AutomataCon - Event for automata artists and enthusiasts a huge success

The first automaton-themed convention, AutomataCon, took place last weekend in Morristown, New Jersey. The event brought together hundreds of artists, collectors, historians, educators, and enthusiasts of automata and other forms of kinetic art. I haven't been to many conventions, but I can say that this one was truly great.

The two day event was held at the lovely the Morris Museum in Morristown, New Jersey. If you haven't visited the museum you might wonder why the convention was held there. The reason is straightforward and compelling: it is home to the Murtogh D. Guinness Collection of Mechanical Musical Instruments and Automata -- one of the largest and important collections of its kind. Attendees could view the collection throughout the course of the event.

The stated goal of the convention was to gather people from around the world to share ideas, build relationships, and grow interest in automata new and old. In my personal experience, that is precisely what happened. There was a lot of energy all around as people met one another and shared projects, knowledge, and ideas.

The convention programming was outstanding, with two parallel tracks which ensured that there was something for people with different interests and experience levels. I was pleased to be part of two panel discussions. The first was a question and answer session with modern artists who included Tom Haney, Thomas Kuntz, Steve Armstrong, and Cecilia Schiller. The second panel was on the use of horological tools and techniques for making automata. This panel included Brittany Nicole Cox, Thomas Kuntz, and David Lindow. I am honored to have sat beside each and every one of these panelists. Other presentations at the conference included a rare film and talks on restoration, history, magic, and the making of automata.

The event included some very big names from many fields and universal enthusiasm. It was a unique, educational, and inspiring event. I would do it all over again in a hearbeat. Hats off to event founder Brett King for his good work. Thanks to Jere Ryder and the Morris Museum for being key partners is this extraordinary event. Thanks also to the panelists who made the event so fun and informative. Finally, thank you to everyone who attended. You made the event great.

If you want to share an experience from AutomataCon, I encourage you to leave a comment below.

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Book: Figures in the Fourth Dimension by Ellen Rixford

Jere Ryder, Conservator of the Guinness Collection (of automata and mechanical music) at the Morris Museum wrote to let us know of an important new book on automata. Here's what he wrote:

I think that many of your readers will be interested to learn that there is an exhaustive, 512 page hardcover publication just released: Figures in the Fourth Dimension authored by Ellen Rixford. Over the past 3-4 years the Morris Museum participated in the creation of this book, focusing mainly on the 19th century automata chapter. Throughout the book, the author explains in extraordinary detail how the internal mechanisms of mechanical puppets, marionettes and automata were and are today designed and created. Every cam, lever & linkage is revealed in detailed photographs, exploded view illustrations, and full mechanical descriptions. For any technician, restorer, conservator or contemporary automata or puppetry artist/builder, this reference piece will be required reading.

That's high praise from a very knowledgeable source folks!

This book is now available in the Morris Museum Shop and can no be ordered through our Museum Shop webpage (http://www.morrismuseum.org/museum-shop), or directly from the author’s website (http://www.figuresinthefourthdimension.com/html/Automata-clockwork.html).

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Complex sand-powered magician automaton made largely of paper performs like clockwork versions

Jeremie Ryder, Conservator of the Guinness Collection at the Morris Museum recently passed this fascinating link on to me with some information. The video shows a fairly complex automaton performing the classic cups and balls magic routine. What makes this remarkable is that it is powered by sand and made largely of paper. Ryder goes on to explain it's other interesting aspects:

...an unusual and somewhat complex sand toy, which incorporates a program barrel -- the first I think I've seen like this. There is no name associated with it, but I'd guess at possibly French origin, circa 1860-90. There's hardly any solid research or articles about the history, makers, or countries of origin. One of the main high-end sellers of these was at the Palais Royal in Paris, Pierre Landras, a toy merchant, operating around the 1830's to 50's period.

He goes on to note that this Conjurer is reminiscent of a clockwork-driven automaton because there is more friction involved in moving the multiple levers needed to read the barrel, actuate the objects, as well as the figure's arms and head. A similar example is depicted in an old book on magic effects (shown below).

The book is a classic on stage illusions performed by Robert-Houdin, Bautier de Kolta, Maskelyne, and others. Containing over 400 illustrations, it features detailed descriptions of techniques of fire eaters, sword swallowers, jugglers, acrobats. Most interesting to readers of this blog would be the sections on ancient magic and automata.

