This Thursday through Saturday, April 4-6, SCAD Atlanta hosts SCADFILM's annual SCAD GamingFest. The three-day global gathering brings together working professionals, industry luminaries and the next generation of talent from the innovative world of gaming.

Featuring panel discussions, presentations, and exclusive sneak peeks and live demos, SCAD GamingFest will be held at the state-of-the-art SCADshow facility in the heart of midtown Atlanta. Participating industry luminaries will be celebrated at an opening reception on Thursday.

“Since SCAD pioneered its degree program in game design and development a generation ago, we've launched careers for programmers, visual effects artists, writers, audio designers, and even eSports athletes," said SCAD president and founder Paula Wallace. “SCAD GamingFest celebrates and extends the conversation with panels, demonstrations, and screenings, culminating in a massive Super Smash Bros. Ultimate showdown. Level up to this year's GamingFest!"

The festival focuses on the innovative game development incorporating sound design and motion capture. The programming lineup will include “Gaming Off the Grid"; “The Wild World of Writing for Games"; “Giving Games Gusto: Audio Design for Interactive Media"; “Producing eSports with Skillshot Media" and “Motion Capture Performance for Interactive Design."

Industry influencers scheduled to appear at SCAD GamingFest 2019 include Kat DeShields (M.F.A., writing), senior esports community manager, Skillshot Media; Alex Lieu, chief creative officer, 42Entertainment; Micah Wright, chair, WGA Videogame Writers Caucus; Harrison Pink (B.F.A., interactive design and game development, 2008), senior game designer, Blizzard Entertainment, and Eric Lorenz (B.F.A., sound design, 2014), sound designer, Wabi Sabi Sound.

Approximately 1500 guests are anticipated to attend, including SCAD Savannah and Atlanta students of animation, motion media design, visual effects, and sound design and interactive design and game development.

The festival will also showcase SCAD eSports athletes under the guidance of eSports director Ian Escalante, competing in “Super Smash Bros Ultimate." SCAD eSports athletes are enrolled in SCAD's top-ranked degree programs. Over 125 game development companies are based in Georgia, further emphasizing the connection between competitive gaming and creative careers.

View the complete SCAD GamingFest 2019 line-up here.

Serious, functional, humorous and spooky—and that's just the entrance vestibule of "On View," the new performative installation by Ania Catherine and Dejha Ti at SCAD Museum of Art.

Black text on a white wall ("What You Are Signing Up For") lists strictures for entry. The artists' signatures loom large at the bottom. The gallerygoer signals agreement by standing within a glowing ring on the floor. Sensors are activated. A photo is taken. It may be deployed elsewhere.

"On View," the first museum exhibition by Catherine and Ti, debuted this week at SCAD deFINE ART 2019. The commission grapples with the relationship between art, image and consumer culture.

"We wanted to create a piece on what it's like to consume art now," said Dejha Ti, during a gallery talk in the Pamela Elaine Poetter gallery of SCAD MOA. "If you're going to a museum or if you're going to a shoe launch, the experience is very similar. People want to see themselves on view as much as what's on view.

"We're grateful that art is being used in ways that gives artists more opportunities, but also we're purists. How do we navigate making art, and making art that's trying to sell a shoe? Companies are asking us to make an Instagram backdrop but telling us it's an art piece. We're figuring out what all of that means."

Inside what the artists call the "stage gallery," barefoot performers in obfuscatory facemasks slow-vogue through ellipses of shadow. Conjoined by tendrils of inky filament, the performers shift the architecture of the space. Gallerygoers walk around them to reach another rubber ring on the floor. Again, a photo is taken.

Ania Catherine: "We wanted show what physically consenting to something means. Do I want to stand in this circle? It feels like a real decision. We call it an immersive contract that requires consenting choreography."

In a final room, an art case displays reproductions of photos taken earlier. A security guard almost yawns. The ennui is intentional. You've been put "On View."

deFINE ART, an annual SCAD program of exhibitions, lectures and performances, provides students with opportunities to interact and collaborate with visiting artists. Catherine and Ti worked with a group of 20 SCAD students to create a fashion/art film inside their installation.

"It's a documentary about process as well as product," explained Catherine. "All the performers are SCAD students. Not all were performing arts students; some were film students, some sound designers. Our choreography is about 'Can you drop into a moment and be present?' The students really embodied that. They make you feel the whole space has a heartbeat."

"On View" is on view through Sunday, Aug. 25.

Learn more about the work of Ania Catherine and Dejha Ti.

deFINE ART concludes Thursday, Feb. 28. Find out more here.

This year, SCAD celebrates the 10th edition of deFINE ART, the annual program that brings together an international roster of emerging and established visionaries with new commissions, exhibitions, performances, lectures and screenings. The signature event, February 26-28, highlights the university's rich history of art programming and exhibitions since president and founder Paula Wallace established SCAD in 1978.

"SCAD's annual deFINE ART continues into its 10th season, delighting Savannah and Atlanta communities alike with exhibitions of the most influential artists of our time," said President Wallace. “2019 guests Carla Fernandez, Pedro Reyes, and Azikiwe Mohammed, among many others, are shaping contemporary art and inspiring the next generation."

