuss new cinema, or follow him on twitter – facebook – Instagram.
Recent Publication:
Teaching Media – Online Teaching in Film and Media Studies/ Cinema Journal Teaching Dossier Vol. 3(1) – Using Short Films and Regular Viewing Habits as a Catalyst for Online Pedagogy
Areas of Expertise
- Film Curation and DVD Creation
- Formal Film and Online Pedagogy
- Narrative Film Production and Documentary Film Production
- Experimental Video, Installation, and Performance Art
Education
- Masters in Library and Information Science from Kent State University
- Bachelors of Arts in Film and Media Studies from The Ohio State University
- Bachelors of Arts in Art History with a Minor focus in Fine Arts from The Ohio State University