Chris/Kaia Olsen is a Chicago-based interdisciplinary artist, with a background in dance, sculpture and moving image. His work, which manifests as experimental performance, large scale kinetic sculpture, and high-profile film, television, and theatrical productions, has shown across the country at the Artemisia Gallery, ArtSquad Contemporary Gallery, Auditorium Theatre, Clinton Presidential Library, Gallery 400, Miami Short Film Fest, Music Box Theatre, Rhode Island International Film Fest, and many others. Kaia’s moving image/media work has received numerous accolades (including four Emmy nominations), and includes the VEGGIETALES® animated series, numerous PBS television programs (including THE ARTSIDERS®, and BENEATH THE WHITE CITY LIGHTS), and a monthly podcast called SHOUTBOX. In addition to his art practice, Kaia is also an educator, having begun his educational career as co-developer/instructor of the original computer animation program at Columbia College (Chicago), and presently teaching at both DePaul University, and the University of Illinois at Chicago. In his spare time, he enjoys long walks down dark alleys, and will always make time for a well made masala-style chai. Learn more here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1008759/
CV
SELECT EXHIBITIONS/SCREENINGS/PERFORMANCES
2022
FADE INTO ME: IDENTITY & ABSTRACTION
Group Show at Gallery 400 – Chicago) March 2022
COPULUM (Happening) – Sculptor/Choreographer
Featuring Eric Palovick, Chicago, IL March 2022
2021
LEFT BEHIND (Installation)
Sculptor/Activator (May 2021)
WHEN BREATH LEAVES THE BODY (Happening)- Sculptor/Activator
Featuring Myself, Juan Banos (March 2021)
INTWEEN (Performance/Film) – Director/Choreographer/Camera
Featuring Kristen Vasilakos, Chicago, IL February 2021
2020
ELLE (Performance/Film) – Director/Choreographer/Camera
Featuring Rachel Spies & Kristen Vasilakos, Chicago, IL August 2020
BUG (Performance Film) – Director/Choreographer/Camera
Performed by Kristen Vasilakos, Chicago, IL February 2020
2019
MATHS (FIGURE 1) – Director/Choreographer/Camera
Developed/performed in residence with Inaside Chicago Dance, Chicago, IL October 2019
KILL YOUR DARLINGS – Writer/Director/Choreographer
Developed/performed in residence with Big Muddy Dance Company, St. Louis MO October 2019
EVERYTHING’S GOING TO BE JUST FINE – Writer/Director/Choreographer
Developed/performed in residence with Big Muddy Dance Company, St. Louis MO October 2019
FOOTSTEPS THROUGH THE CHARNEL HOUSE – Director/Choreographer
Developed/performed in residence with Big Muddy Dance Company, St. Louis MO October 2019
MERDER/CIRCADIA – Director/Choreographer
Developed/performed in residence with Big Muddy Dance Company, St. Louis MO October 2019
ANTUMBRA (Performance Film) – Writer/Director/Choreographer/Camera
Featuring Fernando Rodriguez & Rachel Spies, Chicago, IL November 2018-Feb 2019
2015
RABBIT – Choreographer/Camera (2015)
2013
DAYLIGHT (Performance Film) – Director/Choreographer/Camera (2013)
2012
BOY.GIRL.DRUM (Performance Film) – Writer/Director/Composer/Choreographer
SELECT SCREENINGS: Little Rock Film Festival (May 2013)
2010
FANCY (Performance Film) – Writer/Director/Choreographer/Camera