SCAD deFINE ART 2019 honoree and keynote speaker Lawrence Weiner is a trailblazing conceptual artist and renowned figure in the international art world. Born in 1942 in South Bronx, New York, Weiner is an avid proponent of the use of language as art.

Storm Janse van Rensburg, SCAD head curator of exhibitions, stated: “We are thrilled to welcome Lawrence Weiner to SCAD. He epitomizes qualities that we aim to install in our students: intellectual dexterity, boundless creativity and a continuous curiosity about art and the world. His influence on young artists and creative minds is immeasurable."

SCAD will bring a roster of esteemed artists creating in an array of mediums to the three-day event. SCAD students from top-ranked degree programs including painting, illustration, performing arts, sculpture, film and television, fashion, photography, and immersive reality will interact with artists during the signature event through master classes, interactive installation collaborations, public art programming and gallery talks. 

Featured exhibitors at SCAD's award-winning Museum of Art in Savannah include contemporary sculpture and installation artist Lee Bul (South Korea); performance artists Ania Catherine and Dejha Ti (USA); painter Monica Cook (USA; B.F.A. painting 1996); fashion designer Carla Fernândez (Mexico); multidisciplinary artist Azikwe Mohammed (USA); architect and artist Pedro Reyes (Mexico); painter Alex Gardner (USA); sculptural artist Nicholas Hlobo (South Africa); multidisciplinary artist Gonzalo Lebrija (Mexico) and sculptor Berta Fischer (Germany).

Other SCAD Savannah exhibitions include a group exhibition show featuring SCAD alumni titled “News from Nowhere" at Gutstein Gallery, as well as a fashion photography exhibition “Rebel Rebel" comprised of work from SCAD Savannah and Atlanta alumni on display at Alexander Hall.

SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta will exhibit art works by visual artist and photographer Trine Sondergaard (Denmark) in dialogue with objects from the SCAD fashion collection. At the Trois Gallery, the thesis show of M.F.A. photography candidates Charlie McCullers and Cecilia Montalvo is titled “Where The Light Enters."

Programming highlights for deFINE ART 2019 include an opening night reception at the SCAD Museum of Art, Tuesday, February 26, including performances by exhibiting artists Azikwe Mohammed, Dejah Ti and Ania Catherine. The museum courtyard will feature an illustration battle, live music, food trucks, and art projections by Sean Capone. On Wednesday, February 27 two other notable performances will take place; a puppet show “Manufacturing Mischief" by writer and director Pedro Reyes, as well as a sonic journey performed by special guest artist and SCAD alumna BOSCO with video projections by artist Emeka Alams.

To mark the closing of the annual event on Thursday, February 28, deFINE ART 2019 honoree Lawrence Weiner will discuss his expansive career and impact on the art world. Following the lecture, President Wallace will award the prestigious SCAD40 Prize to alumna Le'Andra LeSeur (B.F.A. photography, 2014) for her innovative accomplishments in the field of photography.

At SCAD Atlanta, a featured lecture will be presented by visual artist Derrick Adams at SCADShow on Wednesday, February 27. There will also be a special reception for artist Trine Sondergaard and designer Carla Fernandez at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film on Thursday, February 28. The reception will include artist talks and marks the official opening of Fernandez's pop-up boutique in the museum.

All deFINE ART events, including opening night celebrations, are open and free to the public.

For more information visit www.scad.edu/defineart2019.

To be nominated is an honor. To have worked on an impressive 18 of this year’s Oscar-nominated films is truly SCAD.

At the 91st Academy Awards, SCAD students and alumni worked on nominated films including "Avengers: Infinity War," "Black Panther," "Border (Gräns)," "A Star is Born," "If Beale Street Could Talk," "Can You Ever Forgive Me?," "Christopher Robin," "Free Solo," "Mary Poppins Returns," "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs," "Incredibles 2," "Ralph Breaks the Internet," "Ready Player One," "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse," "Solo: A Star Wars Story," "First Man," "A Quiet Place," and "Bao."

“Amazing that 140 SCAD students and alumni contributed to this year’s star-studded array of Oscar nominees, more than double last year’s count," said SCAD president and founder Paula Wallace. "In 1985, when we launched our first entertainment arts degree program, I dreamed our talented students would gain global attention. It seems the SCAD family has always been destined for greatness — and golden statuettes. They bring home the hardware!”

This year, SCAD alumni contributed to nominees for best picture, best documentary feature, original song, original score, adapted screenplay, cinematography, film editing, sound editing, sound mixing, costume design, visual effects, production design, makeup and hairstyling, animated short, and animated feature.

The diversity of these nominations affirms the exceptional preparation for professional careers these alumni received while students at SCAD, as implicitly acknowledged by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The Academy is made up of approximately 7,000 filmmakers and film professionals. These Academy members vote for the Oscars, championing professionals from every facet of the business.

