CV

Education

MFA in Digital+Media.

Rhode Island School of Design, RI, 2006-2008

BFA in Electronic Media Art and Design.

University of Denver, CO, 2002-2004

AGS in Multimedia Technology Design & Animation.

Red Rocks Community College, CO, 1999-2001

Email

ames@rmu.edu

Teaching
Experience

Professor of Media Arts 

Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh, PA 2022-present

I teach the undergraduate courses: ARTM1021 3D Studio, ARTM1022 4D Studio, artm2210 Intro to Web Design, ARTM2710 Game Design Studio 1,  ARTM3720 Game Design Studio 2, ARTM3710 Interactive Animation, ARTM4710 Experience Design Studio 1, ARTM4720 Experience Design Studio 2, ARTM4010, Senior Studio, ARTM4090 Portfolio, and HNRSLEGO: a medium of limitless possibilities. As the UXUI program lead I assess and mentor our part-time faculty, attend recruiting events and chair the school curriculum committee. I also serve as the Gallery Coordinator, curating and hanging four exhibitions a year. 

Associate Professor of Media Arts 

Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh, PA 2015-2022

I taught the undergraduate courses: ARTM1021 3D Studio, ARTM1022 4D Studio, artm2210 Intro to Web Design, artm2215 Experimental Game Design, artm2220 Designing for New Media, artm3210 HTML Toolbox, artm3220 Interaction Design, artm4210 Interactive Animation, and artm4090 Portfolio and hnrs LEGO: a medium of limitless possibilities. I also served as the Gallery Co-coordinator and Gallery Committee Chair. 

Assistant Professor of Media Arts 

Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh, PA 2010-2015

I taught the undergraduate courses: artm2210 Intro to Web Design, artm2220 Designing for New Media, artm3210 HTML Toolbox, artm3220 Interaction Design and artm4210 Interactive Web Animation. I also served as the Gallery Coordinator and Gallery Committee Chair. 

I helped to develop and co-chair the Media Arts Community Design Workshop; an extra-curricular studio in which students have the opportunity to work on client projects. I developed the University-wide 15-credit Web Design Minor; the Designing for New Media course; and redesigned the Coding and Scripting course, so that it focused on Interaction Design. Most recently I was invited to sit on the University’s Strategic Planning Committee.

Adjunct Faculty 

Chester College of New England, Chester, NH 2010
New England Institute of Art, Brookline, MA 2009-2010

As an adjunct at Chester College, I taught the senior studio course Advanced Interactive Design, and at the Institute of Art I taught Web Design for Graphic Designers as well as continuing education courses in Photoshop.

Instructor 

Urbano Project, Jamaica Plain, MA 2009-2010
Cloud Foundation, Boston, MA 2009

As an instructor for these two non-profits, I developed and taught college-level art courses for public high-school students. These courses included Making It Happen: Experience as Art; Hacked: Repurpose and Recycle, Electronic Sculptures; Game Making: An Intro to Paper Prototypes and 2D Video Game Making; and Game Design: Making, Bending and Breaking Rules. Each course was designed to introduce teenagers to the world of interactive art and the theories and skills to produce their own works.

Lead Instructor 

Digital Media Academy, Cambridge, MA; Washington DC 2009

As lead instructor, I taught Adventures in 2D & 3D Game Design, a week-long boot camp for 8 to 12 year olds in which they learned how to design and create their own video games using Multimedia Fusion and 3D Game Maker.

Teaching Assistant 

Rhode Island School of Design, Rhode Island, RI 2006-2008

I was a TA for the graduate-level courses Edifice: Methods & Methodology; Experimental Games; On Form and Form Giving; Sensing Materials and Embodied Interaction; Intro to Creative Programming; in the Digital+Media and Graduate Studies Departments.

