About SIM

The Studio for Interrelated Media (SIM) undergraduate major is intended for student artists interested in a curriculum that supports idea-centered, interdisciplinary, and non-media specific artistic practice, along-side collaboration and self-governance.  SIM majors work with sound, light, motion, digital and experimental media, live performance, public practice, interactive installations, event production, print and spoken word, and/or a combination thereof.  The SIM program, the first of its kind in the country, was founded in 1969 influenced by the history of the educational experiments of A.S. Neill’s progressive Summerhill School (1921-present), the Black Mountain College (1933 – 1957), the Experiments in Art and Technology (E.A.T.) project (1967), as well as developments in the art world in the early 60’s that advocated the dematerialization of the art object and launched Performance Art as a genre.  Many of these foundational principles still infuse the current manifestation of the program today. SIM has remained at the cutting edge of artistic experimentation for over 50 years.

The Studio for Interrelated Media is a program where the choice of media used by student artists to realize their work is not assumed a priori. Some students start with a concept and then explore and research the appropriate medium to express it within a contemporary context. Others question the formal properties of different media and the ways that meaning is communicated and embodied by them to discover the ideas and concepts that emerge from that process. Hybrid learning practices are supported as individuals question form and discover their goals as artists. This discovery occurs while students are engaged in a participatory educational experiment where they have the opportunity to shape their learning experience as well as their community. They do this by holding town meetings and using social media to make decisions about the program, including: the content being presented; course offerings; scheduling of events; how budget money is spent; and how to critique student work. The SIM curriculum balances an individualized path of development alongside the experience of being a civic artist.

  • SIM Majors learn to be collaborative, entrepreneurial and self-directed.
  • SIM Majors have access to cutting edge audio, visual and computing technology
  • SIM Majors have access to the Pozen Center for Interrelated Media, a large multi-use venue with a lighting grid and HD projection system.
  • SIM Majors chart their own educational pathway based on their interests and artistic vision.
  • SIM Majors collaborate with artists across disciplines, concepts, and skill level.
  • SIM Majors  have access to curatorial experience through our own student-run gallery and performance arts festival that is re-invented every year.

SIM art overlaps and intersects with many other disciplines in order to encourage students to invent and develop experimental art forms, new directions, and unusual contexts. Each semester SIM provides a selection of courses in many media, such as: web art and digital distribution; video editing and production; interactive media and computer-controlled installations; dance techniques, choreography and improvisation; performance art and spoken word; the interrelationship between art and science; theater production and stage lighting; sound performance, composition, recording, and editing; event planning and production.

The Studio for Interrelated Media required Major Studio course (MPSM276, 376 and 476) is student powered. Students decide how to program, produce, critique, organize and self-govern each class meeting under faculty advisement. This course gives students the chance to work alongside their colleagues at every level (sophomores, juniors and seniors) every semester for all three years in the program. It gives students a rare and unique opportunity to experiment, to fail, to succeed – students own the process of the educational journey and leverage this experience once they graduate.   They are exposed to the “real world” while they are still in school while they are learning their craft, developing their ideas, and solidifying their desire.

The SIM program manages a digital sound studio, a digital production suite, a 350-seat flexible performance space, and a store-house of analog and digital equipment ranging from a theremin and a mirror ball to contemporary digital production tools. SIM students also have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience curating, designing, and producing by annually re-inventing the Eventworks experimental arts festival and managing SIM’s Godine Family Gallery.

Students that graduate from SIM are uniquely prepared for lives as self-motivated artists as well as professionals in many commercial and non-profit fields. SIM grads have started their own galleries, TV shows, and businesses; worked as non-linear film and sound editors in Hollywood, New York and Boston (WGBH, ZOOM); as stage crew for theaters in New York City; as web developers for award-winning studios; as educators at Harvard, Stanford, Mills, Carnegie Mellon, and the New England Aquarium; and as practicing, exhibiting, and/or performing artists around the world. Check out this page to learn more about our Alumni.

SIM Links

Eventworks

Eventworks began in 1977 as a multimedia international festival of film, music, and performance art conceived and produced by the SIM program. It was founded to provide venues for new experimental art and to create a link between the college environment and the professional art world. In the thirty-four years since its inception, Eventworks has evolved into a student-run production organization. Eventworks has presented over three hundred artists working in music, installation, film, video, performance, dance, sound and more.

The annual Eventworks festival is a completely student-run nonprofit organization for the arts. Typically students produce this month-long, city-wide festival in which they curate the work of emerging and established artists and scholars while also running all aspects of the production: curating, technical operations, publicity and fundraising. However, as the hands of Eventworks changes each year the goals and vision of the group change so the festival can be anything from one year long to one day long.