Let's celebrate the unmistakable creative contributions of SCAD alumni across a stunning spectrum of this year's nominees:

Adams, Breanna (B.F.A., television producing, 2014) "Avengers: Infinity War"
Anderson, Grant (B.F.A., visual effects, 2017) "If Beale Street Could Talk"; "Incredibles 2"
Bartone, Nick (B.F.A., visual effects, 2008) "Incredibles 2"
Bell, Matthew (B.F.A., visual effects, 2007) "Ready Player One"
Bensen, Constance (B.F.A., visual effects, 2016) "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs"
Bickley, Max (B.F.A., visual effects, 2008) "Incredibles 2"; "Bao"
Boehme, Madison (M.A., creative business leadership) "Ralph Breaks the Internet"
Boga, Nagender (M.A., visual effects, 2016) "Avengers: Infinity War"
Bolden, Nicholas (B.F.A., computer art, 2005) "Ready Player One"
Britton, Tyler (B.F.A., visual effects, 2015) "Avengers: Infinity War"
Buck, Jacob (B.F.A., visual effects, 2007) "A Quiet Place"
Burstein, Jake (M.F.A., animation, 2017) "Avengers: Infinity War"; "Black Panther"
Cancemi, Stefania (M.A., animation, 2016) "Christopher Robin"
Carrasquillo, Iva (M.A., animation, 2015) "Avengers: Infinity War"
Carter, Melanie Dorn (M.F.A., visual effects, 2008) "First Man"
Castro, Alejandro (B.F.A., computer art, 2005) "Black Panther”; "Ready Player One"
Chai, Yinghao (M.F.A., visual effects, 2015) "Black Panther"
Champagne, Chase (B.F.A., animation, 2006) "Green Book"
Chappina, Anthony (M.A., visual effects, 2008) "Avengers: Infinity War"; "Ready Player One"
Christensen, Amy (B.F.A., computer art, 1997) "Can You Every Forgive Me?"
Chu, Diana (M.F.A., visual effects,) "Solo: A Star Wars Story"
Clairy, Jason (B.F.A., film and television, 2011) "Black Panther"
Cochran, Nicholas (B.F.A., sound design, 2011) "Ballad of Buster Scruggs"
Cofer, Jocelyn (B.F.A., animation, 2009) "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"
Conover, Aaron (B.F.A., animation, 2002) "Incredibles 2"
Coster, Ryan (B.F.A., animation, 2011) "Black Panther"
Cronkrite, Charles (B.F.A., animation, 2012) "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"
Curtis, Alexander (M.F.A., animation, 2011) "Incredibles 2"
Davies, Jason (M.F.A., animation, 2003) "Incredibles 2"
Davis, Jonathan (B.F.A., computer art, 2004) "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"
DeMeo IV, Anthony (B.F.A., animation,) "Avengers: Infinity War"
De Moya Pou, Márien  (M.F.A., production design, 2016) "If Beale Street Could Talk"
DeSalvo, Peter (B.F.A., animation, 2013) "Mary Poppins Returns"
Doublestein, John (M.F.A., animation, 2007) "Ready Player One"
Ellis, Brett (B.F.A., visual effects, 2005) "Avengers: Infinity War"
Englert, Scott (B.F.A., computer art, 2005) "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse"
Epstein, Jenn (B.F.A., visual effects, 2005) "Avengers: Infinity War"
Evans, Josh (M.F.A., visual effects, 2013; B.F.A., visual effects, 2011) "Mary Poppins Returns"
Fatora, Thomas (B.F.A., film and television, 2014) "Avengers: Infinity War"
Faulkner, Marq (B.F.A., visual effects, 2009) "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"
Fendly, Tom (B.F.A., film and television, 1992) "Black Panther"
Freihofer, Chris (M.F.A., animation, 2017) "Avengers: Infinity War"
Galinak, Shaun (B.F.A., visual effects, 2009) "Incredibles 2"; "Bao"
Gao, Michelle (B.F.A., visual effects, 2015) "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"
Garcia, Leo (B.F.A., animation, 2017) "Mary Poppins Returns"
Gaytan, Minor (B.F.A., animation, 2007) "Ralph Breaks the Internet"
George, Kevin (M.A., visual effects, 2012) "Black Panther"
Ghoniem, Ashraf (B.F.A., computer art, 2005) "Avengers: Infinity War"
Gillis, Ryan (B.F.A., computer art, 2004) "Solo: A Star Wars Story"
Grasso, Caterina (M.A., visual effects, 2016) "Incredibles 2"
Grey, Aaron (B.F.A., animation, 2007) "Avengers: Infinity War"; "Ready Player One"
Guice, Ethan (B.F.A., photography, 2016) "First Man"
Gunnels, Dorien (B.F.A., visual effects, 2010) "Incredibles 2"
Hahn, Cristi (B.F.A., film and television, 2014) "Black Panther"
Hale, Dave (B.F.A., visual effects, 2009) "Incredibles 2"
Hamdan, Noah (B.F.A., visual effects, 2012) "Black Panther"
Hayden, Joseph (B.F.A., visual effects, 2006) "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"; "Avengers: Infinity War"
Heathcock, Luke (B.F.A., visual effects, 2010) "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"
Hildreth, Jesse (B.F.A., visual effects, 2008) "Avengers: Infinity War"; "Ready Player One"
Hodges, Alan (B.F.A., computer art and animation,  2001) "Avengers: Infinity War"
Holland, Robert (B.F.A., film and television, 2009) "Black Panther"
Holt, Justin (B.F.A., visual effects, 2006) "Black Panther"
Holtsclaw, Josh (B.F.A., illustration, 2006) "Incredibles 2"
Humphrey, Kyle (B.F.A., visual effects, 2012) "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"
Hutton, Heather (M.F.A., film and television, 2018) "First Man"
Hwang, Seona (M.A., visual effects, 2014) "Avengers: Infinity War"
Irons, Daniel (B.F.A., film and television, 2015) "First Man"
Jansen, Josh (B.F.A., film and television, 1997) "Black Panther"
Jones, Tobin (M.A., computer art, 1998) "Incredibles 2"
Jonjai, Annee (B.F.A., animation, 2008) "Incredibles 2"
Karbozova, Akmaral (B.F.A., film and television, 2017) "First Man"
Khan, Asim (M.F.A., computer art, 2004) "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"
Kim, JJ (B.F.A., visual effects, 2014) "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"
