This event is sold out. Please find a live stream of the panel beginning at 6pm here. 

Minnesota Street Project is pleased to present Blow this Shit Up: The Art and Technology of Destruction, a conversation between Mark Pauline, Founder, Survival Research Laboratories; Adam Savage, co-host, MythBusters; and Nico Sell, Founder, Wickr Foundation. Moderated by Andy Rappaport, co-Founder, Minnesota Street Project.

Survival Research Labs bills themselves as "the most dangerous show on Earth." The exhibition of their machines and archival performance videos at 1275 Minnesota St. provides a perfect context for exploring the roles of destruction in art and art in destruction. This panel will start with an exploration of the origins and history of SRL and its work; it will then follow the thread that runs from art based on traditional physically destructive technologies to art and social commentary that embodies and reflects modern virtual technologies -- like surveillance and cyber warfare -- that are no less destructive despite being harder to see and hear in the physical world.

Video Screening: 4pm - 6pm

Panel Discussion: 6pm - 8pm

Panelist Bios
Mark Pauline founded Survival Research Laboratories (SRL) in 1978. Since its inception SRL has staged over 45 mechanized presentations in the United States and Europe. Each performance consists of a unique set of ritualized interactions between machines, robots, and special effects devices, employed in developing themes of socio-political satire. 

Adam Savage is an industrial designer, special effects technician, actor, educator, producer, director and television personality. Savage is the former executive producer and co-host (along with Jamie Hyneman) of the television series Myth Busters. His model work has appeared in over a dozen major films, including Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and The Matrix Reloaded.

Nico Sell is a professional artist, athlete and entrepreneur based in California. She is currently chairman and founder of six technology organizations, including r00tz and Wickr.  r00tz teaches kids how to love white-hat hacking. Wickr Foundation is a non-profit venture fund.  Wickr Me is a top-secret messaging app.  Nico grew up helping the Dark Targent with DEF CON, the largest hacker community in the world.  She earned her degree in government from Dartmouth College while focusing on nuclear strategy. 

Andy Rappaport is co-founder of Minnesota Street Project, along with his wife Deborah Rappaport. Minnesota Street Project consists of over 100,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space in San Francisco’s Dogpatch neighborhood, and is a unique philanthropic project committed to retaining and strengthening the local contemporary art community by providing affordable rents for artist studio space and galleries. Prior to co-founding the Minnesota Street Project, Andy had long and distinguished career in the tech industry, as a venture capitalist, company founder, consultant, and writer. He and Deborah are avid art collectors, with a particular emphasis on works that explore how emerging technologies expand and alter the possibilities for artistic expression and social commentary. In addition to Minnesota Street Project, the Rappaports are also the founders of the Rappaport Family Foundation and Skyline Public Works, which fund a variety of for-profit and non-profit organizations that aim to make the world a better and more universally just place.