This animated sculpture grew from a desire for an alternative to work that just stood or hung there, static had become static. I am calling this work "animated sculpture," combining the discipline of sculpture with the definition of animation, i.e. "The quality or condition of being alive, active, spirited, or vigorous." ■ The sculptures are actuated by computer pulsed electromagnets that take advantage of the natural frequency of oscillating structures. ■
"Laughing Girl", 43" wide X 28" tall, "Artifact Steel", relays, Programmable Logic Computer and electromagnets, 2011. ■
"Laughing Girl" has three animated elements that conceal its magnets and control hardware. It is sound or voice activated by a microphone in its belly. ■
"You say goodbye and I say hello...", 120" tall X 18" wide, "Artifact Steel", relays, Programmable Logic Computer and electromagnets, 2011. ■
It has two nearly identical and opposing structures with electromagnets at the top and bottom. The disks don't really interact, they are just curiously out of sync. ■
”Dancing Girl", 73" tall X 21" diameter, "Artifact Steel", the first in this series and runs with 3 timed relays, an electromagnet and a battery, 2011. ■
From lower left: power supply, voice/sound activated relay, electromagnet (cylinder), stack of 3 solid state relays, programmable logic computer. ■
It takes a lot of coffee and tobacco to make sculpture. ■