Kirpalani, Shilpa (M.F.A., visual effects, 2007) "Black Panther"
Knight, Dan (B.F.A., computer art, 1996) "Solo: A Star Wars Story"
Koh, Jason (B.F.A., visual effects, 2016) "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"
Kojeva, Katerina (B.F.A., production design, 2016) "Avengers: Infinity War"
Kramer, Anthony (B.F.A., computer art, 2004) "Avengers: Infinity War"
Kuroda, Jim (M.F.A., computer arts, 2000) "Black Panther"
Laird, Jonah (B.F.A., visual effects, 2017) "Incredibles 2"
Leerasanthanah, Win (M.F.A., animation, 2016) "Solo: A Star Wars Story"
Leidenroth, Eric (B.F.A., computer art and animation, 1998) "Avengers: Infinity War"
Leone, Nicolas (B.F.A., film and television, 2010) "Avengers: Infinity War"
Leu, Nicolas (M.A., visual effects, 2015) "Black Panther"; "Avengers: Infinity War"
Lin, Andy (B.F.A., animation, 2008) "Incredibles 2"
Lockwood, John (B.F.A., visual effects, 2013) "Incredibles 2"; "Bao"
Lombardi, Gian (B.F.A., visual effects, 2014) "Mary Poppins Returns"
Lyu, Wanqi (M.F.A., visual effects, 2017) "Black Panther"
Madrigal, Carol (B.F.A., computer art and animation, 2002) "Avengers: Infinity War"
Magid, Ryan (B.F.A., computer art, 2003) "Ready Player One"
Mahar, Mallory (M.A., animation, visual effects, 2011) "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"
McCann, Brian (B.F.A., visual effects, 2010) "Black Panther"
McGriff, Aaron (B.F.A., animation, 2005) "Avengers: Infinity War"
McSpadden, Jennifer (M.F.A., visual effects, 2013; B.F.A., visual effects, 2009) "Avengers: Infinity War"; "Black Panther"
Meng, Jie (M.F.A., visual effects, 2015) "Avengers: Infinity War"
Messeder, Filipe (B.F.A., sound design, 2016) "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"; "Free Solo"
Mohr, Kyle (B.F.A., animation, 2005) "Incredibles 2"
Montefusco, John (B.F.A., visual effects, 2009) "Christopher Robin"
Moore, Eric (B.F.A., film and television, 2014) "First Man"
Mountcastle, Marley (B.F.A., film and television, 2014) "Black Panther"
Narse, Prasad (M.F.A., animation, 2013) "Avengers: Infinity War"
Nelson, Brandon (M.F.A., visual effects, 2008; B.F.A., visual effects, 2005) "Avengers: Infinity War"
Nelson, Derek (M.F.A., visual effects, 2009) "Ralph Breaks the Internet"
Nelson, Jonathan (M.F.A., computer art, 2005) "Black Panther"
Nieves, Michael (B.F.A., animation, 2014) "Bao"
Northcutt, Brett (painting) "Solo: A Star Wars Story"
O'Hara, Ryan (B.F.A., film and television, 2008) "Skin"
Okun, Sarah (non-degree) "First Man"
Ortiz, Samuel (M.A., animation, 2009; B.F.A., animation, 2008) "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"
Page, Joseph Harold (B.F.A., film and television, 2007) "Black Panther"
Parker, Kenzi (B.F.A., animation, 2013) "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs"
Piacente, Brittany (B.F.A., animation, 2012) "Black Panther"
Poh, Kiki Mei Kee (M.A., visual effects, 2010) "Incredibles 2"
Radcliffe, Ben (B.F.A., computer art, 1997) "Avengers: Infinity War"
Raza, Wajid (M.F.A., visual effects, 2008) "Ready Player One"
Rea, Clint (B.F.A., visual effects, 2016) "Incredibles 2"; "Bao"
Rempel, Jordan (B.F.A., visual effects, 2009) "Incredibles 2"
Reynolds, Jeff (M.A., photography, 2012) "First Man"
Rizvi, Ali (M.A., visual effects, 2016) "Black Panther"
Rock, Samuel (B.F.A., film and television) "Border (Gräns)"
Roiter, Gal (B.F.A., animation, 2006) "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"
Ryan, Michael (B.F.A., animation, 2008) "Mary Poppins Returns"
Sadler, Brandon (B.F.A., illustration, 2009) "Black Panther"
Samms, Haley (B.F.A., animation, 2017) "Avengers: Infinity War"
Sawtell, Martin (M.A., visual effects, 2008) "Ready Player One"
Schilling, Jordan (B.F.A., visual effects, 2006) "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"
Serei, Sorya (M.F.A., visual effects, 2014) "Black Panther"; "Avengers: Infinity War"
Sievers, Nic (M.F.A., visual effects, 2005) "Solo: A Star Wars Story"
Sims, Demorrius (B.F.A., animation, 2014) "First Man"
Snow, Alexander (B.F.A., animation, 2009) "Ralph Breaks the Internet"
Son, J. Jeongyeon (B.F.A., visual effects, 2012) "Black Panther"
Spadafora, James (M.F.A., visual effects, 2017) "Ready Player One"; "Solo: A Star Wars Store"
Sparks, John (M.F.A., visual effects, 2006) "Avengers: Infinity War"
Tan, Ka Yaw (B.F.A., computer art, 1995) "Ralph Breaks the Internet"
Taylor, Bobby (B.F.A., animation, 2009) "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"
Taylor, Eunice (B.F.A., animation, 2014) "Black Panther"; "Mary Poppins Returns"
Torres, Aldrich (B.F.A., visual effects, 2009) "Ready Player One"
Trusendi, Paola (B.F.A., film and television, 2016) "A Quiet Place"
Van Allen, Jim (M.F.A., visual effects, 2006) "Avengers: Infinity War"
Venegas-Spadafora, Maria (M.F.A., animation, 2015) "Ready Player One"
Ward, Erick (B.F.A., computer art, 2002) "Ready Player One"
Weglein, Jesse (M.A., visual effects, 2008) "Incredibles 2"
Weiler, Zack (B.F.A., computer art, 2000) "Black Panther"
Williams, Kevin (B.F.A., animation, 2005) "Black Panther"
Wilson, Aaron (B.F.A., computer art, 2003) "Solo: A Star Wars Story"
Wilson, Chris (B.F.A., visual effects, 2009) "Black Panther"; "Avengers: Infinity War"
Wu, Xiao (M.F.A., animation, 2018)  "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"
Wylie, Brejon (B.A., television producing, 2014) "Avengers: Infinity War"
Yu, Xiaoyang (M.F.A., visual effects, 2018) "A Star is Born"
Zhao, Zichuan (M.F.A., visual effects) "Solo: A Star Wars Story"

