Machines Machines Machines (useful links)
Here is a list of some artists that use machines:
Alexander Calder – While he is best known for his mobiles, which seem so serious, you can’t forget about Calder’s Circus.
Alice Aycock – Some of the works are actual functioning large scale machines while others just use machine imagery.
Arthur Ganson – Ganson make lots of little theatrical sculptures.
Chris Burden – Burden investigates a lot of massive machines and systems, he makes bridges, flying steam rollers, and complex mini car tracks among other things. (google chris burden metropolis)
Jean Tinguely – Tinguely is sort of the patriarch of mechanical sculpture. My favorite project of his is a self destroying machine.
Joseph Herscher – This guy, who is essentially a character from Flight of the Concords, makes awesome rude Goldberg machines.
Marcel Duchamp – Most of Duchamps ready mades were parts of machines, he used machanical imagery in lots of his work, and machines to create interesting optical effects.
Mika Rottenberg- Rottenberg creates human/machine systems and uses them to shoot videos, they are awesome and funny.
Peter Fischli and David Weiss – These guys made the film The Way Things Go, which captures a giant Rude Goldberg machine in action.
Phoebe Washburn – Washburn’s installations create systems to grow plants or make food.
Sadarshan Shetty – An Indian artist whose works range from very poetic to very lewd.
Stelarc – Stelarc makes complex electronic prosthesis.
Tim Hawkinson –Hawkinson is one of my favorites and a big influence on my work. His machine are so interestingly crafted; they are insanely complex and very idiosyncratic.
Zimoun – Zimoun creates sound installations with mechanically prepared everyday objects.
Here are some Links That are useful for making machines or that might inspire ideas:
Bizarre Patents – Diagrams of crazy machines
Gear Template Generator – This is useful for making templates of gears.
Levers – The Wikipedia entry on levers, this is very useful for understanding the types of levers and how they work.
Pulleys– Pully’s are useful for changing the direction of forces and gaining lots of mechanical advantage.
-Aaron
IMPULSE – Finished Projects
Impulse – In Progress
Artist Presentations
Accumulations: Finished Project Photographs
Accumulations: In Progress Photographs
Sample Artist Presentation
Here is a pdf of my artist presentation: Carsten Höller.
If you open it in adobe reader there will be a little word bubbled in the top left corner. That is where you can see my slide notes. Don’t pay attention the spelling and grammar of my notes.
The way that I first put this together was by gathering lots of images of the work, even more than I needed. Then once I figured out what I was going to say about the work I organized it in a cohesive manner and cut out the pieces that I wasn’t going to talk about. You also might notice that some of the works I chose not to talk about are hidden at the end of the presentation.
Happy presenting,
Aaron
Aaron Meyers artXpose #2 (example)
Example of how to submit artsXpose with the PHOTO option
For each artsXpose you complete, you may submit either a form OR a photo–it is not necessary to submit both. Included below is an example of how you may submit artsXpose using the PHOTO option. For the sake of efficiency, you may want to cut-and-paste the text below directly into your post and then appropriately revise the information.
Your photograph should depict you at the event with some distinctive features. This will make it obvious that you attended.
– – –
Title of Event: Joe Meiser Artist Lecture
Date & Time of Event: Friday February 3rd 7 pm
Location of Event: Samek Art Gallery
Type of event: Artist lecture and reception
Aaron Meyers ArtsXpose #1 (example)
Example of how to submit artsXpose with the FORM option
For each artsXpose you complete, you may submit either a form OR a photo–it is not necessary to submit both. Included below is an example of how you may submit artsXpose using the FORM option. For the sake of efficiency, you may want to cut-and-paste the text below directly into your post and then appropriately revise the information.
– – –
Title of Event: Bill T. Jones Lecture
Date and time of event: Monday January 30th 7:30 pm
Location of Event: Harvey Powers Theater
Type of Event: Guest Artist Lecture
1.) Provide a brief detail-oriented technical description or summary of the event you attended. (This section should remain journalistic and should not be reflective of your opinion.)
Bill T. Jones gave an hour lecture with almost a full half hour of questioning. During the lecture he spoke from memory and showed a 15 minutes video of one of his dances being performed by different dancers. He also showed brief examples of his movement throughout the lecture.
2.) Use the section below to write a well-structured paragraph focusing on your personal criticalinsight / response to the event. How did you interpret or react to what was presented to you?
It was clear that Jones was a stage performer. Even in a lecture he had an amazing presence and was very confident. I enjoyed seeing him show bits of his dance moves. He also told a lot of very interesting stories about both his dad and his long time partner. One thing that I found interesting was at the beginning of the lecture he talked a lot about being a part of a counter culture and pushing against society. He described how fruitful it was for him to live in an artist colony that had no concern for material success. However at the end of the lecture he was described some of his current financial realities and the trouble of maintaining a dance company.
3.) What information, ideas, images, etc. most impressed you and why?
I was most impressed by his presence, story telling, and his brief dance moves. They were all very clear but also very unique.
4.) Overall, how would you rate this event (10 being the most worthwhile)?
(10 / 9 / 8 / 7 / 6 / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 )
eight
5.) Justify your rating in the question above:
I think for he was a really articulate speaker and was also entertaining. He also gave me two really valuable messages: don’t let yourself get in the way of the work, and why does it have to be anyone in particulars body?