Art Meets Tech, Creative Coding, Data Visualization, Interview
Brett Ashley Crawford, Ph.D.
Livecoding and Interdisciplinary Performance: ...

Eric Theise is a geospatial engineer, filmmaker, and performance artist. On September 5, 2025, he shared “A Synesthete’s Atlas” Performing Cartography, in an artist talk at the Frank-Ratchye Studio for Creative Inquiry at the College of Fine Arts. The following is a joint effort by Nate Xiang, who attended the artist talk, and an interview with Eric afterwards.

Livecoding and Interdisciplinary Performance: An Interview with Eric Theise
Podcast, Art Meets Tech, Media
Yao Pei
The Algorithms in Your Ears: Looking Into the ...

In this episode of the Arts Management and Technology Lab, Samantha Childers explores why so many songs recommended by streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music sound strikingly similar. She breaks down the inner workings of music streaming algorithms—how metadata, collaborative filtering, content-based filtering, and continuous feedback loops collectively shape the “perfect playlist.” Childers also examines Spotify features such as Discover Weekly and Discovery Mode, uncovering how these tools influence music discovery, artist visibility, and even compositional trends as musicians increasingly write with algorithms in mind. Alongside these technical insights, she raises critical ethical questions about data privacy, algorithmic bias, pay-to-play practices, and the shrinking role of human curation. Ultimately, the episode invites listeners to rethink how algorithm-driven platforms shape not only what we hear but also how we discover, value, and experience music.

The Algorithms in Your Ears: Looking Into the Making Of Your Music Feeds
Podcast, Digital Futures, Art Meets Tech
Yao Pei
Ludus: a Ticket Selling Platform Changing the ...

In this episode of the Arts Management and Technology Lab, Andrew Wolverton and Zachary Collins explore how arts-focused technology can transform nonprofit ticketing and operations, tracing Ludus’s journey from a side project for a single high school musical to a nationwide platform serving more than 4,000 organizations. Collins explains how Ludus was built from the ground up around the real needs of drama teachers and community theaters, growing into an end-to-end system for ticketing, fundraising, marketing, volunteers, and concessions—while staying anchored in a people-first culture summed up by the company’s core value, “Give a Shit.” He reflects on navigating the COVID-19 shutdown through livestreaming and social-distancing tools, choosing the right growth equity partner, and why he believes AI shouldn’t replace arts workers but instead act as a “superpower” that frees them to focus on human-centered work and shared live experiences.

Ludus: a Ticket Selling Platform Changing the Game
Podcast, Entertainment, Digital Futures, Artificial Intelligence
Yao Pei
Michael Cioni on Ingenuity and the Future of ...

In this episode of the Arts Management and Technology Lab, Alexann Sharp and Cara Flannery sit down with four-time Emmy-winning innovator Michael Cioni to unpack how technology and creativity converge in modern media workflows. Cioni introduces Strada, a peer-to-peer platform designed to enable remote collaboration without cloud storage, and shares career lessons on building networks through industry events (NAB, Cine Gear, IBC) and assembling complementary teams (“Swiss-cheese” collaboration). He distinguishes generative vs. utilitarian AI, predicts a shakeout and rebound for GenAI, and outlines his Skills Gap Principle and “Technative” mindset for balancing creative and technical strengths. The conversation closes with candid advice on taking smarter risks and betting on yourself.

Michael Cioni on Ingenuity and the Future of Entertainment
Podcast, Art Meets Tech, Digital Futures, Creative Coding
Yao Pei
The Art of Language: Daniel Temkin Reveals The ...

In this episode of the Arts Management and Technology Lab, Daniel Temkin and Luna Lu discussed the artistic possibilities of code, focusing on esoteric programming languages (esolangs) and how they can function as a medium for art and human expression. Temkin explained that his interest began with experimenting in existing esolangs (like Brainfuck) around 2007-2008, leading him to create his own and document them conceptually, moving away from overly technical documentation. The conversation highlighted how giving up on the idea that programming must be practical allows for artistic exploration, connecting esolangs to idea art, constraint-based work (such as the Oulipo Group), and performance art. Temkin detailed the structure of his book, which presents programming languages as idea-based art, containing both realized works and conceptual prompts inspired by artists like Yoko Ono, and described how his languages — such as Fat Finger, which inspired code poetry, and Folders, which manipulates file system hierarchy — explore themes of collaboration, human irrationality, and the extreme constraints of logical systems. Listeners were also encouraged to explore existing esolangs on the Esolang Wiki before trying to design their own.

