Video of AutomataCon 2016 at the Morris Museum

Here are a few clips to give you a sense for the magical experience that was AutomataCon 2016 held at the Morris Museum in Morristown, New Jersey. The event was the first of its kind in recent memory and exceeded all expectations. Attendees included new makers, experienced artists, historians, authors, restorers, collectors, magicians, special effects experts, horologists, and educators. Simply put, it was an incredible event!

Visit www.automatacon.org to learn more about this amazing event.

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AutomataCon: a new convention for artists, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts of automata

There is an upcoming event that EVERYONE who reads this blog should know about. The event? AutomataCon. That's right...a convention for us! The press release below says it all. I will be there. I hope you will too!

AutomataCon is a newly conceived convention of and for artists, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts of automatons and related kinetic art. It is a three day event being held March 18th – 20th, 2016 at and in conjunction with the Morris Museum in Morristown, New Jersey, home of the Murtogh D. Guinness Collection of Mechanical Musical Instruments and Automata.

The goal of the convention is to gather people from around the world to share ideas, build relationships, and grow interest in automata new and old. As can be seen from our ever-growing Attendee Gallery, beginners as well as some of the premier artists, collectors, historians, and authors in the automaton community from around the world plan to be in attendance. The convention will include a variety of private and public programming, including: social gatherings, museum tours, panel discussions, live demonstrations, workshops, presentations, and an exhibition. There will also be a premier showing of the extremely rare 1928 film, Le Monde des Automates, in the museum’s Bickford Theatre. Originally created as a typical period silent film using hand-driven cameras, an accompanying sound track was added shortly thereafter, making this one of the first Swiss-made sound films. About 25-30 minutes in length, it was intended to accompany Alfred Chapuis & Eduard Gélis’ foundational 2 volume book by the same title, and documents some extremely rare automata plus a truly unique mechanical musical instrument, the Violinista by Boreau & Aubry (1918-22), in action. A fabulous historical document!

The idea for a convention stemmed from the fellowship shown on the Automata / Automaton Group and Mechanical Adventures group on Facebook. The true value of the convention will be the relationships built and knowledge shared when passionate people of common interest come together. As such, the success of the convention will depend on the attendees themselves. In the end, we are optimistic that great things will come. Please join the Facebook event page for the latest news on the convention.

Visit the event website for more details and to make your reservations.

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Self-portrait drawing machine by Aaron Kramer

Check out artist Aaron Kramer's drawing machine. Using two large cams, a parallel linkage, and a great to deal of experimentation this machine is able to draw the artist's face with a single line over the course of about 15 seconds. It is still a self-portrait if a machine draws the picture? I think so...

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Huge human figure automaton made from found objects!

automaton complete! from rob higgs on Vimeo.

You recall Rob Higgs -- the artist who created the giant wine bottle opener? Here is his latest, a large human figure with moving hands, head, eyes, and many other elements. It's a wonderful assemblage of parts. I can even spot one near to my heart and very near to the automaton's: a lyre-framed brass clock movement with its large spiral mainsprings. The video description notes that he forgot to wind clock mechanism that runs the "brain", and indeed, if you look closely you can see the winding key sticking out the back of the figure's head. It's truly incredible piece. I would expect no less from this particular artist.

Here is where you can see more sculptures by Rob Higgs.

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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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Incredible mechanical bird wing with individual feathers folds and flaps

Check out this amazing bird wing design by that talented Bliss Kolb. Kolb has a real knack for creating beautiful and lifelike bird automata as you can see here and here and here. His aptitude is demonstrated once again in this masterful recreation of a bird wing which can both fold and unfold as wall as flap.

The wing is a work in progress, the final result to be a crank-operated automaton duck.

From the artist's web site:

The feathers are made from Kozo rice paper. I had to add an additional primary feather to the first section to fill out the spacing.

It was a challenge to get the feathers to open & close smoothly without binding or hitting each other. Each one had to be cut to avoid obstacles yet remain large enough to operate smoothly and look right.

Turns out the wider the feathers are, the easier they work.

See more automata by Bliss Kolb at blisskolbautomata.com

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The enchanting rustic automata and 'organic mechanic' of artist Blair Somerville

Please check out this charming video about Blair Somerville -- an artist and self-described tinkerer located on New Zealand’s South Island. The film by Joey Bania is titled Lost & Found.

From the video description:

For over ten years Blair has single-handedly owned, operated and ceaselessly expanded the Lost Gypsy Gallery, his wonderland of homegrown wizardry and a playground for kids and adults alike. Using only recycled materials, Blair takes DIY to artistic extremes. His creations are ingenious, interactive, and often hilariously impractical. They take many shapes and forms and share an uncanny ability to amaze, entertain and inspire.