If you are aware of a name missing from this list, please email information (Name, Degree, Film) to [email protected].

Matt Hebermehl's aesthetic is intrinsic to the visual identity of SCAD. His radiant, gestural artwork graces student dining hall crockery, a SCAD40 Volkswagen art car, the 1600 Peachtree tunnel at SCAD Atlanta, and a multi-story outdoor wall at Montgomery Hall in Savannah. "On Divine Wings, We Shall Prevail," Hebermehl's 1700-square foot acrylic mural, is a highlight of the SCAD-curated Art Collection at the 71,000 seat Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

"I've been fortunate that people at SCAD have responded positively to my work," says Hebermehl (B.F.A., illustration, 2003). "There's not a day in my life when I'm not talking to, interacting with, or creating something that's come about from my time at SCAD."

Hebermehl's most recent SCAD project was a mural created on the rooftop of the historic Clermont Hotel during Super Bowl week in Atlanta, part of a pop-up museum curated by SCAD Art Sales.

A native of Arvada, Colorado, Hebermehl currently works from his studio in Pasadena, California.

Matt Hebermehl:

When SCAD Art Sales partnered with the city of Atlanta to provide art for events hosted by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, I was asked to create a piece for the Clermont rooftop. I arrived in Atlanta early during Super Bowl week and worked on-site at SCAD Atlanta for three days to get a head start on the mural, so I'd have something substantial that I could add onto, on-site, during the festivities.

My role was, in part, to be live entertainment. There was a lot of star power there. Ludacris slid by while I was working, Jeezy snuck in later. T.I. came through, so smooth and cool. Lil Jon came over and we talked. Everyone responded positively to what I was doing, and I was feeding off their energy. It was exhilarating.

The Clermont piece was intended to be performative. The physical thing left behind is a relic of the time I spent with other people and the creative process. The iconography is after Rodin, whose work was donated to the city of Atlanta by the French government after the Orly plane crash in 1962, when 106 members of the Atlanta Art Association died. My piece is called "The Fire Below," representing Atlanta's history of rising from the ashes.

Creating live in front of people touched on things I was doing in Savannah from 2011 to 2015, with an art initiative called SeeSAW. SeeSAW stood for See Savannah Art Walls, and was co-founded by fellow SCAD alum James "Dr. Z" Zdaniewski (B.F.A., computer art, 2003) and myself. We worked with the city of Savannah's Metropolitan Planning Commission to create a mural ordinance. SeeSAW was devoted to creating in public and having the conversation between spectator and creator be part of the process.

