Sculpture: Barnum's Dream

"Barnum's Dream" by Ed Ross

Ed Ross has one hell of an imagination.  Barnum's Dream has everything: a cowcatcher, cannon turrets, gattling guns, harpoon, a laser, a steam engine, and a train's undercarriage.  Not only did he spend years building this thing, he's written an extensive historical record chronicling its service in Her Majesty's service.  If you're a modeler, or even just a steampunk fan, you have to check out his build blog.

"The war machine now known as Barnum’s Dream has an eventful history, even though it only saw one battle.   It was originally called The Terrible.   It was commissioned jointly in 1854 as a ship by Queen Victoria and the emperor of France, Napoleon III to be used against the Russians in defense of the Ottoman empire in the Crimean war.  It was to be the largest paddle wheel steam warship to ever be built.  Over 300 feet long with over 30 massive cannons, with the main cannon capable of firing a two foot diameter shell.  Over 4000 workers conscripted from many of the colonies labored seven days a week for two years, but as it neared completion, the Crimean conflict ended.  The ship was mothballed in dry dock and remained so until the Franco-Prussian war.  

 

Sculpture: Mekanikos vs The Minotaur

"Mekanikos vs. The Minotaur Automaton" by Dug North

Available for purchase from the artist's website. US$8,500

Via: BoingBoing

Dug North's Automata take wood sculptures to the next level.  Not only do they present an intriguing scene, their added motion adds a layer of storytelling to the piece.  Here, the pieces inside the cabinet add a duality to the sculpture that spark the imagination.

Sculpture: Water Experiment 33

"Water Experiment No. 33 Automata Video" by Dean O'Callaghan

"Water Experiment No. 33" is a hand-cranked kinetic sculpture that simulates a droplet splashing into water. The effect is achieved through a series of cams that move concentric rings up and down, creating the droplet movement. The sculpture was hand built out of wood by designer Dean O’Callaghan.

"The object of this project was to produce an Automata that was inspired by the work of Reuben Margolin.

All components were hand made the aim was to recreate the reaction of droplet as it impacts a body of water."

Sculpture: Anthony Howe

"About Face" by Washington-based Kinetic sculptor Anthony Howe

About Face is an impressionist sculpture composed of one hundred individually balanced and weighted copper panels that move in the wind, some swinging freely while other are articulated by spinning stainless steel cups.  It's among the most striking of Howe's work, by not the most intricate.  Howe specializes in complex kinetic metal sculptures that are as intriguing as they are shiny, and recently, his work has been popping up around the web.  Check out some of it below.

“I attempt, with an economy of means, to construct objects whose visual references range from lo-tech sci-fi paraphernalia to microbiological or astronomical models.  Utilizing primarily stainless steel armatures that are driven either by hammered curvilinear shapes or flat fiberglass covered discs, I hope the pieces assume a spare, linear elegance when conditions are still, mutating to raucous animation when the wind picks up.”

Installation: Caten

"Caten" by David Letellier, 2012

Caten is a kinetic sound installation by Berlin-based sound artist David Letellier.  The installation was created specifically for the Chapelle du vieux St-Sauveur, a 12th century Gothic chapel in Caen, France.  Letellier sculpted the delicate veil from 300 fine wires.  Suspended from two ropes, each connected to slowly rotating arms at both ends, the ghostly structure comes alive with gentle, organic movements that resound with a gently haunting composition.  Caten was produced with the support of Station Mir and opened on April 24th as part of Interstice Festival 2012 in Cean, France.

Electronic Art: Why Knot?

"Why Knot? - A kinetic sculpture by Seth Goldstein" by KineticSculptures

Ever feel like a machine cog when you put on that necktie in the morning? Sculptor and retired mechanical engineer Seth Goldstein created this kinetic sculpture that continually ties and unties a necktie. Exult in your sub-humanity, wage laborer!

Electronic Art: A Million Times

"A Million Times" by Stockholm Studio Humans Since 1982
On exhibit at Design Days Dubai / Victor Hunt Gallery March 18 - 21 2013.

Created out of 288 analogue clocks which are powered by 576 electric motors so that the minute and hour hands can be controlled independently. By doing so the hands are left constantly dancing in slow motion and as they rotate they form elaborate patterns and even work together to display text. Watch the video demonstration of the piece working below.

Sculpture: The Visitor

"The Visitor" by Nemo Gould

Kinetic sculpture from found materials

Oakland, California artist Nemo Gould creates amazing sculptures from found materials. His latest piece is a sculpture is entitled "The Visitor," and it's worth seeing. You can watch a video of the piece below, along with a few of his other creations. If you like what you see, the piece is available for purchase from Nemo’s website. In making this piece, Gould "upcycled" a Typewriter case, picture frame, fresnel lens, electric massager, chandelier parts, voltage meters, book clippings, aquarium plants, LEDs, motors, fiber optic cable, and laboratory beaker.

  

Installation: Caten

"Caten" by David Letellier

Kinetic Sound Installation

“300 fine wires suspended from two ropes, connected themselves at each end to a slowly rotating arm, form an evanescent surface which interacts with the architecture of the Saint Sauveur chapel in Caen, Caten”

Sculpture: Cycloïd-E

"Cycloïd-E" by André Décosterd and Michel Décosterd

“Cycloïd-E” is a fascinating sound sculpture created by composer André Décosterd and architect Michel Décosterd consisting of a horizontal pendulum with several movable metal tubes one . Each individual meter-long tube segment is equipped with sound sources and measuring instruments. As soon as an electric motor makes the pendulum start to rotate, “Cycloïd-E” morphs into an extraordinary kinetic-polyphonic music machine that generates a sound eerily reminiscent of the tension-ratcheting background music from Lost.  Take a listen.

Sculpture: Kinetic Rain

Kinetic Rain  by Berlin firm ART+COM 

A new kinetic sculpture on display at Terminal 1 of Changi Airport in Singapore.

Kinetic Rain is a sculpture composed of two sets of 608 lightweight copper-coated aluminum raindrops suspended in mid-air and oscillated in a 15-minute computationally designed choreography controlled from motors embedded in the ceiling.

Sculpture: BMW Kinetic Sculpture

BMW Kinetic Sculpture by Joachim Sauter

714 metal spheres are suspended from the ceiling on thin steel wires and animated with a help of mechanics, electronics and code. Watch it in motion in the video below.