Move Me • Kinetic Art at Axiom Gallery
It isn't often that you can see the work of five kinetic artists in one place at one time but for the next month you can at the Axiom Gallery in Boston, MA. Last Thursday evening David and I traveled to Boston to attend the opening of Move Me, a show curated by Heidi Kayser.
The artists represented were Chris Fitch, Arthur Ganson, Tom Haney, Steve Hollinger and Erica von Schilgen. I blogged previously about the earlier contact by Chris Fitch and our unbeknownst shared roots.
The work was all very individual and different from David's but all of it did indeed move. Power sources were varied but as always the joy of a kinetic show is watching people interact with the art work. Here is a sampling of some of the different sculptures shown.
Chris Fitch had two pieces in the show. Falling uses beaded chain flowing smoothly over cams to create an experience not unlike a rain shower. It is enclosed in a box and you peer into it and become entranced by an inner world reflected back through mirrors.
I was also intrigued by the motion of the loops dangling below the enclosed theater.
Arthur Ganson had two works on display. If you haven't seen his work before consider visiting the MIT Museum in Cambridge. They have a fascinating display of Ganson's pieces on display. At the Axiom show the piece "The First Nobel Truth" is on display.
Below is a detail from Ganson's piece Machine for Softening Hardened Hearts.
Steve Holliger's work was solar powered. This piece is titled after Kwajalein, one of the Pacific Islands used for nuclear testing.
Erica von Schilgen's collection is very much a series of fantasy escape world's combining hand-cranked music box technology and sound with dream-like painted images.
The last artist in this show is Tom Haney. He had one piece in the show and I haven't found a video of it yet but you should visit Tom's site to see an incredible collection of Automata. He also writes a blog about his work.
In addition to getting to see the work of these artists, David also got to meet and talk with them. And what do kinetic artists discuss? Things like double action pendulums, wear and tear, repairs, power sources, etc. Certainly a fascinating group of characters!
Show Details:
The Axiom Gallery is located at the corner of Green and Armory Streets in Jamaica Plain. It is on the ground floor level of the Green Street train stop on the Orange line. 141 Green Street. Jamaica Plain, MA. The show is open through May 28th.