I was fortunate to study at SCAD at a time when boundaries between illustration and fine art were being blurred. Katherine Sandoz and Traci Haymans and Julie Lieberman were professors who identified that I had something to offer and encouraged me. Those relationships are lasting to this day. When Traci passed away, Katherine and I created the mural for her in Haymans Hall. Julie is a big influence in my life. I call them my three wise women.

My work has an intentional sense of motion, bounding through space. Revisiting loose gestural mark making, and coming back and layering on top. There is no delineation between foreground and background, it's more about time and mark-making, bringing the underpainting to the foreground, and pushing the overpainting to the back. Even in the present, the past is always with you.

Paint-splattered Matt with Atlanta legend T.I.

See more Hebermehl art here.

"Welcome to the nexus of education and entertainment!" wrote President Wallace in her welcome letter to this year's SCAD aTVfest attendees. As SCAD graduates venture into their creative careers, commerce becomes a key component of that equation. This was the topic this year's aTVfest "Short and Social" panel.

Moderated by television personality and prolific producer Brian Balthazar, the panel featured Chris Berend (CNN), Allan Holmes (Instagram) and Sarah Napier (Condé Nast Entertainment) sharing knowledge and offering advice on engaging with consumers via short-form stories on social platforms.

All panelists agreed that engagement begins with meaningful stories well-told. Whether launching a brand on an Instagram platform or being featured on CNN's Great Big Story, the stronger the storytelling, the more compelling and memorable the content. Another facet is trust in consumer messaging. Online communities gain credibility as collective approval accrues.

"As social media becomes more crowded with ads, you don't know who to trust, so you trust your friends," Holmes said.

A prime example of this is the acceptance of vertically-oriented video content. Initial resistance was overcome with quality storytelling. Condé Nast Entertainment's true crime series "True Crime/Uncovered," launched on Snapchat, sets up its premise and solves the mystery in five to six minutes. "True Crime/Uncovered" receives close to one billion monthly views.

Despite seemingly endless avenues for dispersal, content must connect with an audience to survive. "The No. 1 thing is research," Holmes reminded the audience. A story that lacks authenticity will not connect.

Regarding pitching ideas to decision-makers, Berend suggested "be incredibly concise." since producers have likely heard a similar pitch before. To this, Napier added: "Don't overextend yourself, and be focused on where you can be most successful."

When discussing what's next in the world of short-form content on social media, panelists agreed there was no one clear answer. Distribution channels, technology and trends change faster than traditional business models, while AR and VR are making inroads into messaging. "Keep experimenting," suggested Holmes. That's good news for budding creative professionals: As platforms constantly evolve and grow, so will opportunities for storytellers.

This year's SCAD aTVfest featured 21 exclusive screenings, 19 panels, and six master classes and workshops with content production professionals. 2019 marked the seventh year of SCAD aTVfest. This year's aTVfest honorees included Spotlight Award recipient Ellie Kemper ("Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"), Outstanding Cast Award winner "New Amsterdam" (NBC/Universal Televsision), and SCAD alumnus Mir Zafar Ali (B.F.A., visual effects, 2015), recipient of the SCAD40 prize.

It's a great time to be Chad Morton (B.F.A., dramatic writing, 2018). As an undergraduate, Morton worked as part of the writing team of student Emmy-winning SCAD sitcom 
"The Buzz." His new SCAD sitcom "G.R.I.T.S." (Girls Raised in the South), premiered at the 2019 SCAD aTVfest in Atlanta to a full house and wildly enthusiastic reception. Having interned at Miramax, this devotee of the art of television is poised for an illustrious creative career.

"G.R.I.T.S" creative team at 2019 aTVfest with President Wallace. Chad Morton front row, second left.

SCAD: What inspired "G.R.I.T.S."?

Chad Morton: I was working on "The Buzz" my junior year when I got the offer to create "G.R.I.T.S." All summer break I thought about what the show could be, and what it could potentially do for black students at SCAD.

I was inspired by an NBC sitcom called "The Carmichael Show." Episodes typically tackled tough subjects through a diverse range of characters, showing all possible viewpoints.

I decided to create a show that would specifically target taboo issues within the black community. I placed it in a restaurant, knowing we would be limited to one set, so that characters come and go in a natural way.

"The Carmichael Show" is inspired by Norman Lear's works. Before SCAD, I didn't even know sitcoms such as "Sanford and Son," "Good Times" and "The Jeffersons" all came from Norman Lear. It wasn't until I took a class with SCAD dramatic writing professor Chris Auer that I rediscovered those shows and began studying them.

Also, "Black-ish," "Atlanta" and "Insecure" are three shows that currently capture the black experience better than anything else on TV.

SCAD: What are the key takeaways from aTVfest?

