Byron Caplan was born and raised in Frederick, Md.  He received his Bachelor’s degree (BFA) from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and his Master’s degree (MFA) from Yale University, School of Art, in the late 1970s.  After graduating from Yale, Caplan moved to Philadelphia, PA where he had his first one man show at the Race Gallery, then at Lehigh University in 1982.  It was around that time that Caplan began working in television news in Philadelphia as a cameraman and editor. 

For the next 30 odd years, Caplan focused his energies on television/video production and teaching digital cinema at the college level.  It was his main creative outlet, and during that time, he produced several award winning news stories and video productions, including a Boston/New England Emmy for producing.  Still, his art ideas were never far from his consciousness. This was a period of distillation and leavening.

Having retired from video production and teaching, Caplan now lives in Jacksonville, Florida and returned to his original passion, bringing with it a renewed sense of vigor, dedication and maturity to his art.  It is interesting to note that the ideas that propel his art today are a continuation of the same ideas he first formulated while in graduate school (see artist statement).  It has been a long strange journey with many detours and a few dead ends, but as Caplan enters this new stage of his life, he is dedicated, energized and eager to develop a unique style of art that is sure to make one think and smile.

Skills

• Artist

• Educator

• Videographer

• Editor

• Producer

• Director

• Storyteller

Education

BFA, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago 1977
MFA, Yale University, School of Art 1979

Professional

Videographer/editor/producer         bc Productions  
Jacksonville, FL    2016-19
 
News Videographer/”preditor”        WGNO-TV     
New Orleans, LA       2014
 
Producer/Videographer                 Southeastern Channel  
Hammond, LA       2012-13
   
Associate Director                         WTAE-TV4                 
Pittsburgh, PA        2010-11

News Videographer/editor             KYW-TV     
Philadelphia, PA    1980-92

Teaching

Florida State College at Jacksonville 2014 - 2016

Professor of Digital Media 

Southeastern Louisiana University 2012 - 2013

Instructor 

Robert Morris University 2005 - 2007 | 2009 - 2011

Asst. Professor

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Duquesne University 2008

Asst. Professor

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Ithaca College 1997-2005

Asst. Professor

Media Honors & Awards

• Telly Award. 2013 Northshore Gems  2013 ​

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• "Three Small Town American Celebrations" 2001

  • 1st place: BEA (Broadcast Education Association). Documentary category.

  • Communicator Award, “Award of Distinction.”

  • American Film Institute DVCAM Festival, finalist

  • “Telly” Bronze award

  • Videographer Award, “Award of Distinction.”

  • Silver Regional “CINDY” award.

  • Broadcast on Nickelodeon & PBS.

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• Black Maria Film Festival, Honorable Mention  "Sketch #3"   2002

• (Boston/New England) Emmy Award:  producer for best educational program, "Quest"  1996

• (Boston/New England) Emmy nomination: Producer for best documentary, "Quest" 1996

• (Boston/New England) Emmy nomination:  producer for best documentary, "Quest" 1995

• (Boston/New England) Emmy nomination: producer for best educational program, "Quest" 1995

• Videographer for Mid-Atlantic Emmy nominated spot news story, “Mt. Airy Fire,”  1991  

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• Videographer for Mid-Atlantic Emmy winning Medical series, “Prescription for Pregnancy,”   1986  

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• Videographer for Mid-Atlantic Emmy winning news feature series, “Little Heroes,”    1984

Art Exhibitions

• “Obscure Objects”- Race Gallery, Philadelphia, PA  1981

• “Chaos for Anarchists at Home and Abroad”- Lehigh University  1982

• “The Unbridled Joy of Frolicking Fish,” permanent installation at Jacksonville Transit Authority HQ  2020

• “4 Icons” Jacksonville International Airport, Oct-Dec 2020

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"There is no such thing as chance. A door may happen to fall shut, but this is not by chance. It is a conscious experience of the door, the door, the door."

-Kurt Schwitters