Instructor 

Red Rocks Community College, Lakewood, CO 2001

Undergraduate and Continuing Ed courses
I taught and developed course materials for the Intro to Mac OS X course. As a guest Lecturer I provided Tips and Tricks for Intro to PhotoShop and Advanced Photoshop; Vector Animation for Intro to Illustrator; Creating Custom Brushes and Animating in Corel Painter.

Exhibitions
2010-Present

2024

2023

  • Homage, 311 Gallery, Raleigh, NC
  • Wayne Art Center’s 2023 Regional Juried Spring Open, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA
  • Anti-War international online group exhibition, Exhibizone, Ontario Canada
  • Being Seen, TAG/The Artists Gallery, Fredrick, MD 
  • ART IN THE TIME OF CORONA™ Vol. 3, Dabster Arts Inc. Online, Austin, TX

2021

  • Then and Now: a faculty show, Media Arts Gallery Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh, PA
  • Intergalactic Open 2, Shockboxx Gallery, Hermosa Beach, CA

2020

  • Small Works 2020, Main Street Arts, Clifton Springs, NY
  • Artists Who Teach 2020, Ellington-White Contemporary Gallery, Fayetteville, NC
  • Art and Technology 4.0, K12 & Tajas Gallery, Dayton, OH

2019

  • New Media Exhibition, IU Kokomo Downtown Gallery, IN

2018

  • Artists Who Teach, Westmoreland Museum, Greensburg PA

2017

  • Maker Faire, Children’s Museum Pittsburgh PA
  • IDEAS_17: Art and Inclusivity in the Digital Age, University of the District of Columbia, Washington, DC
  • Faculty Exhibition, Media Arts Gallery, Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh, PA

2014

  • CAC.4 Exhibition, 4th Computer Art Congress, NANO – Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • CUNY Games Festival, CUNY Graduate Center, New York, NY

2013

  • IDEAS_13: “Celebrate what we build and how it will impact the future,”  Laguna College of Art and Design, Laguna Beach, CA
  • 2013 Juried Alumni Exhibition, Victoria H. Myhren Gallery, Denver, CO

2012

  • Just Play, Solo Exhibit at the Beard Arts Center, Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN
  • Faculty Exhibition, Media Arts Gallery, Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh, PA
  • Terminal, Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN

2011

  • Imprint of War: Responses in Print, University Gallery, Frick Fine Arts, University of Pittsburgh, PA
  • Andrew Y. Ames: Bending the Rules, Solo Exhibit, SAI Popup Gallery, curated by Tim Hadfield & Ingrid Laflur, Sewickley, PA
  • Mash-Ups, Sonnenschein Gallery, Forest Lake College, Forest Lake, IL
  • Bending Media: An Exhibit about Gender Constructs, Rhizome Artbase Exhibit, Online
  • Learn to Play, Too, Euphrat Museum of Art, De Anza College, Cupertino, CA

2010

  • Land Arts of the American West 2010, SCA Gallery, Albuquerque, NM
  • Professors Exposed, Media Arts Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
  • PIXILERATIONS [v.7], Sol Koffler Gallery, Providence, RI
  • 2010 Juried Alumni Exhibition, Victoria H. Myhren Gallery, Denver, CO
  • Learn to Play, Euphrat Museum of Art, De Anza College, Cupertino, CA
  • Learn to Play Preview @ Zero1 Festival. Euphrat Museum of Art, De Anza College, Cupertino, CA
  • SoyaHaus, the HousEART Project, 41 Kossuth Street, Olneyville RI
  • The Biennial of the Americas: Digital Isolation, Museo De Las Americas, Denver CO
  • Virion, The Block, Kelvin Grove Queensland, Australia
  • Mac Happiness! Digital Works, The Mac Spa, Denver, CO
  • 55 Soya, The Store Show at MEME Gallery, Cambridge, MA
  • Lokönenie, ArtRages Surrealestate Art Party, Performance at Mobious, East Boston, MA
  • Apocalypse Food, Sluggos, Pensacola, FL 
  • 2030 Time capsule buried at University of West Florida Art Department
  • 8bits Per Pixel, MEME Gallery, Cambridge, MA

