Professors Lucy Puls and Darrin Martin, along with alum Terry Berlier (MFA, 2003), will participate in the exhibition “Planned Obsolescence” at the Natalie and James Thompson Art Gallery in San Jose State University. The show runs from January 29 to February 22, 2019. An opening reception will be held on Tuesday, January 29 from 6-7:30 pm.

Wrapped up in the capitalist essence that seems to saturate every facet of contemporary culture, the term “planned obsolescence” refers to a practice of consumer goods manufacturing companies to engineer rapid consumption through frequent changes in design, termination of spare part inventory, and use of nondurable materials in their products. While this term was originally coined by economists to describe the practice of consumer goods manufacturers (particularly in the automobile industry), the term is now more commonly applied to practices of the technology industry. Since the majority of these companies are here in Silicon Valley, the Natalie and James Thompson Art Gallery has invited artists from the greater Bay Area with a diversity of perspectives to present work reflecting on contemporary notions of “planned obsolescence.”

Natalie and James Thompson Art Gallery
San Jose State University
Art Building 127
Department of Art and Art History
(near 10th and San Carlos Street)
One Washintong Square
San Jose, CA
(408) 924-4330