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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A collection of automata by a artist Steve Armstrong

Check out this beautiful selection of automata by artist Steve Armstrong represented by the Heike Pickett Gallery.

From the artist's statement:

I create kinetic constructions, often referred to as Automata. My themes are poetic and evocative, sometimes narrative, and almost always charged with personal symbolic content. My work is based in the human figure and realism. I simplify my forms. My inner voice dictates that the figures not be in too nonchalant or too candid a pose, and that the figures be posed in a formal manner, maybe contraposto, sometimes with formal hand gestures.

Here is a link to see more automata by Steve Armstrong.

Here is a link to a video profile of Steve Armstrong I posted back in 2009. It's really good.

[ Thanks Christoph! ]

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The automaton art of Steve Armstrong on exhibit in Lexington, April 2013

Ernesto Scorsone and John Davis will be hosting an exhibition of new work by artist Steve Armstrong in their home in Lexington, Kentucky. Other specially selected pieces from Armstrong's studio will also be on display courtesy of Heike Pickett Gallery. Shown above is the first of a three-part video profile of the artist at work. (Here is a link to part 2 and part 3.)

This is a wonderful and all-too-infrequent chance to see the refined work of a masterful maker of contemporary automata.

What:
Scorsone and Davis, Showing Art of Steve Armstrong

When:
Friday, April 19, 2013
5:00pm until 8:00pm

Where:
The Scorsone and Davis Residence
511 West Short St.
Lexington, Kentucky

For more information, visit the Facebook page for this event.

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The Fruit of Our Labors by Steve Armstrong

The Fruit of Our Labors is a handmade wooden clockwork automaton by Steve Armstrong of Lexington, Kentucky.

This work shows his typically wonderful treatment of the human figures. In addition, the piece makes great use of an escapement mechanism -- an escape wheel, escape lever, crutch, and pendulum -- more commonly found in clocks. The escapement releases the energy contained in a weight in a slow, measured way, allowing the piece to perform for over 2 minutes.

See other works by Steve Armstrong from September 18th to October 28th (2011) at the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art located at 511 North Water Street Tuscumbia, Alabama.

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Exhibit of new automata art by Steve Armstrong

An exhibit of Steve Armstrong's new automata will be on display at the Heike Pickett Gallery in Versailles, Kentucky from April 25 through June 15. Shown here is a piece titled THE FRUIT OF OUR LABORS. When wound the pendulum swings back and forth and all the gears engage to enable the figure to turn the wheel.

Here is the link to a page with some of Steve Armstrong's automata on the Heike Pickett Gallery web site.

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The Automata of Steve Armstrong - video profile of the artist, part 3

You guessed it -- here is the third and final video about the beautiful automata art of Steve Armstrong.

Here is a link to Part 1 of the video.
Here is a link to Part 2 of the video.

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The Automata of Steve Armstrong - video profile of the artist, part 2

Here is the second of three videos from PBS show focusing on the automata art of Steve Armstrong.

Here is a link to Part 1 of the video.
Here is a link to Part 3 of the video.

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The Automata of Steve Armstrong - video profile of the artist, part 1

Enjoy this video -- the first of three -- on the automata art of Steve Armstrong done for a local PBS station.

Here is a link to Part 2 of the video.
Here is a link to Part 3 of the video.

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Grim Rover by Artist Steve Armstrong

Take a look at this gorgeous piece of animated wooden sculpture by Steve Armstrong entitled "Grim Rover".

Here's a short article on Steve's process of work.

See more of Steve Armstrong's at the John Pence Gallery.

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Automaton Artist Steve Armstrong in Two Galleries

I posted some time ago about automaton artist Steve Armstrong's automata on eBay and at the John Pence Gallery.

As it turns out, he also has automata available in two other galleries at this time: the Heike Pickett Gallery in Kentucky and the Logsdon 1909 Gallery in Chicago, Il. A few of the pieces shown on their sites may have sold, but many are available.

Shown here is a piece entitled Gatekeeper. I love the box/platform. Just beautiful.

Here is Steve Armstrong's work at the Heike Pickett Gallery. Here is Steve Armstrong's work at the Logsdon 1909 Gallery (Flash required).

Automaton Art with Wood, Gears, Pulleys & Chains

A kindly Automata / Automaton Blog reader made me aware of an automaton artist named Steve Armstrong.

Armstrong is represented by the John Pence Gallery in San Francisco.

From their site:
His work is most unusual for the big city in many ways - Armstrong is a Kentucky native known for his "Automata" sculpture. Every piece has moveable parts, hand-carved from various woods and vividly painted. He deftly uses gears, pulleys, chains and the viewer's energy to make his sculptures move. They stand tall, they whirl and spin, and they open to reveal an amazing sense of humor.

At this moment, he has a piece on auction at eBay.

Check out the John Pence Gallery's page dedicated to Steve Armstrong's automata.