SELECT SCREENINGS: Cinema Speakeasy – ‘Relationship Therapy for the Modern Human’, Los Angeles, CA (2011); Miami Short Film Fest (2010); Fort Lauderdale International Film Fest, FL (2010); Moondance Film Fest, Boulder CO (2010); Rhode Island International Film Fest (2010); Foursite Film Fest, Ogden UT (2010); Little Rock Film Fest, AR (2010)
2008
BUTTERFLY (Performance Film) – Writer/Director/Choreographer
SELECT SCREENINGS: Little Rock International Film Fest (2009); Bare Bones Film Fest, Muskogee, OK (2009); Lake Arrowhead Film Fest, CA (2009); Miami Short Film Fest (2008); Chicago International Film Fest (2008)
1996
PHOTOGRAPHS, DREAMS & OTHER STRANGE THINGS
Solo Show at Artemisia Gallery (Chicago)
1995
POLAROID CORPORATION (Cambridge, MA) – Collection
1994
CHICAGO FINE ARTS – GRAND OPENING
Group Show at Chicago Fine Arts Exchange
1993
KRANNERT ART MUSEUM (Urbana, IL) – Collection
1992
CONTEMPORARY TRENDS ’92/THE CURRENT AVANT-GARDE
Group Show at Artsquad Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
DREAMAGICIMAGEDREAM
Solo Show at McKinley Foundation Arts Gallery (Champaign, IL)
SELECT RESIDENCIES & COLLABORATIVE WORKS
INASIDE DANCE COMPANY (Chicago) – Artist in Residence (October 2019)
BIG MUDDY DANCE COMPANY (ST. Louis, MO) – Artist in Residence (October 2019)
GINGARTE CAPOEIRA – Artist in Residence (2015-2020)
DEEPLY ROOTED DANCE THEATRE – Guest Filmmaker (September 2017)
THODOS DANCE CHICAGO – Artist in Residence (2009-2019)
SELECT AWARDS & RECOGNITION
2014
NOMINATION – MIDWEST EMMY® – Outstanding Arts Special (A Light in the Dark)
2012
NOMINATION – MIDWEST EMMY® – Outstanding Cultural Documentary (Beneath the White City Lights)
2008
NOMINATION – CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL FILM FEST GOLD HUGO – Best Short Film (Butterfly)
NOMINATION – MIDWEST EMMY® – Outstanding Contemporary Documentary (The Artsiders®)
AWARD – MIDWEST EMMY® – Outstanding Informational Program/Segment (Walkaround)
1998
AWARD – GMA DOVE (GOSPEL MUSIC ASSOCIATION) – Best Long Form Music Video
SELECT TEACHING ENGAGEMENTS
2021- University of Illinois – Chicago (School of Art & Art History) – Instructor (Film & Animation)
2019- Depaul University (School of Cinematic Arts) – Adjunct Faculty (Film, Animation and Visual Effects)
1998 Columbia College of Chicago – CGI Animation Program – Co-Founder/Curriculum Developer
1995-98 Columbia College of Chicago (Animation) – Educational Consultant/Part-Time Faculty (CGI Animation)
1993 University of Illinois (College of Fine and Applied Arts) – Teaching Assistant (CGI Animation)
1993 University of Illinois (College of Fine and Applied Arts) – Teaching Assistant (Time Arts)
1992 University of Illinois (College of Fine and Applied Arts) – Teaching Assistant (Intro to Photography)
SELECT SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
2016-17
HINSDALE CENTRAL HS
Guest Artist/Featured Speaker- “Experiential Thinking”
2012
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS (UIUC SCHOOL OF FAA)
Keynote Speaker “A Cross Disciplinary Life”
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS (UIUC LEADERSHIP SERIES)
Keynote Speaker – “Through the Looking Glass”
2011
WILLIAM CLINTON CENTER
Presenter – “Karl Dahl Film Premiere – Audience Talk”
LITTLE ROCK FILM FEST
Festival Presenter/Panelist – “Art of the Short Film”
2010
LITTLE ROCK FILM FEST
Festival Presenter/Panelist – “Digital Filmmaking Techniques”
MIAMI SHORT FILM FEST
Festival Presenter/Panelist – “Art of the Short Film”
