The potential of art in a micro society: the spring 2009 Lineman Class at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College

Unrestricted Over the fall semester of 2008 on my morning bicycle commute to the University of Southern California’s Roski School of Fine Art (USC) I passed the power-pole training yard of Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (LATTC) where 40+ adult students were learning how to become power pole technicians -- known as Electrical Lineman. To make art in the studio, away from the realities of social inequality, war and worldwide economic collapse, felt irresponsible. Direct engagement with the world seemed more important. Through reading Op-Ed newspaper sections, Situationist International literature, debates on art between Kaprow and Smithson, texts on the collapse of the art-frontier-myth, and the confluences of art and revolution in 1968, the question that continually arose was, “What is the potential for art in society?” This paper explores this overwhelming but relevant question in the micro-society of the Spring 2009 Lineman Class at LATTC.