Each year, Eventworks producers are self-selected and elected (if need be) among the students in the SIM program. The MassArt Student Government Association, the Studio for Interrelated Media program, and fundraising efforts throughout the year, provides funding for the Eventworks festival, and other events.

Eventworks Producers
  • 1977: Joel Rubin, Michelle Snyder
  • 1978: Joanne Guertin
  • 1979: Michael Swisher, Susi Walsh, Todd McConchie
  • 1980: Christian Marclay, Dan Kohnfelder
  • 1981: Ingrid Sell
  • 1982: James Williams
  • 1983: San Shoppell, Laura Hanafin
  • 1984: San Shoppell, Keith Kurman, Chris Shine
  • 1985: Max Azanow
  • 1986: Eventworks 10 Laurie McKenna, J. Barr, Sue Cousineau
  • 1987: Nita Sturiale, Tony Maciag
  • 1988: Kate Redmond
  • 1989: Keith Godbout, Fido Rodenbeck, Lolly Lincoln
  • 1990: Fido Rodenbeck
  • 1991: Mark Morey, Maya Hayuk, Jon Lukenoff
  • 1992: Margo Gibson
  • 1993: Jim McKay
  • 1994: Bob O’Connell, Joshua Gigantino
  • 1995: Nicole McDonald, Jason Arnone
  • 1996: Bobby Abate, Meredith Davis,  Sue Grillo, Corrina Quist
  • 1997: Lynne Stabile, Mia Castor, Jenny Ciafone
  • 1998: Sharon Benedict, Vassili Sotos, Clay S. Fernald
  • 1999: Marty Allen, Stefan Raither
  • 2000: Maile Colbert, Roy Simmonds
  • 2001: Jason Talbot, Brian Sniokaitis
  • 2002: Ben Sisto, Janelle Vasseur
  • 2003: Caroline Bloomberg, Matt Mazzone
  • 2004: Sean Ryle, Sarah Ibrahim, Peter Berdovsky
  • 2005: Jamie O’Brien, Meghan Tomeo, Matt Howell
  • 2006: Kristen Palumbo, Emily Geanacopoulos, Casey Moran, Andrew DeVecchio
  • 2007: Andrew DeVecchio, Dan DeLuca, Sean O’Brien, George Scharoun, Jake Turcotte
  • 2008: Jeremy Cousins, Tom Fahey, Mark Persons, Andrea Zampitella, Daniel Kenney
  • 2009: Sandra Aronson, Ben Brown, Paige Peterson – catalog link
  • 2010: Kara Stowkowski, Ian Deleon – catalog link
  • 2011: Brendan Antonelli, Scott Hadley, Dyllan Nguyen, Aly Stosz – catalog link
  • 2012: Monica Chiang, Johnny Chanthavong, Alex Kennedy, Brooke Scibelli – catalog link, website link,
  • 2013: Anthony Blomley-Cassetta, Noah Roscoe, Nell Robinson, Merri Sibley – catalog link
  • 2014: Kelsey Trottier, Molly Rennie, Megan Dauphinais
  • 2015: Polina Protsenko, Caitlyn Pozerski, Luke Dillon
  • 2016: Dan Callahan, Jessie Hanson (FA15), Elizabeth St. Germain, Iman Louis-Jeune (SP16)
  • 2017: Sammi Hansen, Micheala Bocchino
  • 2018: Kelli Davies, Ryann Feldman
  • 2019: Stephanie Aguayo, Kailey Coppens, Ali Beaudette (FA18) – catalog link
  • 2020: Randy Aguilar, Molly Breen, Schmo Edwards, Maggie Favazza (SP20), Amber Hayes
  • 2021: Ace Epstein, Julia Ferron (FA20), Sen Luc Miglin, Alyssa Moore (FA20), Eddie O’Donoghue (FA20), Kay Ehwa (SP21)
  • 2022: Re Delaney, Ethan Roy, Max Ryan (SP22)
  • 2023: Kay Ehwa, Owen Greenfield, Emmy Kelley, Genesis Lara, Onyx Raia, Megan Ross,  Kyra Stupik
  • 2024: Yssa Boma, Rosa Doherty, Amelie Fisher, Milena Mousli, Anadia Osorio, Robin Sielicki, Faerie Seddon, Andrew Vincent, Hannah Zahr
Godine Family Gallery

The Godine Family Gallery serves as an educational tool for students in the Studio for Interrelated Media (SIM) who are interested in curatorial work and event production – much like Eventworks.  Since its inception, the Godine Gallery has been entirely student-run. Because of the direct involvement of students, the space reflects the conversations present within the institution as well as the larger creative world.  Additionally, the Godine Family Gallery has exhibited works of MassArt visiting artists, including interdisciplinary artist Marguerite Kahrl (www.kahrl.com) and sculptors and installation artists, the de la Torre Brothers (www.delatorrebros.com).

