Well, it’s been some time since the last post and the video are done. I’m working on a few things, but they are all still in the drawing/designing phase, so not too much to post. Hopefully I will fix that soon. I am also working on the things for the upcoming class in kinetic art at the New Children’s Museum. I should post on that soon. I’ll also post Rattle and Hum’s video soon.

Just click on the link below to see the video.

Provocation video

Rattle and Hum and Provocation are done and installed. 

The details on Rattle and Hum are that it was two large steel frames, 7′6″ H x 36″W x 24″ D.  Installed in each frame was an eighteen ga sheet of CRS. One of the panels was rusted with a mix of HCl and water. The other panel was sanded and then wet towels were placed on it to add minimal rust. Since the piece is effectively an audio piece, I used an audio sensor to determine where people were in relation to the frame. An ultrasonic sensor sends out a signal and counts until the signal comes back, that time is divided by two and then used to determine distance since velocity = distance/time. We know the speed of sound to be about 330m/sec and the count gives the time.  I realize that the 330m/sec is for 0 degrees C at sea level, but it’s certainly close enough for our purposes here. Comparing my output to a ruler I have about an inch of error at the most. I used a Basic Stamp as the main controller, it’s a simple controller and could do all that was needed. The main motor is controlled through an H-bridge and 12v/6A power supply.  That main motor is a cordless drill that I gutted and kept the motor and chuck.

When you approach the device it determines your position and compares that to your last two positions. Based on a change in direction it randomly decides to increase the vibrations, decrease the vibrations or stay the same. The last option is to quit vibrating the sheet. It also does this if nothing happens for a while. It waits and then goes dormant. Here’s some pictures of the installation. Video will be a while away.

Rattle and Hum viewed from right side of gallery

 

Panel in full vibration

That panel moves about a foot back and forth in full vibration

Provocation

Detail of vibrating spheres

 

Electric eye on Provocation

 

 

Don’t forget, this Saturday, March 13th from 6-9PM  is the opening at Art Produce. I’ll be showing Rattle and Hum for the first time. I also have another piece that I haven’t mentioned too much, but it’s also interactive.  You can find out about Art Produce here, www.artproducegallery.com but I will say it’s been my pleasure to work with Lynn in her space and it’s really an amazing space.

Click on image to upload video

I said a long time ago, I would post the Zodiac video. Well.. thanks to David for once again exceeding all my expectations and my son Christopher for writing amazing music to support my habit, here’s the video for Zodiac.

Updates are coming soon with nicer photos. R&H has been a bit of a logistical effort. The frames are complete and Saturday morning the mechanics will also be complete. Here’s the frame before finishing.

Front view of Rattle & Hum

Provocation is at the powder coating tonight. Here’s a picture of it without all the welding done and with out all the interior parts installed.  Stay tuned, tomorrow it will look like one of my completed pieces.

Provocation

Now that Circle has been completed or at least isn’t haunting me at home, it’s time to get the piece for ArtProduce together. This is another large piece. Here’s the model for scale.

Rattle and Hum Model

Those cages hold a steel panel that vibrates based on your relative position to each cage. They are independent of each other and somewhat random. The scale is that these should be about 8 feet tall and about 3 feet wide.

The basic electronics is done and works with a salvaged drill motor. Sometimes you have to improvise. I am hopeful that a drill motor has enough torque to rattle the panel. Here’s the electronics. Yes the drill is spinning.

Rattle and Hum Electronics

Thanks to everyone who came out. For those of you who weren’t able to make it, here’s a video of the Circle of Complication in motion. Click on the link to open the video   Circle of Complication Video

And an image of the piece

Circle in work

And one last view of the whole installation at Sushi.

Circle installation at Sushi

Ok, most of you know this already, but.. the next show is at Sushi Performance Gallery in downtown San Diego.  I’m very happy to be showing there, it’s a great venue and some excellent artists have been there and will be there in the future. It’s hard for me to imagine being in the same venue as some of the people, but suffice it to say, I’m really honored and happy about it. The piece I am showing is the Circle of Complication piece. This is the first time it will be shown and I’m really happy with how it works. I’m also happy with how much I can play with it over the coming months. My good friend Brian came over last night to photo the piece and as usual, his photography is perfect. Here’s what he shot.

Circle of Complication in work

And he also did a nifty little detail that he sent.

Circle pen holders.

And one of it moving along…

Circle in motion

So.. please consider this as an invite to Sushi next Friday, from 6 to 9 PM and the circle will be spinning and drawing.

http://sushiart.org/

Circle has taught me so much. I still like the piece and what it does, but I am honestly looking forward to looking back. This piece had every unknown issue come up and require attention. Today was a few of them, from the level translators on the microcontroller board causing me an issue to the needing a separate battery circuit for the stepper. 

Basic operation is good. It is doing what it’s supposed to. Mostly. Here’s a video of the main trolley swinging back and forth.Circle trolley video

It’s a maze of wires and things right now, but here’s a picture of the control arm so you can see most of what’s happening.

Circle Armature

Sometimes it seems like nothing is happening and then everything does. Circle has been a constant source of learning, design and testing. Finally I am at a point where the frame, base and arm all could be put together. My friend Jorge has done an amazing job with the metal work. He has taught me so much about working with metal and really made this whole project a nice time. We have spent a lot of time working on it and had a lot of fun.  These photos don’t even tell the story of all the design work that occurred on this project. The bracket for the two servo motors is still in work, but that will bolt on this weekend and I will be testing software all weekend.

Circle main view

Detail of colors