PHOTOGRAPHER
Randall Coleman is a photographer and videographer native to Pittsburgh. He has a Masters of Science Degree in Media Arts and Technology and a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Journalism, both from Duquesne University. As a photographer and videographer Randall has worked for WTAE's 4 the 412 and the 9/11 Tribute Center in NY. Follow @Reddvision or go to Reddvision.co to keep up with his latest work. 

DIGITAL ARTIST
Char Stiles will exhibit an iteration on her webcam feedback loop series; an interactive light installation is a human centered feedback loop. Made through the misuse of a technology (e.g. a programming language), an ephemeral digital painting results. Char Stiles is a researcher and digital artist, graduating from Carnegie Mellon University. She works using emerging technologies as tools for expression.

MAKER OF ROBOTS
John likes to introduce himself by saying he is a robot programmed with a singular mission: To effectively engage, inspire, and attract the next generation of STEM talent. Currently a senior Computer Science and Arts student and Innovation Scholar at Carnegie Mellon University, John has over 8 years experience developing computer simulations using a variety of programming languages and 4 years experience building robots at Carnegie Mellon University. 

POET
Nairobi is a 19-year-old singer, actress, writer, designer, poet, and artist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has performed with Centers for the Musically Talented at Capa High school, The River City Music Band, Obama Drama Theater as Evilene in The Wiz and many other roles, The Afro-American Music Institute. She is the 2016 recipient of the regional August Wilson Monologue Competition as well as the youngest recipient of the Most Valuable Person(s) in Pittsburgh Award. She is currently working on her debut album, “Unconventional Black Girl” on her Soundcloud at www.soundcloud.com/naomiruthallen.

LUXE CREATIVE
Martin is a unique entrepreneur and pioneering Creative Director working in the worlds of live music, the arts, luxury events, fashion and interiors. Based in Pittsburgh, Martin’s studio consists of nationally recognized designers, producers and artists who
conjure and create distinctive, meaningful and culturally relevant work. His collaborators include: The Los Angeles Film School, Madonna, Roger Waters, The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, Fortune 500 executives, Microsoft and Chanel.

BODY ELECTRIC
Lauren Valley is a Pittsburgh-based robotic and new media artist. Through her video and robotic installation, Lauren attempts to explore stereotypes and gender barriers present in tech industries. Her most recent video series "Junie Genius" recontextualizes the role of a mad scientist through a series of female-empowering videos featuring a host of satirical robotic inventions.

SHOJI
Ian Brill’s work focuses on the accumulation of form through immersion and process. Through the creation of interactive, performative and multi-sensorial environments, he considers boundaries of becoming (versus being) in our relationships with technology. Via divergent methods of varyingly-technological explorations, his work seeks to create new experiences that both evoke wonderment and critical awareness. His installations, performances, and writing have been presented internationally. Currently, Ian teaches at Penn State University.

CHAKIRA's PLAYHOUSE
Kira Melville is a  Fine Art student at Carnegie Mellon University, where she takes concept and electronic media studios and dreams of clay and blacksmithing. CHAKIRA's Playhouse is a wonderful world of color and play, inspired by the commercial phenomenon of westernized yoga and the fetishization of eastern mysticism. Come bring your friends and family and play and move with me, we'll share endorphins and a breath of fresh air.

TRIAL$: PERFORMANCE
DeVaughn is a founding member of ATC, and a winner of the honorable Shyne Award. In 2011, he won 1st place in the Regional August Wilson Monologue Competition in Pittsburgh and placed 3rd in the national’s in New York. That same year DeVaughn starred in Testimony and August in August at the August Wilson Center.  In 2013, he was one of the winners of the Shakespeare Monologue Competition. Currently, he is working for the Manchester Academic Charter School and aspires to be a developed creative entrepreneur. 

FLAMING SHOTBOT
Artist and technologist Eric Singer is the world’s leading creator of robotic musical instruments and large-scale musical robot orchestrions. Since 2000, Eric has created hundreds of musical robots, first with his art group LEMUR and now under the name SingerBots.Eric has created instruments and worked with famous artists and companies, including Grammy-winner Pat Metheny, the Lido de Paris night club, popsters They Might Be Giants, Venture Brothers composer Jim Thirlwell, computer music grandfather Mort Subotnick and many others.

OPENING PERFORMANCE
Guitarist Byron Nash is a veteran of the Pittsburgh music scene. He has played with the Dave Matthews Band, Soulive and Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead.  During a seven-year stint with 412', Nash opened for and played with National acts ranging from Pharrell Williams and N.E.R.D., Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent, De La Soul, Fantasia, Musiq Soulchild, George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadlic and many more. His current band BYRON NASH & PLAN B is a melting pot of various musical styles and influences with a wide range of sonic platforms that has touched a variety of listener. 

INTERACTIVE PAINTING
Kait Schoeb is a self-taught fine artist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Desiring to have a positive impact on the community, Kait has created, live painted, and donated pieces and has worked extensively with various local and national charities including Susan G. Komen For the Cure, The Austin’s Playroom Project of the Mario Lemieux Foundation, The Twenty-Five Club of Magee Women’s Hospital, Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team (PAART), and Make-A-Wish.

MUSICIAN, EDUCATOR
DJ Thermos focuses on the transformative power of music technology, whether it's cultivating the talent of young artists, or cultivating sounds for the headphones and dancefloor. As Production Assistant at Tuff Sound Recording in Wilkinsburg, Thermos has produced tracks for leading Pittsburgh rap artists including Kai Roberts, Shad Ali, Billy Pilgrim and Greazy Duzit. DJ Thermos designed and co-directs the Tuff Sound Apprenticeship Program, an audio engineering intensive for talented teens. On weekends, you can catch him performing as a resident DJ for Belvedere’s 90s Nite in Lawrenceville.

