Josh Short is an interdisciplinary artist that uses sound, installation, and broadcasting to create immersive experiences that frame contemporary American mythologies and rituals. Machines, pirate radio, and cultural detritus are used to create interactive environments to let the viewer explore their inner desires, breaking the internal dialog we carry with us into everyday life. Notably his recent project, The Speed Trials Arcade, merges remote controlled vehicles, exercise equipment, and radio to create analog driving simulators that explore the uniquely American relationship to automobiles, and the supply chain. Josh is also the founder of the Cardboard Institute of Technology, a collaborative group that creates immersive installations completely out of cardboard. Josh is also the founder of Bomb Shelter Radio, an ongoing Radio project that creates temporary low powered FM radio encounters all over the country. Often these projects take the form of site specific installations that utilize materials gathered from the local environment. In 2019 Josh started www.BombShelterRadio.live a 24 hour online element of his radio practice. He performs weekly live broadcasts.
After graduating with an MFA from UC Davis in 2009 Josh was awarded a Joan Mitchell Foundation grant, and a graduate fellowship at the Headlands Center for the Arts in 2010. Josh has had several solo exhibits at venues including the Bedford Gallery, Johansson Projects, The San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery and the Exploratorium. Josh has been an resident artist at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Yaddo, Joan Mitchell Center, and Crosstown Arts. He regularly tours the country operating his mobile radio station “the Lucille Valentine” and as of 2024 he is building a new FM radio broadcasting station out of a 1968 Cadillac Coupe Deville named Doris.
NEWS
6/19/2024
Cadillac Coupe Deville update. Got a HEI Distributor installed. I learned how to find the 1st Cylinder, and the proper firing order for the old 472 big block engines, now we have to fine tune the timing.
6/5/2024
Cadillac Coupe Deville update. After several days of wrenching, penetrating oil, and grinding, I was able to remove the exhaust manifold and replace the gasket. We’ll finally get a chance to tune in properly.
5/30/2024
Cadillac Coupe Deville update, new wheels installed. We’re now working on changing a gasket in the passenger side exhaust maniford. Belts have been tightened. Looking forward to two months off to do some more work on the interior and body.
5/21/2024
Did the Season Finale of The TERRORDOME on Bomb Shelter Radio. We’ll be back with a new season sometime in August.
5/6/2024
Did an Artist Talk at Sierra College in Nevada City. I covered some topics including cardboard sculpture, travel, radio, getting art into the world, art as a lifestyle, and adulting.
4/20/2024
Cadillac Coupe DeVille update, Interior is done. New wheels are in the mail. We’ll get those on over the next couple of weeks.
4/6/2024
It’s my one year aniversery at my Job here at CSU Cal Maritime, so far so good, I really dig running a Makerspace, I get to make stuff all day long in the shop and I don’t have to give grades.
7/15/2023
Taveled to Texas to get married to Courtney aka Lady Fingerpop, then traveled to Taos NM to create Taosburg at the Imagine Museum.
5/15/2023
Did a special presentation of the Supply Chain Issues at the Annual Headlands Center for the Arts Art Auction.
EXHIBITIONS
BOMB SHELTER RADIO FREE USA 24/7
What is Bomb Shelter Radio?
Bomb Shelter Radio is an Art project that I've be working on for over a decade. Over the years the project has continually inspired me to make my own (Commercial Free) radio station dedicated rare Rock n Roll, Soul Music, Exotica, Mambo, R&B, and more. This quest to dig out rare and forgotten music has taking me all over the world. The exchange of music and culture is the primary motive of the project and the touchstone of my Art practice.
How I started making Radio.
I discovered FM Radio transmission by accident, while working on my Thesis MFA show at UC Davis. During that time I was creating driving simulators which involved remote controlled cars and wireless video cameras. The idea occurred to me that I should make a radio station for my driving simulators. It turns out FM transmitting is the same transmitting technology used in wireless cameras and RC cars. Bomb Shelter Radio spawned out of that exploration and sent me on a path of making radio ever since.
Since 2009 Bomb Shelter Radio has been traversing the country broadcasting pirate radio form various cities across the USA. The Bomb Shelter Radio station takes different forms based on location. To date we have set up site specific installations all over the country and abroad.
In 2016 we started the “Lucille Valentine” Tour making the project more mobile. We transformed a 1974 Chevy LUV into a mobile radio wagon. In 2018 we started the Motel Tour where we broadcast live from motel rooms all over the USA.
Bomb Shelter Radio is an Art project that I've be working on for over a decade. Over the years the project has continually inspired me to make my own (Commercial Free) radio station dedicated rare Rock n Roll, Soul Music, Exotica, Mambo, R&B, and more. This quest to dig out rare and forgotten music has taking me all over the world. The exchange of music and culture is the primary motive of the project and the touchstone of my Art practice.
