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Featured on PhysicsWorld.com

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In 2009 I was contacted by Physics World, the international monthly magazine published by the Institute of Physics, about being featured in their "Once a physicist" column, which looks at people in different walks of life who originally trained in physics but then moved into new fields. 

Today the article was published in the In Depth section on their website.  The article can be found here. It is a detailed look at how my initial interest in physics was the catalyst for the work that I do today. 


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The Variation Series of Kinetic Sculptures

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I started the Variation series in 2003 with Variation Wind. It ended up being a series of 9 different designs all using the same drive mechanism but different satellite wheels to generate a fascinating variety of patterns. 

 

 

2003 
Variation-Wind
Variation-Stars
Variation-Fire
2004
Variation-Surf
Variation-Water
Variation-Fractal
2006
Variation-Jazz
2007
Variation-Zen
2008
Variation-Dream

Introducing Summer Rain Kinetic Sculpture

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Summer Rain is a melding of fascinating motion and soft sounds reminiscent of drops splashing into puddles. I explain a little about it in this short video and more information is available on my website. Take a break and enjoy watching a gentle Summer Rain.


The Beginning....Zylo

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Several sculptures and drawings that Marji made during her years as a student at Rhode Island School of Design started me thinking about wooden machines as sculptures. Here's a video showing some of her works and one of my first attempts at a moving piece c.1975.

 For more information on the history of Wood That Works and spring driven kinetic sculpture visit this link.

Kaleidoscopic Wow Factor

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by Marji
 
Kaleidoscopic patterns have surfaced repeatedly in David’s work over the years starting with Kaleidoscope back in 1979. (He’s been at this that many years – amazing!) It is certainly apparent again in all the Variation series. An affinity to kaleidoscopes and all of the beautiful ones we've seen over the years continues to this day. Both David and I were taken by the cut paper designs of Jen Stark. The inspiration of the kaleidoscope is evident in her work as well.

Kinetic Sculptures Aren't Just for Adults

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by Amy

When I was designing my son's nursery last year I knew that I wanted to include one of my Dad's pieces in the room. I thought the soft clicking would add some great white noise to the space. I had two pieces already. I had Nova hanging in the dining room and Pulsar was in a box in storage until I figured out where to put it. (We have been doing a lot of construction on the house over the past three years.) I really liked Pulsar for the space for two reasons: 1) It runs longer than Nova and 2) the fabric backer matched the color scheme I was planning for the room.

I'm really happy with how it looks in the room. We wind it up for Taylor for naptime and bedtime. He loves to watch and listen to it as he drifts off to sleep.

More kinetic sounds...

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Writing about my "Chime Carillon" kinetic sculpture has me thinking about kinetic sculpture sounds. My current favorite is the very large sculpture Falling Water that is in our living room. I like the motion of this sculpture but after living with it for a while I think I like the sound it makes even better than the motion. Each of the 5 wheels makes a soft clicking sound and because each wheel moves at a slightly different speed the pattern of clicks is constantly shifting. It's hard to describe, sort of like a babbling brook or a soft rain but without the "wet" feel.

In this video I placed the camera very close to the sculpture to try and record the soft sounds it makes. When listening to it keep in mind that in a silent room these sounds can barely be heard from 20 feet away.

Music and Motion - Chime Carillon

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In early 1987 I showed my work at the Baltimore ACC show. By chance we were located near Woodstock Percussion and Gary Kvistad. I checked back in my journal to find out exactly what year this took place in and found this quote,

" I got a couple of good ideas at the show. The most interesting is that of trying to make a sculpture using the chime tubes from the booth next to us, Woodstock Percussion. I spent all week listening to them and I thing a nice, gentle "Chime Machine" can be designed."

I spent about a year playing with the idea and in 1988 introduced Chime Carillon. It was a challenging piece. I wanted the mechanism to ring the chime tubes gently and in random arrangements but I also wanted the sculpture to have enough motion to be visually interesting.

I sold out the edition long ago but kept the initial prototype piece up in my studio gallery because it was such a rewarding design challenge and I still like the sounds it makes. It never fails to get a good bit of attention from visitors.

Sincrónica" - wave form kinetic Sculpture

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Sincr-nica" (kinetic Sculpture)

A beautiful wave generating sculpture.

Mechanical Discovery

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I stumbled onto a new site recently that demonstrates a different style of mechanical kinetic sculpture. There are some YouTube videos at the artist's channel that depict fascinating motion - although all electric.

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