The Godine Family Gallery is one of several student-run galleries on the Massart campus.  As a professional gallery set in an educational institution, the Godine Family Gallery is a means by which students can fully realize the potential of their artistic practice.  The gallery is set apart by its focus: beyond merely acting as a means of showing work, the gallery serves as a nexus point where students, faculty, practicing artists, and other members of the community can take part in an intellectual, cultural and creative exchange.  Because of its liberal approach to the institutional definition of the gallery’s role, the space is structurally organic, moving from exhibition to event, 2d and 3d work to performance.  The Godine Family Gallery is an ever-changing and dynamic setting, growing and developing with each year of student involvement.

Godine Family Gallery Curators and Managers
  • 2005: Lina Marie Giraldo
  • 2006: Sean O’Brien
  • 2007: Nika Nunley, Melanie Bernier, Patrick Mulligan
  • 2008: Megan Sutherland, Adam Giangregorio
  • 2009: Ali Reid, Evan Smith, Laurel O’Connell – catalog link
  • 2010: Samuel D. Toabe, Matthew Serpico – catalog link
  • 2011: Heather Armstrong, Kimberly O’Toole – catalog link
  • 2012: Stephanie Street Dvareckas – catalog link
  • 2013: Nicollette Bovat, Tyler Murphy – Take Care Magazine link
  • 2014: Marissa Bedard, Esther Moon, Adrian Scott – catalog link
  • 2015: Jenny Proscia, Jamieson Edson – catalog link
  • 2016: Emma Lanctôt, Renee Silva – catalog link
  • 2017:  Ena Kantardzic (FA), Ian Solaski (FA), Julian Cintron, Shannon Gallagher, May Singleton-Kahn,
  • 2018:  Marisa Cote, Felix Kauffman, Andrew Grimanis – catalog link
  • 2019:  Sunny Chen, Jilliane Mortimer (FA), Journey Temple (SP), Ash Wasilewski
  • 2020:  Gina Lindner, Keagan Marcella, Gabby Schaab
  • 2021:  Erica Gaeta, Sam Viscosi
  • 2022: Isaiah Crespo-Doherty, A’knesha Davis-Darkwah,  Adine Raboy
  • 2023: Emily Canales, Hannah Richo
  • 2024: Sophia Kasparian, Veronica Labanca, Hannah Zahr

Godine Family Gallery Managers and Eventworks Producers receive academic credit by registering in the Event Planning and Production course.

Harris Barron Scholarship

This student scholarship of Massachusetts College of Art and Design Foundation, Inc. is awarded through a generous gift from Ros and Harris Barron, in addition to donations from friends and family.  This scholarship is established in the name of Emeritus Professor Harris Barron—who taught at Massachusetts College of Art for 23 years, was the founder of the Studio for Interrelated Media Department (SIM) in 1970, and was the first chair of the ensuing Media Department (MPA).

The Harris Barron Scholarship is awarded each year to a junior student, continuing through the senior year, in the Studio for Interrelated Media Department (SIM), selected by that department’s faculty, based on exceptional and/or innovative artistic merit with consideration for financial need.

SIM Majors that have completed 3 semesters of SIM Major Studio are invited to submit the following by April 1 to the SIM department chair: Cover letter, Artist Statement, Senior Year Plan, Portfolio.

Harris Barron Scholarship Recipients
  • 2010: Ian Deleon
  • 2011: Dyllan Nguyen
  • 2012: Alex Kennedy
  • 2013: Nicollette Bovat
  • 2014: Annalisa Quagliata
  • 2015: Polina Protsenko
  • 2016: Dan Callahan
  • 2017: Montana Gulbrand
  • 2018: Ryann Feldman
  • 2019: Keagan Marcella
  • 2020: Ja’Hari Ortega
  • 2022: Re Delaney
  • 2023: Owen Greenfield
Micah Danemayer Scholarship

Micah Danemayer, a 2011 graduate of Studio For Interrelated Media program, passed away in the Oakland, CA, Ghost Ship warehouse fire on December 2, 2016. Micah was a music industry entrepreneur who worked as a producer, curator, and organizer for an ongoing experimental music series called ‘Trance Mutations,’ under the company name of Obscura Machina. He was working as a deejay at the Oakland event that evening. To honor their son’s memory, the Danemayer family has established a scholarship fund to benefit a Studio For Interrelated Media major demonstrating financial need chosen by the faculty in collaboration with the MassArt Scholarship committee.