How I started making Radio.
I discovered FM Radio transmission by accident, while working on my Thesis MFA show at UC Davis. During that time I was creating driving simulators which involved remote controlled cars and wireless video cameras. The idea occurred to me that I should make a radio station for my driving simulators. It turns out FM transmitting is the same transmitting technology used in wireless cameras and RC cars. Bomb Shelter Radio spawned out of that exploration and sent me on a path of making radio ever since.
Since 2009 Bomb Shelter Radio has been traversing the country broadcasting pirate radio form various cities across the USA. The Bomb Shelter Radio station takes different forms based on location. To date we have set up site specific installations all over the country and abroad.
In 2016 we started the “Lucille Valentine” Tour making the project more mobile. We transformed a 1974 Chevy LUV into a mobile radio wagon. In 2018 we started the Motel Tour where we broadcast live from motel rooms all over the USA.
Currently we’re doing a 24 hour online radio station to support our other low-powered FM broadcasting actives.
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“Laying down the rubber road to freedom. Catch us if you can!”
Recreation of a 2012 sign we made at EVERGOLD Gallery as the Annual Artist in Residence.![]()
“Laying down the rubber road to freedom. Catch us if you can!”Recreation of a 2012 sign we made at EVERGOLD Gallery as the Annual Artist in Residence.
Sponsorship Options
How Your Support is used.
DONATE
What is Next?
Bomb Shelter Radio is notorious for pushing the bounderies of radio. Currently we’re working on a new mobile radio project. We purchased a 1968 cadillac Coupe DeVille and were restoring it and building atransmitter into its trunk![]()
We’re always looking for venues, museums, galleries and alternative spaces to create BSR installations. These temporary Radio encounters are the backbone of Bomb Shelter Radio.
How Your Support is used.
- Your support helps me keep this show on the road, literally. One of my major interests with this project is to bring low powered radio and good music to different places across the the United States.
- Your donations help me create new objects for making radio. I explore different ways of creating radio through site specific installations, mobile radio projects, like the "Lucille Valentine tour" and the countless objects I've created like: portable FM radio transmitter units and hand made custom radios.
- Becoming a MEMBER: ($5 monthly donation) gives you exclusive access to our top secret country/western radio project PALE HORSE RADIO.
DONATE
HERE
What is Next?
Bomb Shelter Radio is notorious for pushing the bounderies of radio. Currently we’re working on a new mobile radio project. We purchased a 1968 cadillac Coupe DeVille and were restoring it and building atransmitter into its trunk
We’re always looking for venues, museums, galleries and alternative spaces to create BSR installations. These temporary Radio encounters are the backbone of Bomb Shelter Radio.
2019 Bomb Shelter Radio at West Weird Gallery
Jackson Hole has been a home away from home for several years. We’ve brought Bomb Shelter Radio there many times, but this time we built a radio station in West Weird Gallery as part of our arcade project, The Speed Trials Arcade. The radio station was built from materials found around Jackson Hole, and we broadcasted daily during “Happy Hour”, as part of the sound track for the arcade.
2018 Bomb Shelter Radio at the Growlery
The Graowlery is an Artist residency located in San Francisco. Hosting from a historical victorian in the Lower haight neighborhood, we took over the garage and opporated a pirate radio station for one month. We hosted several bands and guest Dj’s. The installation was built from materials gathered from around the neighborhood.
2016-2019 Bomb Shelter Radio “Lucille Valentine Tour”
In 2016 we built the “Lucille Valentine” Mobile radio station. We have created a pop low powered radio experience that teams up with galleries, venues, and community spaces to create week long encounters all over the country. futhur imformation can be found here.2016 Bomb Shelter Radio Omaha
While a resident at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, we teamed up with MilkRun Gallery (an All-Ages DIY space) and created a radio station in their project space. Made from materials found around Omaha, the installation was modeled to reference a cross section of a second story appartment. We hosted guest DJ’s, live bands and had a real good time!
2015 Bomb Shelter Radio Memphis
After meeting Jamie Harmon (founder of Amurica), we were asked to create a radio station inside his project space. Made from materials found in Memphis, we created an installation modeled after a truck topper. We lived and opporated a radio station for 3 weeks in Memphis.
2012 Bomb Shelter Radio Tenderloin
Back in 2012 Evergold Gallery brought us on as the bi-yearly artist in residence. The Galley was very small, so I built out the front of the space with loft and radio gear. The back of the gallery was utilized as a venue. We would do radio shows nightly hosting local bands.
2011 Bomb Shelter Radio Mach 2
Just after finishing my MFA school I was awarded the Headlands Center for the Arts Graduate Fellowship. Over the course of the year I revisited and expanded apon my orginal Bomb Shelter Mach 1 “live-in” Radio Unit. I built this project to support a one man radio session for a longer period of time.
