TOMAHAWK BANG

For Tomahawk Bang, music is “Himdag” or the “way of life.” As a native of Arizona’s Onk Akimel O’odham tribe; the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community, Tomahawk developed his relationship with music whilst participating in traditional ceremonies on his homeland. The deeply spiritual nature of his culture serves as one of the clearest influences and most pertinent characteristics of his music. In the world of Tomahawk Bang, the music was, is, and will always be an indigenous experience.

LE IDIOM

Founder of Boogie Noodle Records in South Phoenix, AZ. Idiom is know for his extreme crate digging and wax collection, as well as being prolific with flips and remixes of the deepest City Pop, Disco, and House cuts.

TREETALKING

Born and raised in the sun-kissed deserts of Phoenix, Arizona, Erik Rodriguez is an experimental beat maker, composer, and sound sculptor who embraces the spirit of experimentation.

MORETA

Voy por el mundo. Soundscapes that grew from the Arizona desert, with inspiration from travels wondering through New York, Japan and skipping through Brazil. Lots of growth occurred. Enjoy the movements and let your heart run free!

BOOKS.

Phoenix-based electronic producer, specializing in moody lo-fi hip-hop creations that blur the lines of genre and form.

SHOMIT BARUA

Shomit Barua is an intermedia artist specializing in ecoacoustics, responsive environments, and emergent narratives. His work is rooted in poetry and architecture, and reflects the shared tenets of contained space, economy of materials, and movement that is both physical and emotional. Combining everyday technologies with esoteric programming languages, he blurs the line between installation and performance, weaving together sound, object, and image. Digital and analog techniques are fused to investigate his core subject: the presence of the mind and body in a physical space.

Having collaborated with sculptors, dancers, musicians, architects, and visual artists, he believes that exploration of a motif is amplified - made "robust" and "thick" - through dialogue between disciplines. He holds an MFA in Poetry from Bennington College and teaches writing at Arizona State University while completing his doctoral research at ASU’s School of Arts, Media, and Engineering.

MOABYTE / KEVIN HACKETT

Digital Media Jockey, Moabyte, the AAA Posse and the Dodecagon Experience are audiovisuals projects created by Kevin Hackett. His mission is to explore and contribute artistically and technologically to the growing global digital remix culture.

Fascinated with music and electronic culture since the early 80's, in 1994 Kevin Hackett moved to Moab, Utah where he learned to digitally produce music and work with digital video. He began using the moniker Moabyte in 1996, a combination of his love of the beauty in Moab, Utah and the passion of using computers (byte) to explore artistic ideas. Kevin first became fascinated with video projections while touring with Depeche Mode and from early rave experiences in the early 90’s. After relocating to Arizona, he continued to work as a visual artist, graphic designer, VJ and DJ. From 2009 to now he has focused on installations that explore the relationships and ratios with the natural environment and people, pushing the boundries of tangible living art, AR and VR.

CHRIS IGNACIO

Chris Ignacio is a puppeteer, producer and educator, and holds an MFA in Theater/Interdisciplinary Digital Media from ASU. He recently debuted at the Metropolitan Opera as a puppeteer in Florencia En El Amazonas, directed by Mary Zimmerman. He has worked as a puppeteer in New York since 2012, mainly at La MaMa Experimental Theater in the East Village, and is now approaching puppetry through the lens of new and emerging media.

In addition to producing his own solo work, Chris produced the NYT Critic’s Pick TJ Loves Sally 4 Ever at JACK, and previously served as Associate Producer for the Off-Broadway run of KPOP.

In Phoenix, he has worked on Media Designs for Ballet Arizona, Arizona Broadway Theater, Arizona Opera and Childsplay. He is a recipient of an Arizona Commission on the Arts grant for an upcoming commission at Mesa Arts Center.

Chris also serves as Creative Producer for the Sanford Harmony Institute at ASU.

CASEY FARINA

Casey Farina is a Phoenix-based artist who creates audio/visual artwork from iterative-electronic processes. This work often combines Farina’s expertise in animation, sound design, visual effects, digital fabrication, and improvisation. Farina’s animated-graphic scores have been described as “imaginative,” and are frequently presented domestically and internationally. Farina is a winner of the 2017 Contemporary Forum Grant. Farina was commissioned by the City of Phoenix to create an interactive audio/visual installation for the 2017 Intersection event at Art Detour, one of Phoenix’s premiere art events. Farina was selected for the second round of the 2013 and 2017 Creative Capital Grant in addition to receiving public art commissions from Tempe, Glendale, and Scottsdale, AZ. Farina was awarded a residency at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in 2011. Farina is an active artistic collaborator and his work with choreographer Mary Fitzgerald has been presented at the International Computer Music Conference, the Breaking Ground Dance festival, the sub(Urban) Projections festival, and the Frame + Film dance film festival. Casey is a residential faculty member in the Digital Media Arts program at Glendale Community College.

KENAIM AL-SHATTI

Kenaim Al-Shatti is a visionary creator celebrated for his groundbreaking exploration of digital animation. Drawing inspiration from film making, visual communication, music, and experimentation, Kenaim has carved out a distinctive niche in the realm of contemporary art.

With an interest in pushing the boundaries of artistic expression, Kenaim’s artwork spans a multitude of media, including video, gifs, 2D & 3D animation, illustration, print, sculpture, and installation. The motion fantasy style that permeates his work reflects a deep connection to film and fine art.

Embarking on a creative odyssey that seamlessly weaves together animation, sculpting, direction, and scale, Kenaim crafts experiences that captivate audiences. This dedication to innovation has led to notable collaborations with prominent figures in the music industry, including Bad Bunny, Alicia Keys, Drake, Polima Westcoast, Halsey, Young Thug, Kid Cudi, Mora, Shawn Mendes, and more. Beyond the music realm, Kenaim’s impact extends to renowned fashion brands such as Lululemon, as well as institutions like the Canadian Olympic Committee.

The global recognition of Kenaim’s work is underscored by exhibitions in esteemed venues worldwide, including the O2 Arena in London, the Ziggo Dome in Holland, the Sportpalais in Antwerp, the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy in Paris, Space Debris in Istanbul, and the Coliseo de Puerto Rico among others.

Exhibitions further showcase Kenaim’s ability to transform spaces into immersive realms that blur the lines between technology and emotion. Notably, his large scale work is playing non stop through 2024 at Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, solidifying his status as a trailblazing force in contemporary art.

AI Film 3

AI Film 3 is dedicated to exploring the limitless potential of AI in filmmaking. The AI Film 3 Film Festival is a pioneering event in Arizona, celebrating the intersection of artificial intelligence and cinematic art. Their mission is to highlight the transformative power of AI in filmmaking by presenting a diverse array of innovative films and artistic projects. Committed to fostering a deeper understanding of how technology shapes storytelling and drives creative expression in the film industry, they explore how we are pushing the boundaries of both art and technology and witness the evolution of cinema and artistic expression through the lens of AI.

MYCA

Mesa Youth Creative Agency, where top-tier creative solutions meet youthful energy. Located in Mesa, Arizona, our agency champions the talents of high school teens, equipping them with real-world skills to produce professional-grade work. From sophisticated digital designs to vibrant murals, our services bridge fresh perspectives with industry-level execution. Explore how our unique blend of talent and professionalism turns artistic visions into reality.

Partner + Community Organizations

I.D.E.A. Museum
AZMNH
Mesa Public Library
ASU School for the Future of Innovation in Society
Together Change Happens
Mesa Artspace Lofts

MAC Resident Companies
East Valley Children’s Theater (EVCT)
Ballet Etudes
Mesa Encore Theater
Sonoran Desert Chorale