Kinetic Sound Sculpture • David Letellier

David has combined sound with motion in many of his kinetic sculptures.  It might be just the beautiful and relaxing rhythmic clicking in pieces like Journey or Falling Water, or it might be the more obvious harmonies created in his various wind chime pieces like Silver Symphony or Silver Song. I do know that incorporating sound adds an entirely new element and sensory experience to a sculpture. This following work by Berlin, Germany based artist David Letellier recently crossed my online space. I knew it was a piece to share with David's blog followers.

The title of buzing wiggling inverse Arch caught my eye and inspired me to watch the video. I recommend it.

Like so many kinetic sculptures, this one combines many disciplines. You see the influence of geometry, science, architecture, music and history all coming together with current technologies. The installation was located in the cathedral in Caen, France and 300 wires were hung from the mezzanine of the church nave. They are designed to mirror the the stone vaults soaring above it. The curve formed by the wires is a catenary which is a precise shape defined by a chain or flexible wire draped between fixed points. This action is the process used by historic builders to help them determine construction facets of arches and their required supports.

For more description on this installation visit the CoDESIGN website here.

I wish I could experience this installation in person.

via Co.DESIGN

Monarch Chrysalis • A New Kinetic Sculpture

David just released the video and photographs of his second new sculpture edition for 2012. It is the birth of a butterfly, not because David designed a butterfly, but because that is what viewers see now that it is a reality. People often "see" things represented in David's work.

Check out the YouTube video to see the motion of this mesmerizing kinetic sculpture.

In this design, David decided to make the mechanism very visible.  He opened up the front and put all the parts right there for you to see.  Those of you that have been studying David's work for years can really observe an escapement mechanism in action in this design.

Monarch Technical Details:

Limited Edition of 95 - Signed and numbered
Size: 34"H x 34"w x 7" d
Power source: Constant Force Spring
Approximate Runtime per winding: 7.5 hours

Monarch is on display in David's studio/gallery. Click here for more information on visiting the gallery by appointment.

He will be crafting the first group during June and they will be ready for shipping at the beginning of July. He is taking orders now. Click here for more information on ordering.

Rube Goldberg Inspires Another Machine

The combination of Rube Goldberg ingenuity, video, the Internet and sharing has continued to produce entertaining mechanisms. The following is one such kinetic creation from the design studio HeyHeyHey. It is a clever contraption that completes a task in the most inefficient method possible.

via Colossal

This video follows a much, much more elaborate contraption from the Melvin series, Melvin the Magical Mixed Media Machine.

This is how we whittle away time during our coffee breaks! Enjoy!

Escapement with Oscillating Gears

A fellow creator recently sent me this video of a fascinating escapement mechanism he has designed and constructed in wood. It incorporates oscillating gears and creates a wonderfully rhythmic sound.  

This neat structure is created by Dolf Perenti. He has incorporated an adjustable pedulum in the design to allow for fine tuning of the mechanism.

My work is also based on creative applications of escapement mechanism design. This example is an excellent and clear demonstration of the parts of an escapement and good viewing for those people trying to understand the concept.

Thanks for sharing, Dolf!

Labyrinth • Kinetic Sculpture Being Built

Labyrinth was my most recent kinetic sculpture introduction and it was well received. That translates into a lot of work in the studio constructing the sculptures that were ordered. A working shop is visually an interesting place and I have started photographing some of the views I see on a regular basis. (Yes, I love the new and improved camera in the latest iPhone.) I have been creating a visual journal and decided to share some of the photos here.  

Bearings by the bucketful....

Parts set for assembly into more complex parts.

Carrying brackets lined up for finishing.

Wheels drying after being finished.

Parts creating visual patterns.

More complex parts coming together and being stacked.

Multiple wheel assemblies being tested.

Building the winding mechanism.

Lots of tiny pieces get added along the way.

Power source (constant force spring) is added.

Base units getting assembled.

Interesting angle of parts waiting for assembly.

A line of bases on the wall with drive wheels added.

The first level of the patterning wheel is added.

That is a far in the process as my photography takes us. I am enjoying recording the process photographically. Often the compositions of the photographics are artistic unto themselves. But as you can see, there is still much work to be done before I can ship. Back to the studio!