FUNCTIONAL LIFE DESIGNS
Jesse Best is a contemporary American painter living in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. His style reflects a material driven process with a focus on acrylic, spray paint, wood and resin. His blend of painterly brush work, combined with a graphic sensibility, has granted him a unique style and voice in the art world. His work has been exhibited and collected throughout the U.S and overseas. He is currently represented by Paul Calendrillo NYC and is opening his own gallery, aptly titled Jesse Best Gallery in Homestead PA.
 

MUSIC DUO
Tracksploitation is a duo made up of Professor XX and Jct45. They specialize in live mashes and mixes using all kinds of space aged equipment but keep it old school with classic turntablism.

INTERSECTIONOLOGY
Kendra Ross is an award-winning musical artist and cultural worker who uses words, sounds, and her body to tell stories that explore notions of liberation and movement. In 2007, she celebrated the release of her debut album, New Voice, for which she was voted New Artist of the Year by the readers of Soultracks.com. In addition to her solo work, Kendra has worked on the Kanye West-produced hit “Get By” from Talib Kweli’s, Quality (2002), Quincy Jones’ Q: Soul Bossa Nostra (2010), and  on “Which Side Are You On” (2015) by Kweli and hip-hop producer and scholar, 9th Wonder for their collaboration entitled, INDIE 500.

2017 ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lori Hepner is an interdisciplinary artist working primarily in conceptually based photography and photographic installations. She is a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design, completing an MFA in Digital Media in 2005 and receiving her BFA in Fine Art Photography from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2003. Lori’s work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally including Duke University, Houston Center for Photography, SRO Photo Gallery, and the Carnegie Museum of Art. Lori currently lives and works in Pittsburgh, PA. 
 

FILMMAKER
Willy James is a filmmaker who focuses the lens on Pittsburgh with his video series "Ask Pittsburgh", which touches on popular and locally relevant topics by asking people around the city what their opinion is on the subject. The aim of "Ask Pittsburgh" is to encourage an open dialogue on the topics, ranging from bike lanes to pop culture. One topic per episode.

2017 ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ashley's love affair with all things organic and wild blossomed as the result of studying landscapes with accomplished master painters in London while earning her master's degree at the Sotheby’s Institute of Art, immersing herself in vast collections of floral textile prints in European museums, painting from live observation at institutions including the National Aviary, collaborating with top-notch floral designers, and serving as an artist-in-residence at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Learn more at www.ashleycecil.com.

MUSICIAN
Moved to the US from Jamaica in 2011, and recent Graduate of SFU with a Bachelors in Biology. Attended Wilkinsburg sr/jr high school for 1 year as a senior. Full time student, part-time member and CEO BSE (Big Stacks Entertainment).

FILMMAKER, #CAKE
Jose has produced and directed installation art projects including: “Navarro” 2001, a long form documentary, “An Independent Portrait” 2006, a short form documentary, “Sampsonia Way: City of Asylum” 2009, and a short fiction films like “December” 2014 and “#cake” 2016. All of these films have been present in international film festivals.

LIVE ILLUSTRATIONS
Angela Love is lead faculty in the Media Arts & Animation department at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.. Mentored by the iconic Pittsburgh illustrator, John A Johns; Love is a long time caricaturist with a client list from A to Z (Alcoa to the Pittsburgh Zoo). 

INTERACTIVE DRUMMING
Toni is the director of Roots To Rhythm™, providing rhythm-based development programs for 20 years. She creates interactive rhythm events that integrate the mind, body, and spirit using the improvisational music making process. Toni is a Trained HealthRhythms™ Facilitator, Remo Endorsed Drum Circle Facilitator, and has presented at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention.

PERFORMING ARTIST
Victoria Kerestes, a seasoned educator and performer of flow and fire arts, will be providing walking entertainment for the CREATE Festival party. She will provide background ambiance with a levitating light wand, LED poi and a video-capable dragon staff throughout the gala. Her performance will blend illusion and juggling techniques that provide visual enjoyment for all attendees.

LUXE RESIDENT DJ
In Washington DC, Andres garnered city-wide recognition as a true deep house DJ specializing in the intoxicating rhythms of producers like Osunlade, Masters at Work, and DJ Yellow. Relocating to Pittsburgh in 2011, Samuel Andres is continuing his goal of crafting intelligent sets designed to evoke emotion. He is the resident DJ for LUXE Creative where he has partnered with its Creative Director Martin Potoczny to execute events of the highest caliber in Pittsburgh. Samuel’s musical travels have indeed taken him far—and are destined to take him farther still as his unique deep house sound transforms the music landscape of his new hometown.

DANA MOVEMENT ENSEMBLE
"Folkdances of a nucleic village" is a collaborative effort of the DANA Movement Ensemble creative team led by Founder/artistic director Nick M.Daniels. This multi-media/multi-disciplinary dance theater performance art piece takes us on a journey into a post nucleic city and confronts the socio political-economic climate of that time. By combining site specific imagery, live streaming video, dance,and theater this emotionally charged work truly confronts relevant and current events and issues and lends itself for discussion of these issues. See it on the Innovation Salon Feature Screen.

MUSEUM OF RAIN
“Museum of Rain” is a sound art and spoken word production that originates in an entirely ordinary experience: driving into a patch of fog on I279. Entrance into the cloud becomes a passage into blindness and the suspended precipitation alludes to the Cloud that archives  the cascade of what we think and do in our information society: a Museum of Rain. “Museum of Rain” combines looped analog and digital sounds with a narrative vocal, crowd-sourced voices, and video projection to tell its story. It appears on the recoding Crypto-aristocracy, released in May 2017, available on Bandcamp.