A wide shot of a ceramics studio, featuring students working with pottery wheels and other tools.
A photo of SAIC faculty member Dan Miller

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Dan Miller

Assistant Professor

Contact

Professional Site

Bio

BFA, 1994, Hope College, Holland, MI; MFA, 1997, The School of The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Exhibitions: ISEA 2024, Brisbane, Queensland University of Technology, Australia; Simulating Nature, Cohen Gallery, Brown University, RI; ISEA 2016 Hong Kong; Ebb and Flow, Evanston Art Center, Evanston. Bibliography: Issues in Science and Technology Spring 2018; Information Arts, Intersections of Art, Science, and Technology; Leonardo; ASEF Culture 360. Public Art Commissions: Ottumwa - Past and Present, Main St., Ottumwa, IA; Luminous Trails, city hall plaza, Webster City, IA; Exploring Iowa’s Renewable Energy, Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, Iowa City, IA. Awards: 2021 Art and Humanities Initiative Award, The University of Iowa; Stanley International Travel Award, University of Iowa; Old Gold Summer Fellowship, University of Iowa; C.A.A.P Grant, City of Chicago.
 

Personal Statement

My recent artworks investigate the parallels and incongruities between the human experience and the world we inhabit. Underlying themes explored include: climate change, human impact, the body, industrial processes, animal communication and the relationship of technology to the natural world. I am interested in the harmonies and dichotomies between the organic and the machine. Through mimicking natural systems my artworks embrace the unpredictable, evolutionary and emergent properties of nature. Time is an essential component in my work. Through the use of code I am able to sequence and control timing of events. The use of robotics allows my artworks to act as surrogate performers that create durational compositions.

Awards

Art and Humanities Initiative Award (2021), The Office of the Vice President For Research and Economic Development, University of Iowa; Stanley International Travel Award (2024), International Programs, University of Iowa; Public Digital Arts Cluster Grant, Public Digital Arts Cluster, University of Iowa; Stanley International Travel Award (2019), International Programs, University of Iowa; Art and Humanities Initiative Award (2017), The Office of the Vice President For Research and Economic Development, University of Iowa; Stanley International Travel Award (2017), International Programs, University of Iowa; Stanley International Travel Award (2016), International Programs, University of Iowa; Old Gold Summer Fellowship, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Iowa; C.A.A.P Grant, City of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.

Exhibitions

International Exhibitions:
ISEA 2024 Brisbane; ISEA 2017 Manizales Colombia; ISEA 2016 Hong Kong; iDEAS exhibition at International Digital Media Arts Association Conference (2017 and 2016); ISEA 2012 Albuquerque, ISEA 1997 Chicago; International Festival of Electronic Art 404, Basel, Switzerland and Trieste, Italy; Tweak, Interactive Art & Live Electronic Music Festival, Limerick, Ireland.

National exhibitions:
Simulating Nature, solo exhibition, Cohen Gallery, Brown University, RI; Place, Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, OH; Synthetic Zero, Bronx Art Space, NYC; Body and Machine 2016, Minneapolis, MN; SpotLight, Elmhurst Art Museum, IL; Faculty Biennial, Figge Museum, Davenport, IA; Objective/Subjective: Mapping, NIU Art Museum, DeKalb, IL; Conflux, Pearl Conard Gallery, Ohio State University at Mansfield, OH; Altered Landscapes, solo, Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, IL; The Rockford Midwestern Exhibition, Rockford Art Museum, Rockford IL; Minneapolis, MN; in::formation, Betty Rymer Gallery, Chicago, IL; Interchange, solo, Gallery One, Elgin Community College, Elgin IL.

Work

Daniel Miller, Mutual Light, 2023. High density polyethylene (HDPE) from recycled milk jugs, stainless steel, wire, LEDs, Arduino Pro-Mini, long range temperature sensors, distance sensor, custom electronics, power supply.

Daniel Miller, Floodwaters, 2018. Media: Aluminum, steel, water, sand, gravel, tubing, HDPE plastic, polycarbonate, microcontrollers, electronics, wire, vinyl, stepper motors, servo motors, pump.

Daniel Miller, Ouroboros, 2016. Media: Arduino microcontrollers, heating elements, DC motors, linear actuators, digital temperature controllers, wiring, IR sensors, shop vacuum, power supplies and various other electronics. plasma cut steel, machined aluminum, blow formed polycarbonate, electrical wire, HDPE plastic (both extruded and cast), rubber and hardened steel blades.

Courses

Title Department Catalog Term

Description

Consider how object based movement creates both meaning and tone, and how movement functions much like non-verbal communication. We'll attempt to approach the technical matters of controlling motion from the aesthetic perspective of an animator or a dancer. The course introduces basic techniques for creating moving parts appropriate for a broad range of creative and material practices. Technical matters covered through exercises include motors, speed control, fabrication of moving parts and simple circuits for motor control. Self-determined projects will demonstrate mastery of skills and concepts.

Class Number

1224

Credits

3

Description

Consider how object based movement creates both meaning and tone, and how movement functions much like non-verbal communication. We'll attempt to approach the technical matters of controlling motion from the aesthetic perspective of an animator or a dancer. The course introduces basic techniques for creating moving parts appropriate for a broad range of creative and material practices. Technical matters covered through exercises include motors, speed control, fabrication of moving parts and simple circuits for motor control. Self-determined projects will demonstrate mastery of skills and concepts.

Class Number

1109

Credits

3

Description

This team-taught, introductory course provides a foundation for most additional coursework in the Art and Technology Studies department. Students are given a broad interdisciplinary grounding in the skills, concepts, and hands-on experiences they will need to engage the potentials of new technologies in art making. Every other week, a lecture and discussion group exposes students to concepts of electronic media, perception, inter-media composition, emerging venues, and other issues important to artists working with technologically based media. Students will attend a morning & afternoon section each day to gain hands-on experience with a variety of forms and techniques central to technologically-based art making.

Class Number

1107

Credits

3

Description

This kinetics course will explore the activation of art projects with materials that flow, inflate, pump, pour and move in unique ways. Demonstrations will introduce: basic electronics, pneumatics, air-muscles, inflatables, pumps, motors, actuators and the necessary means to power these devices. This course will explore materials and their unique properties when activated by these processes. Students will learn various techniques to animate and control art projects, including the use of the Arduino micro-controller and sensors.
Throughout the course, screenings and readings will introduce students to artists who work with kinetics, robotics and related fields. Artists shown and discussed in class include: Theo Jansen, Rapheal Lozano-Hemmer, Chico Mac Murtrie, Rebecca Horn. Students will be introduced to organizations, galleries and networks that support this type of art work including ARS Electronica, Rhizome and Bitforms gallery.
A series of workshops and smaller assignments will expose students to the potentials of these devices and processes in art making. Next, students will develop projects that utilize one or more of the systems covered in class. Students will be guided in project proposal development where ideas will be explored in group discussions. Mechanical and electronic fabrication techniques will be further explored through project development. Completed projects will be evaluated in group critiques.

Class Number

2390

Credits

3

Description

Teaches the design, construction and programming of robotic projects, both artworks and designed objects, such as interactive furniture, objects, and habitable spaces. Topics to be covered include sensors, embedded micro-controllers, and motor control, lighting, etc. Student projects ranging from embedded interactive devices to autonomous spatial object-scaled, will be designed and built with a critical approach to normal market forces and human factors. Discussions investigate a range of robotic endeavors, examining connections with related fields such as interaction design, artificial intelligence, kinetic sculpture, etc., and critically examine works embodying these strategies.

Class Number

1231

Credits

3