Artist Presentations

Old, New, and Upcoming Work, SCIS Research Symposium, Robert Morris University, Moon Township, PA Feb. 2017

Just Play: bending the rules to make interactive works of art, Beard Arts Center, Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN Nov. 2012

Design and Interactivity, a discussion of my work and making interactive art, Carnegie Mellon, Pre-College Design Fundamentals Aug. 2011

Games: the Art of Making, Bending and Breaking Rules, a discussion of my work and designing ludic objects, Department of Visual & Performing Arts, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Critical Game Studies Mar. 30, 2009

Games: the Art of Making, Bending and Breaking Rules, a discussion of my work and making games, Rhode Island School of Design, Pre-College Design Fundamentals Aug. 4, 2008

warDecks & Kick the Can a short talk on making unplayable games, University of Denver, School of Art and Art History, ARTD 4375 Graduate eMAD Critique Mar. 27, 2007

Conference Presentations

“Reframing Materials” Animation Educators Forum: Balance in Pedagogy, Research and Practice. Is there a Key? Chaired by Tim Jones at the SAS Conference 2022, Teesside University, Middlesbrough UK

“Playing in Place Nowhere: Creating an Open Source Country” Paper Session Open Source and Intellectual Property Rights chaired by Mika Satomi; and the Mind the Gap Panel chaired by Alexia Mellor. At the International Symposium on Electronic Arts, ISEA Istanbul 2011. Sept. 17-18, 2011

“Game {Play}: Thought & Form” Session 2.5.2 New Technology and Innovative Strategies in Classrooms and Beyond. Sponsored by the Media & Technology Interest Council, Chaired by Ferris Crane, Robert Morris University. At the Pennsylvania Communication Association 71st Annual Convention. Oct. 23, 2010

Invited Lectures, Workshops and Demos

“Web Design Basics” A brief into to the anatomy of the web for COMM3030 Professional Writing at the invitation of Jeeyon Oh, 11/2013, Robert Morris University.

“An Intro to Rapid Prototyping: Or Makerbot-ing stuff” 3D printing demo for ARTM1021 3D Design Principles at the invitation of Michael Smithhammer, 10/2011 and Tim Hadfield 3/2012, Robert Morris University.

“onClick=’an interactive look at Net.Art'” RMU Honors Roundtable Presenter at the invitation of Monica VanDieren, Robert Morris University. Nov. 2010

“Dreamweaver for Graphic Designers.” At the invitation of Michael Goldberg, New England Institute of Art, Web Development for Graphic Designers. July 2009

“Not just another Thermion, Getting Arduino and MAX/MSP Talking.” At the Invitation of Tad Hirch, Rhode Island School of Design, Technology Workshop April 2008

“Book Design in InDesign: An Artist’s Introduction to Page Layout.” At the invitation of Jennifer Liese, Rhode Island School of Design, Permission to Write March 2008

“Using Maya and Hexagon for Rapid Prototype Printing: A Series of Three Workshops.” At the Invitation of Enrique Martínez, Rhode Island School of Design, On Form and Form Giving Oct.-Dec.2007

“Getting Started and Breaking Out on Your Own in the World of Design.” At the invitation of Rafael Fajardo, University of Denver, eMAD Senior Project Mar.2006

“The Collaborative Studio’s Design Process” At the invitation of Miguel Angel Tarango, University of Denver, Spring and Winter Sessions of Visual Meaning Feb. & Mar. 2005

Published Papers

Playing in Place Nowhere: Creating an Open Source Country, ISEA2011 Conference Proceedings. Sabanci University. http://isea2011.sabanciuniv.edu/paper/playing-place-nowhere-creating-open-source-country Nov. 2011 

Games: the Art of Making, Bending and Breaking Rules, featured on Gamasutra.com and GameCareerGuide.com. Mar. 2009