Micah Danemayer Scholarship Recipients
  • 2017: Michaela Bocchino
  • 2018: Kelli Fox
  • 2019: Nadia Orcel
  • 2020: Jeremiah Bermel
  • 2021: Indë Francis
  • 2022: Kyra Stupik
  • 2023: Genesis Lara
SIM Faculty and Staff, 1970 – Present 
  • Harris Barron*, Professor Emeritus (1969–1988, Harris passed away in 2017)
    www.harrisandrosbarron.com
  • Joe Upham, Studio Manager (1970–1974)
  • Donald Burgy*, Professor Emeritus (1974–2001)
    www.donaldburgy.com
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Burgy
  • Richard Collier, Studio Manager (1974–1978)
  • Dawn Kramer, Professor Emeritus (1976–2014)
    dawnkramer.info
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawn_Kramer
  • Bruce Robert Bowen, Studio Manager (1978–2010)
  • John Holland*, Professor Emeritus (1980–2009) johnhollandcomposer.wordpress.com
  • Lowry Burgess*, Professor (1981–1989, Lowry passed away in 2020)
    www.lowryburgessfoundation.org
    http://www.art.cmu.edu/news/faculty/lowry-burgess-1940-2020/
  • Dana Moser*, Professor (1986 – present)
    https://curiousart.org
  • Fred Wolflink, Electronic Projects Guru (1986 – present)
  • Ellen Rothenberg, Visiting Lecturer (1989 – 1993)
  • Leila Daw*, Professor (1990–2000)
    www.leiladaw.com
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leila_Daw
  • Jacqueline Casselly, Department Assistant (1996 – 2020)
  • Nita Sturiale*, Professor (2000 – present)
  • Antony Flackett, AV Manager and Adjunct Faculty (?? – present)
  • Denise Marika, MFA Program Coordinator (2005–2014, Denise passed away in 2018)
    https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/bostonglobe/name/denise-marika-obituary?id=1738137
  • Eric Freeman, Studio Manager and Adjunct Faculty (2006 – present)
  • Kianga Ford, Associate Professor (2006–2009)
  • Elaine Buckholtz*, Professor (2010 – present)
  • Heidi Kayser, Adjunct Faculty (2010)
  • Max Azanow, Studio Manager and Adjunct Faculty (2011 – present)
  • Sandrine Schaefer, Adjunct Faculty (2013-2021)
  • Ben Bigelow, Assistant Professor (2014-2015)
  • Jimena Bermejo, Adjunct Faculty (2015 – 2018)
  • Dana Colley, Adjunct Faculty (2015)
  • Juan Obando*, Professor (2015-2022)
    juanobando.com
  • Tomashi Jackson, Assistant Professor (2017-2018)
  • Darren Cole, Assistant Professor (2018 – 2019) 
  • Elizabeth Mezzacappa, Department Assistant (2020 – present)
  • Crystal Bi, Assistant Professor (2022 – 2023)
  • Corey Smithsom, Adjunct Faculty (date unknown)
  • Stefan Moore, Adjunct Faculty (date unknown)
  • There are more – working on our records…help us remember – if you have taught or worked in the SIM department send a reminder to nsturiale@massart.edu.
SIM SITE

SIM has been an early adopter of Internet technologies and the program has embraced and integrated them into the SIM Department curriculum since before the existence of the Web, going back to the 80’s. The first MassArt web server was created as an initiative of Dana Moser and the SIM Department in the mid-1990s with student participation in the design process.  In February 2003, students, Matt Karl and August “Kai” Kaiser, along with Professor Dana Moser, launched the first version of http://sim.massart.edu, a community contact portal and face book. It is also used to record student presentations and production schedules and share syllabi, calendars, research guides, studio management information, discussion boards, and portfolios. For historical perspective, Facebook was launched February 2004. The site was built with an open source software stack (Linux/Apache/MySql/PHP) on commodity hardware and had a DNS entry created for it. Over the years, Matt Karl has continually re-written the interface for the SIM website, adapting to the specific needs of our department’s faculty and students. At this point we have a custom-built Content Management System (CMS) that others have used as a reference.  Our department emphasizes and promotes student participation, and we used the server to help in the instruction of students who were interested in network interactions and system administration. You can see a history of the development of the SIM site on the Wayback machine – (https://web.archive.org/web/*/sim.massart.edu).

Friends And Supporters
  • Ros Barron
  • Elissa and Bill Warner Scholarship Fund
  • David Rockefeller Foundation
  • Abigail Noble & Matt Karl
  • Genna Lyons Schlafman & Dave Schlafman
  • Netflix
  • Murray Dewart
  • San Shoppell
  • Mary Briggs & John Holland 
  • Gloria Wallace
  • Michael Mittleman
  • Boston CyberArts
  • Charles Hayden Planetarium at the Boston Museum of Science
  • Mobius Artists Group
  • Transcultural Exchange
  • Elizebeth Stewart Gardner Museum
  • Green Street Studios
  • Masary Studios
  • ICA