Michael Mykola Haleta
Improv Graph: March 9, 2019: 5:37pm - 9:55pm; Unique Edition: 1/1 Colorway, Digital Print on Archival Museum Etching Paper; 40" x 40"
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Artist's StatementI am obsessed with patterning systems. I care equally for formal arrangements of color and shape as I do for matters of human behavior. In particular, the cyclical pathways of life within a landscape have long captured my attention. As individuals travel, by foot, by car, or by bus, they create circuitous loops–and almost always return to an origin point. My work is a process of layering these various looping systems of activity onto one another. Each piece starts with a grid-based system formed by a simple mathematical relationship. As layers are added over time, the resulting configurations mutate, and expose emergent structures. Variations in texture and detail arise giving a sense of unpredictability to the construction of these pieces. I operate each piece as a game or a simple algorithm. It informs me what to do next as I interact with its many layers. Once the many different layers begin to interconnect over time, the connection points between layers become corrupt or used and mark the end of the piece. Repeat.
About the artistMichael Mykola Haleta is an educator and multidisciplinary artist. His visual vernacular stems from a mix of cybernetics, pareidolia, apophenia, B-movie special effects, conceptual art, Ukrainian and Polish folk design (Vyshyvanka, Pysanky+), combinatorics (graph theory), B-movie VHS covers, microchip design and crystallography. Textile patterning, graphic design and Op-Art converge with his personal lexicon of techniques which can be seen in both his sound, performance and visual work. Michael’s work has been featured in Fab, SF Weekly, Shout NY, De:Bug, The WIRE, Final Cut Pro 4: The Art of Filmmaking, Tokion, BLOCK, XLR8R and Giant Robot among others.
In 2001, Michael received a BFA from Maryland Institute College of Art where he studied design with Ellen Lupton, J. Abbott Miller, Linda van Deursen, Armand Mevis, Whitney Sherman, Andy Cruz, Ken Barber, and Philippe Apeloig. In 2017, he received an MFA in Electronic Integrated Arts from The New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in Alfred, NY. Haleta is an assistant professor in the Digital Media and Animation department at Alfred State, the State University of New York College of Technology in Alfred, NY. He also curates and publishes experimental typography, patterning and artwork through the Open Pop/RSE (Raw Special Effects) Editions labels. Haleta’s audio compositions and projects have been performed and presented nationally and internationally at festivals, galleries, and institutes including: LCMF (London Contemporary Music Festival, London, UK; Back-Up Festival, Bauhaus University, Weimar, Germany; SXSW, Austin, Texas; Issue Project Room, NY; Föreningen Fylkingen, Stockholm, Sweden; Whitney Museum Graduate Program, NY; CMJ Music Festival, NY; Under Bron, Stockholm, Sweden; Roulette, NY; Blue Room, Washington, DC; Open Video Projects, Rome, Italy; Endtymes Festival of Noise, NY; Ottobar, Baltimore, MD; TONIC, NY; and Transmissions Festival, Chicago, IL among others. Recent sound projects include: KMML (pronounced, “KOOL”): An improvising electronic group consisting of Lexie Mountain, Matt Wellins and Kevin Winter; World Wide Wounds: Alfred-Ithaca-based Post-Rock-Noise. |