Games: the Art of Making, Bending and Breaking Rules, Fylkingen’s journal Hz, online journal. Issue number 13. http://www.hz-journal.org/n13/ames.html Jan. 2009

On Games, Art and Shades of Grey, [Itch] Magazine, online edition. Issue number 2. http://www.itch.co.za/?article=43 Oct. 2008

Modifying Art, Fylkingen’s journal Hz, online journal. Issue number 10.
http://hz-journal.org/n10/ames.html Jun. 2007

Works Cited
or Published in

O’Driscoll, Bill. “Games as art in new gallery show” Pittsburgh City Paper, Oct. 25, 2012

Budzeak, Shellie Petri. “Virtual exhibit brings art to Sewickley” Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Oct. 27, 2011

Wilson, Matt. “Visitors ‘Learn to Play’ at De Anza College’s new exhibit” MercuryNews.com, Dec. 2, 2010

Perreault, Denise. “Decorating Providence home exteriors with the help of the neighborhood” Providence Business News, Aug. 16, 2010

Cutler, Meredith. “Beyond the Borders Feature: PLUG IN, PROVIDENCE” ArtScope New England’s Culture Magazine, Sep/Oct 2009

Cook, Greg. “The digerarti:‘Pixilerations’ plugs in Providence art” The Boston Phoenix, Oct. 2 2009

Myers, Maddy. “Vintage Gaming Exhibit: 8-bit Is Back at CyberArts” The Boston Phoenix, May 1, 2009

Mathews, Anita. “‘Pixilerations’ experiments with new media” The Brown Daily Herald, Oct 6 2008

Van Siclen, Bill. “Up-and-coming art stars show their stuff” The Providence Journal, May 22, 2008

Awards & Honors

  • ASIFA Hollywood Animation Educators Forum Grant, 2021
  • Portz Grant, NCHC 2020 
  • Maker of Merit Award, Maker Faire PGH 2017
  • RMU Summer Fellowship, Robert Morris University 2011
  • Terminal Award, Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts at Austin Peay State University 2011
  • Digital+Media Fellowship. Rhode Island School of Design. 2006 and 2007
  • Nominee, Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship. University of Denver. 2006
  • Harrison Merit Scholarship. School of Art and Art History, University of Denver. 2002 and 2003
  • Colorado Scholar. University of Denver. 2002 and 2003
  • DU Educational Grant. University of Denver. 2002 and 2003
  • Transfer Scholar. University of Denver. 2002 and 2003
  • National Dean’s List. University of Denver. 2002
  • National Dean’s List. Red Rocks Community College. 2000 and 2001
  • Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society. Red Rocks Community College. 2000
  • Vice President’s List. Red Rocks Community College. 1999 through 2001

Committees

  • Public Art Committee, Robert Morris University. 2021-2022
  • Visiting Documentary Film Maker committee, Robert Morris University. 2021
  • Arts and Humanities Internship Committee Chair, Robert Morris University. 2021
  • SIHSS Undergraduate Curriculum Committee Chair, Robert Morris University. 2020-Present
  • Media Arts UXUI Major Curriculum Committee Chair, Robert Morris University. 2020-Present
  • Media Arts Graphic Design Major Curriculum Committee, Robert Morris University. 2020
  • SIHSS Undergraduate Curriculum Committee Vice-Chair, Robert Morris University. 2019-2020
  • Media Arts Digital Media Minor Curriculum Committee Chair, Robert Morris University. 2019-2020
  • Student Conduct Board Committee, 2019-Present
  • Visiting Documentary Film Maker committee, Robert Morris University. 2018
  • Media Arts Foundations Curriculum Committee, Robert Morris University. 2016-2019
  • Media Arts Lecture Series Committee, Robert Morris University. 2015-present
  • Web Programming Advisory Board, Butler County Community College. 2014
  • University Strategic Planning Committee, Robert Morris University. 2013
  • Media Arts Gallery Committee (chair), Robert Morris University. 2012-present
  • Sewickley Arts Initiative Advisory Board. 2011
  • SCIS Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, Robert Morris University. 2011-2019
  • Media Arts Enrollment Task Force, Robert Morris University. 2010-present
  • Media Arts Graphic Design Curriculum Committee, Robert Morris University. 2010-2013
  • Media Arts Web Curriculum Committee, Robert Morris University. 2010
  • Steering Committee Member. Gallery 023. University of Denver. 2003-2004
  • Multimedia Advisory Committee. Warren Technological School, Graphic Communications Department. 2001

