Spring Driven
Kinetic Art

Limited Edition of 6
Size:  50"h x 52"w x7"d
Power Source:  negator spring
Approx. Run Time:  15 hours

Variation-Jazz ©2006
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Variation-Jazz is the 7th in the Variation series. I find this series to be a fascinating exploration. In this case I started with the ellipse shape and looked for a way to balance it that created interesting patterns. It took many iterations before I was satisfied.

This process is much less painful today than in the "old days". I begin by drawing my initial idea in Adobe Illustrator (an object oriented drawing program). I link this drawing to a file in Adobe After Effects (a special effects animation program). In After Effects I can tell the sculpture parts how I want them to move relative to one another and preview the resultant patterns. This set up then enables me to quickly move back and forth between programs, tweaking the drawing in Illustrator and observing the new patterns in After Effects.

This procedure is much faster and more interactive than the old system of drawing the parts, quickly cutting them out of some inexpensive wood, assembling the rough idea, testing it and then going back to the drawing board to start all over again!