BORDERS BOOKS/RHODE ISLAND INT’L FILM FEST
Guest Speaker “Attack of the 50’ Green Screen”
2003
ITT TECHNICAL INSTITUTE
Guest Speaker “Preparing for a Career in Digital Effects”
VICON (SIGGRAPH CONVENTION)
Host “Virtual Camera Techniques – Red Truck Rally”
2002-03
ARTIMATION FILM FESTIVAL
Festival Panelist “Animation Production Roundtable”
2002
ILLINOIS INSTITUTES OF ART (Schaumburg)
Presenter/Host – “Virtual Cinematography Bootcamp”
2001
NORTHERN ILLINOIS MACROMEDIA FLASH USERS GROUP
Presenter/Host – “The Art of Cartoonium™”
ILLINOIS INSTITUTES OF ART
Keynote Speaker – “Graduation Commencement Keynote Speech”
ILLINOIS INSTITUTES OF ART (Schaumburg)
Presenter/Host – “The Art of Threads”
1999
COLUMBIA COLLEGE
Guest Artist/Featured Speaker – “Creative Animation Production Techniques”
CHICAGO SCREENWRITERS GUILD
Guest Speaker – “Writing for Animation and Live Action”
1998
TRITON COLLEGE
Guest Artist/Featured Speaker – “Preparing for a Career in Animation”
1997
CHICAGO WOMEN IN FILM
Panelist – “Chicago Animation and Production Round Table”
SELECT ADDITIONAL SCREENINGS
2016
Marquis Theatre, NYC (Sono’s Journey Film Teaser @ Career Transitions for Dancers Jubilee)
Harris Theatre for Music and dance, Chicago (Chicago Revealed)
2015
PBS Broadcast Television Premiere (A Light in the Dark)
North Shore Center for the Performing Arts (Salute to Sybil Shearer & Chicago Inspired)
Fergus Falls School of Dance, Fergus Falls, MN (Shine)
Dixie Carter Center for the Arts, Huntingdon, TN (Shine)
2014
Auditorium Theater, Chicago (The White City & Salute to Sybil Shearer)
Music Box Theatre, Chicago (Madzilla – Beneath the Scales)
Doudna Auditorium (The White City), Eastern Illinois University
Hettenhausen Theater, McKendree State University, Lebanon, IL (The White City)
Hammons Auditorium, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO (The White City)
Leach Theater, Missouri Science and Technical College, Rolla, MO (The White City)
2013
Menker Theater, Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, IL (The White City)
2012
Emens Auditorium, Ball State University, Muncie IN (The White City)
Gerald E Wilson Auditorium, Kodiak AK (Fosse Prelude)
Anchorage Performing Arts Center, Anchorage AK (Fosse Prelude)
Sitka Performing Arts Center, Anchorage, AK (Fosse Prelude)
Kayhi Auditorium, Ketchikan, AK (Fosse Prelude)
Juneau Douglas High School, Juneau, AK (Fosse Prelude)
Chilkat Center for the Arts, Haines, AK (Fosse Prelude)
Skagway City School, Skagway, AK (Fosse Prelude)
Harris Theatre for Music and dance, Chicago (The White City)
John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI (The White City)
Schein Performance Hall, Sanibel, FL (Fosse Prelude)
2011
Young Auditorium, UW, Whitewater, WI (Fosse Prelude)
McAnich Arts Center, College of DuPage (The White City)
Harris Theater for Music and Dance, Chicago (The White City)
2010
Big Bear Lake Film Fest – Big Bear Lake, CA (Fosse Prelude)
Reno Film Festival, NV (Ursula the Ubergirl)
Duke Performance Hall – Davidson, NC (Fosse Prelude)
Kuss Auditorium, Clark State University – Springfield, OH (Fosse Prelude)
Allaert Auditorium, St. Ambrose University – Davenport, IA (Fosse Prelude)
2009
Harris Theatre for Music and dance – Chicago, IL (Fosse Prelude)
North Shore Center for the Performing Arts – Skokie, IL (Fosse Prelude)