Since the emergence of postmodernism, the classification of art mediums, methods and materials has been broken down from previously defined categories, such as sculpture and painting and scattered into infinitely more, nebulous areas of art making. This paradigm shift brought with it, the freedom to essentially make art with anything about anything.
The C.I.A. (Conceptual Information Arts) dept. at SFSU seems to have been born out of this breakdown and subsequent re-shaping of the way art is made.
C.I.A. focuses specifically on the inclusion of science and technology into art with encouragement to work with new media. Accomplished tech/media artists Steve Wilson and Paula Levine run the program.
Here are a few excerpts from the final presentation from its physical computing class.
My friend Alan from Almost Scientific turned me onto this group of media artists recently. They use video, animation and sound to create work that exposes unseen elements of change that exists around us – on and off this planet.
Last year, at a favorite local club here in SF, I encountered Geronimo. The headlining band’s name escapes me at the moment, but I suspect the reason for that is because the band they followed that night blew my socks clean off. These are rare moments for me. We were in the back yard drinking a beer when Geronimo took the stage. One of the guys I was with mentioned that we should check them out because they were known for “clearing rooms”. What followed was one of the most intense sound experiences I have ever had. The bass, drum and electronic trio played a beheading set that ignored my earplugs with a steady assault of beats and piercing static from an array of electronics that the front man was manipulating.
This band killed it that night and indeed reduced the crowd to less than half. It was awesome, and when they returned to SF last month, I dragged a few more friends to see what I had been talking about since that night.
After their set, I met them standing at the bar and got into conversation about electronics and their use in music. I found out that most of the electronic components used in their set were designed and built by the members, mostly Bill of Trogotronics.
As it turns out they are connected to a small organization of electronic/ noise artists from all over but focused in the L.A. Area.
Bill is a smart dude and seemed to be open to the idea of possible collaboration with Backbone Metals for future kinetic / sound sculpture. We already talked about the possibilities of hooking a micro phone up to a Jacobs ladder and running it through more electronic effects. Who knows.
I wrapped up the second and final semester of the first year in my program today with a panel review of the work I have built. After an hour discussion, a few warnings about overzealousness and some positive comments regarding the direction I am moving in, the committee agreed that I had fulfilled the requirements and can move forward into my second year.
At times I felt consumed by my work this year, which subsequently resulted in my absence from this blog these past months. Nevertheless, the regimented class schedule is over for a few months and I look forward to catching up on some writing about what I made this year.