Significance Machines and Purposeful Robots
Opening Reception: Thurs | September 3, 2019
The exhibition “Kal Spelletich: Significance Machines and Purposeful Robots,” combines art and mysticism with the rigors of science and technology to explore the power of prayer and other meditative practices. Kal Spelletich has been exploring the interface of humans and robots, using technology to put people back in touch with real-life experiences. Participants can operate the robots by touching an interface sensor that enables the machine to ‘read’ the viewer and react with a responsive gesture. By calming their fears and focusing their attention, participants can utilize techniques comparable to meditative practices to operate interactive sculptures with the possibility of performing their task with more precision and skill.
Kal Spelletich was born and raised in Davenport, Iowa. He received his BFA from the University of Iowa, and MFA from The University of Texas at Austin, both in the field of Media Art. He has performed, exhibited and lectured worldwide, collaborating with scientists, musicians, and politicians including Namibia, India, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Croatia, France, Czech Republic, England, Slovakia, and Austria. Most recently, he was a resident artist at Recology SF and built artificial organs during a residency at Stochastic Labs, Berkeley, California. Spelletich’s work has been included in numerous exhibitions over the past three decades including the De Young Museum, San Francisco, California; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, California; Exploratorium, San Francisco, California; Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, California; and the Headlands Center for the Arts, Sausalito, California. Spelletich lives and works in San Francisco, California and is represented by Catharine Clark Gallery.
A series of public programs and a publication accompany the exhibition with essays by Anuradha Vikram and Tanya Zimbardo.
Kal Spelletich: Significance Machines and Purposeful robots is organized by Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art curator, April Bojorquez.
