sculpture

I just finished up a little trophy deer head commission.  In a slight departure from similar works I left the original Craftsman sander info plate on the nose.  It makes it easier to identify the found object nature of the piece.  I’m pleased with how it turned out.

Trophy_for_Brian3

So, I haven’t posted anything in a while but I’ve had a good reason. The image here may look a lot like a motorcycle, but it isn’t. Well, it is, but it’s a lot more. It’s a first step towards breaking my total dependence on found objects for source material.
Waaaay back when I first started making things in metal I went with found things because I didn’t have the skills to make the shapes that I wanted to. This project represents my first attempt at building forms from sheet stock. It’s a steep learning curve, but I’m beginning to see the way it works. I figure that by the time I build all the body work on this motorcycle (the tank is coming along nicely) I’ll have developed the skills to apply this technique to sculptures. I’ve had a lot of false starts, and a lot of material has wound up in the scrap bin, but stay tuned, things are starting to flow now.

Getting “Head Case #2” ready for the destructive force that is Maker Faire!  He’ll be on display in the Applied Kinetic Arts booth in the South East corner of Expo Hall, San Mateo fairgrounds Saturday and Sunday, May 19-20.

He’ll be in good company too: Benjamin Cowden, Mark Galt, Aaron Geman, Jonathan Foote, and Tal Avitzur.

See the link below for a full program of exhibitors and events:

http://cdn.makezine.com/make/makerfaire/bayarea/2012/MF12BA_Program_LoResFINAL.pdf

Here is the video for my new piece: ”High Voltage“ 2012 (102” x 65” x 24”)

This sculpture uses an effect known as a “Jacob’s Ladder”.  A high voltage arc is produced by way of a neon sign transformer, and then transmitted up the electrodes in the sculptures head.  I’m personally very pleased with the movement with this one.  All the action is generated within the abdomen.  The little pistons in the ankles act as shock absorbers to smooth out the motion.

Materials:

Industrial water valve, scaffold tubing, street light support arms, glass tube, vacuum cleaners, lamp fixtures, bicycle pedal cranks, neon sign transformer, gears from floor polisher, magnifying lens, drain cover, high voltage vacuum tubes, hydraulic dampers, plastic, phenolic, motor, LEDs

New piece to share: “High Voltage“ 2012 (102” x 65” x 24”)

This sculpture uses an effect known as a “Jacob’s Ladder”.  A high voltage arc is produced by way of a neon sign transformer, and then transmitted up the electrodes in the sculptures head.  I’m personally very pleased with the movement with this one.  All the action is generated within the abdomen.  The little pistons in the ankles act as shock absorbers to smooth out the motion.

Materials:

Industrial water valve, scaffold tubing, street light support arms, glass tube, vacuum cleaners, lamp fixtures, bicycle pedal cranks, neon sign transformer, gears from floor polisher, magnifying lens, drain cover, high voltage vacuum tubes, hydraulic dampers, plastic, phenolic, motor, LEDs

Here is the video for my new piece:

Cycloptopus” 2012 (65” x 57” x 29”)

Cycloptopus is a fearsome hybrid of two of my favorite monsters, one real, one mythical.  This creature is particularly dangerous because of its irritability.  You’d be irritable too if you were powered by an open flame and your body was made of wood.

Materials:

Radio cabinets, rocking chairs, fake fireplace, decorative clock elements, cabinet knobs, wall paper, chair parts, lamp parts, wheel hub, motors, LEDs

New piece to share: “Cycloptopus” 2012 (65” x 57” x 29”)

Cycloptopus is a fearsome hybrid of two of my favorite monsters, one real, one mythical.  This creature is particularly dangerous because of its irritability.  You’d be irritable too if you were powered by an open flame and your body was made of wood.

Materials:

Radio cabinets, rocking chairs, fake fireplace, decorative clock elements, cabinet knobs, wall paper, chair parts, lamp parts, wheel hub, motors, LEDs

I’m excited to announce that we’ll be having another open house and exhibit at my studio in Oakland.
  

The reception will be Friday May 11 from 5-9pm, and we’ll be open the following Saturday May 12 from 1-4pm
Our address is 305 Center Street, Oakland CA
 
I’ll have two new large scale pieces on display that are scheduled to be temporarily installed at Google’s offices in Mountainview at the end of May.  Since Google’s campus is not open to the public, I wanted to take this opportunity to share the work with you all first!
 
In addition to myself, my good friends and neighbors Jeremy Mayer and Jesse Small will have their studios open with work on display and we’re honored to have Scott Hove and Aimee Baldwin displaying their works with us in the gallery.
 
Please feel free to pass this invitation along to anyone you think might be interested (here is a link to our Facebook event if you’re into that kind of thing).