The Art of Language: Daniel Temkin Reveals The Inner Workings of Esolangs
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Renée Vara Part 1: The Visual Artists Rights Act and the Changing Arts Landscape

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Renée Vara Part 1: The Visual Artists Rights Act and the Changing Arts Landscape

In part one of this two-part interview with Renee Vara, Angela Johnson and B Crittenden discuss with her the changing arts landscape and the landmark Visual Arts Rights Act litigation, 5Pointz v. G&M Realty, and Renee’s involvement with that case.

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Let's Talk: Golden Globe Nominations, Streaming Platforms for the Arts, and Virtual Museum Engagement

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Let's Talk: Golden Globe Nominations, Streaming Platforms for the Arts, and Virtual Museum Engagement

Angela Johnson and B Crittenden discuss the implications of the recent Golden Globe nominations, followed by a conversation about B’s research on if and why some arts organizations should look to distribute their performances on aggregate streaming platforms. They also discuss virtual volunteering and recent virtual solutions to audience engagement found in museums.

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Let's Talk: New Works in the Public Domain, Arts Policies in the Biden Administration, and Cybersecurity

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Let's Talk: New Works in the Public Domain, Arts Policies in the Biden Administration, and Cybersecurity

In the first Let’s Talk episode of the new year, Angela Johnson and B Crittenden chat about new works that have entered the public domain as of January 1, 2021 and differences in arts policy and funding between the Trump and Biden administrations. Then, AMT Lab Chief Editor Lutie Rodriguez joins the conversation to discuss cybersecurity for work-from-home settings.

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Tyson Cazier: Tech Tools for Adaptive Music Composition in Gaming and Film

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Tyson Cazier: Tech Tools for Adaptive Music Composition in Gaming and Film

In this interview episode, summer podcast lead Michael Butler speaks with composer Tyson Cazier about the field of adaptive music, rising technologies in the field, and Tyson’s approach to storytelling in soundtrack composition. Cazier composes for video games and film and is a guitar professor at Utah State University.

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Let's Talk: Impact of Covid-19 Vaccine News, Racism in AI, and Tech Resolutions for 2021

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Let's Talk: Impact of Covid-19 Vaccine News, Racism in AI, and Tech Resolutions for 2021

In this month’s Let’s Talk episode, Angela Johnson and B Crittenden chat about how news of the Covid-19 vaccine is affecting attendance at arts institutions as well as how AI implementation in museums can include racial biases. They also share their technology resolutions for 2021.

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Toya Lillard: Using an Abolitionist Framework in the Arts

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Toya Lillard: Using an Abolitionist Framework in the Arts

In this interview episode, Podcast Producer Angela Johnson speaks with Toya Lillard, Executive Director of viBe Theater Experience. In November 2020, she gave a guest lecture for the College of Fine Arts and Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University on using an abolitionist framework within the arts and cultural sector.

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Let's Talk: Antitrust in Big Tech, Preparations for Virtual Holidays & Giving Tuesday

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Let's Talk: Antitrust in Big Tech, Preparations for Virtual Holidays & Giving Tuesday

In this month’s Let’s Talk episode, Angela Johnson and B Crittenden chat about antitrust in Big Tech with AMT Lab contributor Sam Houle. They also discuss safe ways to celebrate and connect over the upcoming holidays and recent trends in fundraising leading up to #GivingTuesday.

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UX and UI Website Design with the Pittsburgh Glass Center

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UX and UI Website Design with the Pittsburgh Glass Center

In this interview episode, our former Podcast Producer, Alyssa Wroblewski, along with our former Technology and Innovative Content Manager, Grace Puckett, sat down with Heather McElwee, the Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Glass Center. They discussed the user experience and user interface design of the website, www.pittsburghglasscenter.org.