Morton: aTVfest benefits students immensely. The festival is focused on television, with advice and information you wouldn't have access to elsewhere. The TV show premieres are amazing, but for me, the real allure is being able to attend panels by writers, showrunners, managers, and agents. Last year, writers had the opportunity to take a workshop with Karen Kirkland, who at the time was VP of talent development at Nickelodeon. These opportunities give aTVfest attendees clear advantages.

SCAD: How has SCAD prepared you to do your work?

Morton: The dramatic writing department challenged me and taught me new ways to look at the medium. I still look at my notes from script analysis. There's nothing I miss more than class critiques. That instant feedback is something students shouldn't take for granted. When you implement notes, you think differently and, in most cases, for the better.

Working on "The Buzz" prepared me for deadlines. When you realize that actors and the camera crew are relying on you to deliver a script, it forces you to think quickly and efficiently. The show must go on!

SCAD: What advice would you give SCAD students who want to write for television?

Morton: Research, research, research! I constantly analyze scripts. One thing I do is write outlines for movies or TV episodes I've already seen. It may seem trivial but you'll quickly realize how they break down and what leads into each scene, possibly making the outline process for your own script less of a daunting task. My last piece of advice is to have fun with it!

SCAD aTVfest continues through Saturday, Feb. 9. Learn more here.

The seventh annual SCAD aTVfest kicked off Thursday morning with a bevy of undeniable SCAD talent. New SCAD sitcom, "G.R.I.T.S." (Girls Raised in the South), was introduced to a packed theater by School of Entertainment Arts dean Andra Reeve-Rabb, performing arts chair Mark Tymchyshyn and film and television chair D.W. Moffett.

Created by SCAD graduate Chad Morton (B.F.A., dramatic writing, 2018), creator the student Emmy-winning SCAD sitcom "The Buzz," "G.R.I.T.S." stars "American Idol" winner Candice Glover (B.F.A., dramatic writing) and "Showtime at the Apollo" winner George Lovett (M.F.A., performing arts). Glover plays Tiana, a natural leader running a soul food restaurant in Atlanta. Her younger sister, employees and friends are a constant source of trouble and fun.

Tackling weighty, controversial topics is something Morton is interested in exploring. Morton was inspired by how NBC sitcom "The Carmichael Show" "always made it a point to show all possible viewpoints on whatever topic they're discussing." Advancing that audacity, Morton decided to create "a show that would specifically target taboo black issues within the black community."

Regarding character development, Morton says most of the characters are based on people in his life, with traits exaggerated as needed: "As the show goes on, characters start to deviate and become their own thing as we figure out what works."

One "G.R.I.T.S." character sure to evolve is Candice Glover's Tiana. Her timing is spot on, and there is no doubt she is enjoying the experience. "I think I'm naturally funny, but to have a script and make it pop feels great," Glover said.

In the first episode, Tiana's impulsive younger sister shows up engaged to a man she's known for only two weeks. Meanwhile, a protest against taking down Confederate statues rages outside the restaurant. As a conversation about the issue takes place, the fiancé reveals he is not in favor of removing them. He also admits he was adopted and raised by a white family. While the group at the restaurant is not exactly thrilled by his position on the statues, he finds the protestors aren't as welcoming as he expected.

Pulling this off with humor, humility and laughs takes talent, collaboration and guidance. By that standard, the cast and crew of "G.R.I.T.S." are fully primed. The set is comparable to a major network sitcom, proving the skill level of SCAD's production design program. SCAD faculty have imparted the knowledge and experience they possess in order to move the project from classroom idea to full-length, professional-level sitcom episode. Watching the performances, hearing the dialogue, and laughing and learning with a diverse crowd of SCAD aTVfest attendees clinches it: "G.R.I.T.S" is a hit.

Attendees of the SCAD aTVfest opening night "G.R.I.T.S." screening were treated to a Q-and-A session featuring the following talent:

Candice Glover
, actor (B.F.A., dramatic writing)
Kennedy Coe
, actor (B.F.A., performing arts)
Kevin Holloway-Harris, actor (M.F.A., performing arts)
George Lovett
, actor (M.F.A., performing arts)
Charmaine Shaw, 
actor (M.F.A., performing arts)
Travis Campfield
, actor (B.F.A., performing arts)
Jessie Hyder
, actor (M.F.A., performing arts)
Andre Haskett
, actor (B.F.A., performing arts)
Brianna Dance
, director (B.F.A., film and television)
Rachel Kerby
, producer (B.F.A., film and television)
Chad Morton
, creator (B.F.A., dramatic writing, 2018)
Zach Freshley
, creator (M.F.A., dramatic writing)

SCAD aTVfest continues through Saturday, Feb. 9. Learn more here.

The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is pleased to announce "Savannah Songs," a unique, interactive live performance experience celebrating the university's 40th anniversary and honoring Georgia Day. Students from the university's award-winning performing arts programs will showcase the city's remarkable historical legacy. "Savannah Songs" takes places Friday and Saturday Feb. 1-2.

"'Savannah Songs' celebrates Georgia Day in a uniquely SCAD way — through music, story, and plenty of pizzazz, all performed by SCAD students for our community," said SCAD president and founder Paula Wallace. "'Savannah Songs' is a time-travel musical, an hour-long party that literally sings tour guests from place to historic place, all in honor of Georgia Day. This year, SCAD's immersive performances vivify our city's rich history from the 1920s to the ‘60s — a time of memorable music and magnificent architecture, too. We hope everyone will come!"