Here is where you can get Magic: Stage Illusions, Special Effects and Trick Photography.

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Two great antique automata collections in the United States

Here is a video on automata by CNN. In it you will meet Charles Penniman and the famous Maillardet automaton housed at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. Mr. Penniman has been looking after this precious automaton for over 40 years. I had the pleasure of meeting both back in 2009, and am fond of both the man and the machine. I even got to wind the machine -- not something that every visitor gets to do. Here's a blog post about my visit to see the Maillardet automaton in 2009.

You will also get to meet Jeremy Ryder of the Morris Museum in Morristown, New Jersey where he looks after the Murtogh D. Guinness collection of automata. If you have a chance, this collection is worth a visit. Ryder's expertise is a rare thing.

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Marie Antoinette's clock and automaton to visit The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Nemours Mansion and Gardens in Wilmington Delaware recently prepared a very special musical tall case clock for journey to The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City for a rare temporary exhibit starting at the end of this month. The clock is remarkable, as is its history.

Details about the clock from Steve Ryder:

This rare clock was made for Marie Antoinette c.1785, and it plays an organ and a dulcimer combined. Its case was made in the workshop of the German cabinetmakers Roentgen, who catered to the French Court, amongst others. The clock itself and portions of the musicwork are from the hands of Peter Kinzing of Neuwied, Germany. The musical mechanism was restored by my brother Jere Ryder with Arthur W.J.G. Ord-Hume in 1997, and ever since then, this clock has served as the musical show-stopper on museum tours of the Nemours Mansion, former home of the late Alfed I. DuPont. Jere was called in to prepare the clock for shipment.

The exhibition at The Met is entitled, Extravagant Inventions: The Princely Furniture of the Roentgens. It will feature some of the greatest works by Abraham Roentgen (1711-1793) and his son David Roentgen (1743-1807).

The exhibition will also feature an Automaton of Queen Marie Antoinette (1784), depicting a likeness of the queen at a clavichord. The automaton will be set in motion at select times during the exhibition.

The special exhibition will run from October 30, 2012 through January 27, 2013 at the Metropolitan.

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Automata presentation will address the question: conservation or restoration?

More than a year ago, the Morris Museum initiated a program of one-hour, evening "Spotlight" presentations, each focusing on a different aspect of the Murtogh D. Guinness collection. Specific automata and/or mechanical musical instruments are brought out of both the exhibition and storage to illustrate their role in the arts, music and/or society. This usually sparks a vigorous discussion by the audience.

During the upcoming program on May 24th, Jere Ryder, Guinness Collection Conservator, will discuss conservation ethics as they relate to automata. One of the subjects -- a Clown Guitarist by Leopold Lambert -- is shown here before and after restoration. Mr. Ryder is a member of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC).

The program will include a rare behind-the-scenes look at the fragile textiles, costuming and inner workings of these ingenious mechanical dolls. The program also includes live demonstrations of select automata from the Guinness Collection.

Location: Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown, NJ
Date: Thursday - May 24th, 2012
Time: 6-7pm
Cost: $7 for bembers / $9 for non-members
Call 973-971-3706 to pre-register, spots are limited.
For more Information visit: www.morrismuseum.org

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Hugo Cabret: The Magical World of Automata

The "Monkey on Velocipede" automaton shown here was made by Vichy of Paris, France, in the 1860s. The piece is part of the huge Murtogh D. Guinness Collection of Mechanical Musical Instruments & Automata now held by the Morris Museum in Morristown, New Jersey. To provide some historical background on automata in time for the upcoming release of the movie Hugo Jere Ryder, the museum's conservator, will discuss the Guinness collection during a talk Saturday, Nov. 5, at Westport Public Library in Westport, Connecticut. Titled "Hugo Cabret: The Magical World of Automata", the talk will be from 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM.

If you haven't read the book The Invention of Hugo Cabret yet, you still have about three weeks before the movie comes out to do so. At the very least, you'll want to buy this book as a holiday gift for the young people in your life. This wonderful book is full of illustrations and features an automaton as a central part of the story.

Here is where you can find out more about the talk: Hugo Cabret: The Magical World of Automata.

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