"No One Gets Out Alive: The San Francisco Robot Scene 1980-2015” presented by Artist Kal Spelletich 

Kal Spelletich will come to NUMU on Saturday, June 20th 11:30 - 12:30 to give an artist walk and talk.

Free with admission!

Kal Spelletich

Born and raised in Davenport, Iowa, Kal Spelletich received his undergraduate degree at the University of Iowa, and an M.F.A. from The University of Texas at Austin, both in the field of Media Art.

For 25 years, Spelletich has been exploring the interface of humans and robots, using technology to reconnect people with intense, real-life experiences. The work is interactive, requiring participants to enter or operate his pieces, often against their instincts of self-preservation. The collaboration with the audience completes the work.

Spelletich's interactive work is inspired by political activism, volunteerism and getting people involved in life. He probes the boundaries between fear, control and exhilaration by giving his audience the opportunity to operate fascinating and often dangerous machinery. His work attempts to challenge both the applications of technology and the boundaries between art, the audience and performers.

In 1988, Spelletich founded Seemen, his interactive machine art performance collective. Since then, he has performed, exhibited and lectured worldwide, collaborating with scientists, musicians, politicians and actors on various projects. Spelletich’s work has been included in numerous museum and gallery exhibitions over the past two decades, including the de Young Museum, SFMOMA, Exploratorium and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, CA; California Folk Art Museum, Los Angeles, CA; Museum of Art and History, Santa Cruz, CA; Oakland Museum of California, Oakland, CA; and Headlands Center for the Arts, Marin, CA. He has also exhibited internationally in Namibia, Germany, Croatia and Austria. 

Kal Spelletich lives and works in San Francisco, California.