Professional Experience

Gallery Coordinator/ Committee Chair

Robert Morris University. Pittsburgh, PA 2012-2015, 2021-present

I coordinate the Media Arts Gallery and chair the Gallery Committee. In collaboration with the Committee, I organized our schedule to include seven exhibitions a year and have hung each exhibition. I also helped to initiate the student Gallery Club, which I currently advise.

Gallery Co-Coordinator/ Committee Chair

Robert Morris University. Pittsburgh, PA 2016-2021

Co-Director/ Curator

Sewickley Arts Initiative. Pittsburgh, PA 2011-present

I work with artists and volunteers to organize four to six exhibits a year in Pop-up gallery spaces around the village of Sewickley. I curated the pittsburgh showcase of Quick Response: Digitally from Denver to Sewickley, a traveling QR code exhibit, and most recently Input/Output an exhibition of serious games.

Co-Curator

The Travellers Box Project. Boston, MA 2010-2012

The Travellers Box was an international project created in Denmark by Lars Vilhelmsen. I was an invited to participate and help the box travel through Boston to various other participating artists.

New Media & Technology Coordinator

The Urbano Project. Jamaica Plain, MA 2009-2010

While teaching at Urbano, I also served to maintain their online presence as well as coordinate their various technology needs for classes, exhibits and performances.

Curator

Boston Cyberarts Festival. Boston, MA 2009 

Working with George Fifield and Nick Monfort I curated and installed a four-day Vintage Gaming Exhibition to educate visitors about the history of video games. In addition I curated the Cloud Foundation’s Teen Game Design Focus Group, and helped to set-up Cyberarts Central.

Freelance 

CO, RI, MA, PA 2006-present 

I began freelancing again while attending RISD, taking on smaller web and logo projects. In my free time I designed and developed a branding and identity strategy for Those Guys, LLC and their partner company LocoSavingsTravel, I developed a logo for Intelishirts, an electronic signature for Aquidneck Fine Properties as well as a revamp of Maynard Tischler’s online artist portfolio.

Partner and Creative Director

Tackhammer Concepts. Denver, CO 2004-2006 

Tackhammer Concepts was the evolution of 360 Degrees of Design, a design company I started in 2000. As owner and then partner, I negotiated all contracts, presented proposals to clients and was the lead designer for projects. I initiated our intern program mentoring art students from the University of Denver and Metropolitan State College of Denver, all of which went on to start their own art and design businesses.

Principle Designer

Three Hundred Sixty Degrees of Design, LLC. Denver, CO 2000-2004 

I negotiated contracts and presented proposals to clients and designed information architecture, signage, websites and branding strategies for clients who ranged from orthodontists, restaurants, artists and designers, including Downtown Denver’s Green Fine Salad Company. Before starting 360 Degrees, I worked as a freelance web designer from 1997–2000.

Memberships

  • Animation Educators Forum2021- present
  • New Media Caucus. 2010-present
  • AIGA. Pittsburgh Chapter. 2010-present
  • Artist, Co-Founder. WRMC Collaborative. 2010-2012
  • Pennsylvania Communication Association. 2010
  • AIGA. Boston Chapter. 2008-2010
  • Culturehall. Charter member at the invitation of David Frey. 2008-present
  • College Art Association. 2007-present
  • International Game Developers Association. 2007-present
  • Rhizome. Contributing member to the ArtBase and RAW. 2006-present
  • Artist, collaborator. Potential Cloud Formations. 2005-present