Students gain mechanical and artistic guidance in a new conceptual art class at SF State where the primary form of expression is through robotics.

For the second time, the Conceptual Arts Department at SF State is exposing students to technology and robot-building as a form of contemporary art in a class called Robotics and Kinetics. The class is taught by Kal Spelletich, Artistic Director of www.seemen.org, an artistic collaborative with about 40 creative technology inventors.

Fascinated by movement, Spelletich’s interest in fire and robotics have inspired him to teach students across the country how to build a moving machine, design and create kinetic art (like robots), and make the inanimate become machines.

“I saw robots on TV and the movies as a kid," Said Spelletich. "I thought, I want to build stuff from junk/inanimate objects and bring it to life!...It seemed to be truly creative and inventive, when so much 'art' didn't seem so anymore, as most 'art' had already played its hand."

Conceptual Art student Josh Short quit his job as a martial arts teacher to pursue art full-time with the hope of spreading his political messages and converting his political interests into art. The artwork people do in their own community communicates ideas and it isn’t done for profit so it’s very revolutionary, said Short.

“I needed an outlet to express some of the things I was feeling about the world,” said Short. “I believe art will bring a revolution at some point”.

Short’s latest piece, “U.S. Imperialism and the ‘Odious Debt’ Economies” is on display at the Artist Television Access (ATA). He says the installment is the result of his research and concern about the high numbers of natural resources that are imported in the United States from developing countries, such as oil, fruits and coffee among other products.

“I wanted to show a relationship of our (U.S.) military and its never-ending role in other countries’ economies,” said Short. “I don’t want to say to much because I want people to make their own interpretations.”

Short’s piece is an interactive and artistic statistic focused on the present role of U.S. militarism and world dominance, which significantly contributes to debt in economies abroad. Through the interaction of television signals and sensor- activated robots, visitors can manipulate a remote-controlled car over a world map, representing the United Nations driving all over the rest of the world-- except the United States. Short elevated it, representing the nation’s unaffected nature.

“Art is done for different reasons contributing to change,” said Short.

While allowing more experienced students like Short to hone their skills, the SF State robotics class has also opened the eyes of many inexperienced students to a new way of creating art because it has no prerequisites.

“I have the ability to understand electronic machines and to have the mechanical and technological vocabulary to incorporate kinetic elements into my media art work”, said Sarah Lockhart, a BECA student in the class.

“I wanted a studio class in the midst of my slide-lecture classes”, said Leslie Hirata, an Art History student. “At first, I felt intimidated because other students are CIA (Conceptual Information Art) majors but it’s been a good experience.”

“I took this class before," said Francis Crossman, Spelletich's teaching assisstant. "I saw it on the schedule and I loved it so much, I wanted to take it again,” he said. Crossman, a cinema major, said he likes the department “because it’s open here and there are a lot more hands-on classes.”

At the end of the semester, students will exhibit their art work on the second floor of the Fine Arts Building.

“I haven’t found anything that satisfies me as much as art,” said Short. “Now I’m moving into land restoration, where I incorporate plant life into my art.”

Short's installment runs from Oct. 1st – Oct. 15th at the ATA located at 992 Valencia St., between 20th and 21st Streets. A reception will be held on Oct. 12 from 7 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.