Over 120 SCAD students from a range of preeminent degree programs including performing arts, dramatic writing, preservation design, interior design, costume design and sound design will bring the "Savannah Songs" performance to life. "Savannah Songs" will take audiences on an hour-long "musical tour through time" showcasing the city's storied past from the 1920s, ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s.

This multi-site musical tableau showcases incomparable moments in the history of the city of Savannah. This biennial celebration recognizes the culture and history of the city, and provides unique opportunity to tour four distinctive venues within SCAD's preservation footprint.

Guests of "Savannah Songs" will begin their experience at Trustees Theater, then proceed across Broughton Street to Gutstein Gallery, followed by Jen Library and concluding at the Lucas Theater. All locations will feature interactive participation between guests and SCAD students.

Trustees Theater, which opened February 14, 1946, will take the audience back to the 1940s.  The performers will be dressed as members of the Mighty Eighth Air Force who have just returned home from World War II. They will be joined by fellow performers portraying wives and domestic partners who were working in Savannah shipyards, factories and victory gardens during the war.

Gutstein Gallery will transport guests to the 1960s, when the space was the Azalea Room restaurant, adjoining the former Levy's department store.  On March 16, 1960 three African-American high school students took part in a sit-in at the whites-only lunch counter. This was one of the first steps that ultimately led to desegregation in Savannah, as commemorated by a Georgia Historical Society plaque The Georgia Civil Rights Trail: The Savannah Protest Movement. "Savannah Songs" guests will learn more about the day of that historic sit-in.

The Jen Library, formerly Levy's, will showcase the 1950s. The department store was once the most popular and stylish place in Savannah to buy dresses and other clothing. Guests will be treated to a sock-hop performance and get a glimpse of vintage dresses from SCAD's permanent collection.

The Lucas Theater, the last stop of the tour, opened in 1921. "Savannah Songs" guests will be treated to a spectacular vaudeville performance and bags of popular candy from that era.

Performances on Saturday, Feb. 2 are open to the public. Admission is $10.  Tickets available online.

Check-in for "Savannah Songs" at the Savannah Box Office at Trustees Theater.

Performances begin at 10 a.m.

Early on a recent weekday morning, approximately forty SCAD Studio II architecture students traveled two-and-a-half hours north from Savannah to Moncks Corner, South Carolina. There, they visited Mepkin Abbey, a Trappist monastery on the Cooper River, the first stop on a day out to site-specific structures designed by visionary environmental architect W.G. Clark.

"For our Studio II students, this academic quarter is about architecture as it relates to site and site manipulation," explained professor Scott Singeisen. Singeisen has led field trips to Mepkin Abbey since 2011, inspired in part by his appreciation for Corbusier's Monastery of Sante Marie de la Tourette in Lyon, France. "Corbusier told the monks he was an atheist. And they said, in effect, that's exactly why we want you to design our monastery. The idea at play is that the architect doesn't have to be religious to design a monastery, he or she only needs to respect space."

To provide students with an intimate understanding of W.G. Clark's intentions, Singeisen assigned Clark's essay "Replacement." In it, Clark writes: "Architecture, whether as a town or a building, is the reconciliation of ourselves with the natural land."

"I read the essay on the way there, so I was thinking about it at the site," said Elisa Dogor  (B.F.A., architecture). "Clark wants to do as little harm as possible, and integrate architecture into nature. We saw how he was practicing what he was writing about. To do that that towards the beginning of the quarter helps get your mind in a good place when there's a lot of work to do."

"You walked into the chapel and it was filled with divine light," remarked Devon Carberry (B.F.A., architecture). "Compared to a gothic cathedral, this was simple, comforting and warm. Architecture can change your views and beliefs on life."

After a tour by Father Kevin, and picnic lunch at the terraced gardens, the group traveled sixty minutes south to The Inn at Middleton Place (recipient of the 1987 AIA Honor Award), designed and executed by Clark in partnership with Charles Menefee III. Over three decades, façades have conceded to wild vegetation. As students descended into the courtyard bracketed by the L-shaped inn with its view of the Ashley River, there was a collective gasp.

"Both the monastery and Middleton offer a sense of tranquility," said Sheryl Wadehra (B.F.A., architecture). "The dichotomy between the materials was beautiful to see – concrete and wood used in equal ways, neither overpowering the other. You felt how the architect wanted you to feel."

There was much to see: stucco walls, flourishing camellia, wooden fitments painted Charleston green; architecture, integrated with nature through profound appreciation of history and place.

"One of the great takeaways from visiting architecture like this is you realize how well thought-out everything must be," Singeisen said. "If students can set that as something to strive to, they're approaching something good."

Thanks to Alessandra Canedo, Devon Carberry, Elisa Dogor, Priscilla Maura and Sheryl Wadehra for taking extra time to discuss their experience.

Location photography courtesy Elisa Dogor.

Learn more about SCAD architecture degree programs here.