I love the use of stop-motion animation in the film. The effect complements Somerville's playful, imaginative style of creativity.

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Short video profile of automaton artist Richard Hackney

Check out this wonderful short film about British artist, Richard Hackney, and his automata. Up-cycled copper boilers and light bulbs never looked so good!

See more automata by Richard Hackney on his web site.

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In Memoriam: Vollis Simpson, Master of the Whirligig (1919 - 2013)

We are sorry to hear of the passing of Vollis Simpson over the weekend. He was a talented and dedicated man who delighted and inspiration countless people with his kinetic art.

Here is a full profile of Vollis Simpson's life and career from The Wilson Times (North Carolina).

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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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Paul Spooner and the automata he creates as 'wooden cartoons'

The BBC just featured one of my all time favorite automaton-makers, Paul Spooner. In the film, we get to see a number of his automata and here his thoughts about them. I could listen to Paul Spooner for hours. Or, at least I think I could. I haven't had the actual chance to listen to him for hours. The Tom Waits song used in the piece is both slightly disturbing and on the mark.

I've always agreed with his notion that his works are a form of cartoon. In his work in particular, his wit comes through in such a strong way, there can be no doubt that most are a form a joke. The analogy works in my mind even for those pieces that are not humorous. As with a single panel cartoon one might see in The New Yorker, the automaton depicts a snapshot in time. To understand the point of the piece, the viewer needs the scene to be set. The background, the objects, the figures, their clothing, expressions and posture -- these things must be carefully considered so that the viewer can quickly understand the broader context of the scene. Without this, the actions performed by the characters might come across as nothing more than simple, arbitrary motions.

Spooner is also brilliant with the titles of his pieces, which provide the right shade of glasses through which to view his work. Of course, his use of mechanics and his carving ability are some of the best around. Put all of this together and you get a body of work that's impressive and distinctive. He's one of the greats.

I think you will enjoy this BBC segment called Twisted toymaker Paul Spooner on his 'wooden cartoons'.

[ Thanks Martin! ]

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The lively wood and brass mechanical art of engineer Colin Neu

Today, we feature Colin Neu, an engineer who decided to use his mechanical skills to make these incredibly unique clockwork-driven pieces of art. Each piece is hand-crafted from solid brass and wood, and driven by an antique gramophone motor.

The first piece features a mechanical brass bat with flapping wings. The bat swoops down to pick up ball bearings carrying them to the top of a marble track which they slide down over and over again.

Next, a fanciful zeppelin-like vehicle made of brass and wood whirs and scoots around a table top.

This is followed by a miniature robot who leers menacingly as it walks along the tabletop. A door in its chest swings open automatically to reveal the mechanism inside.

To follow that, an alien flying a saucer hovers around and fires a small brass ray gun.

The final piece shows two brass figures adorning the top of a the wind up automaton. The piece depicts a decapitation scene, not unlike the paper version created by Keith Newstead. The arms swinging after the fatal blow is a nice touch.

The gorgeous brass metal work, finely finished woods, robust mechanical motors, and keen aesthetics make these pieces truly exceptional. Well done!

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Tumbleweed - an early kinetic wooden sculpture by David C. Roy

David C. Roy has been making his own unique style of kinetic wooden sculptures for a while now. Here one of his first. According to Roy, "Tumbleweed was one of the last sculptures I designed in 1976. I was looking for a way to create more rotations of the "pendulum" wheel before reversing." Unlike his more recent works which are spring-driven, this one is powered by a falling weight. But all of the classic David Roy hallmarks are there: beautiful wooden forms, spinning gracefully, almost silently, creating interesting movements and patterns.

You can see more kinetic sculptures by David C. Roy at his web site, Wood That Works

[ Thanks Christoph! ]

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Is Is - another fascinating wall-mounted kinetic sculpture by Gina Kamentsky

Check out the latest wall-mounted kinetic sculpture by Gina Kamentsky. This hand-cranked piece is titled Is Is. As is often the case with her work, found objects are assembled into new elaborate mechanical configurations that spin, swing, slap, ratchet, and creak. Mundane objects, often of no use to anyone, suddenly do unexpected things.

I particularly like the use of ball-chain for some of the connections in this piece. You could spend a long time trying to figure out where the various parts came from. The top arch piece looks to be from the bed segment of a typewriter. It's great to see new life breathed into such venerable mechanical parts.

See more wall mounted kinetic sculptures by Gina Kamentsky on her web site.

[ Thanks Aaron! ]

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If you were to have just one book on making Automata and Mechanical Toys, this might be the one to have

The name of this book says it all for indeed, it deals with Automata and Mechanical Toys, and it does it well. The book covers the history of automata, contemporary makers, and the construction techniques you will need to start making them yourself.

What will you find in Automata and Mechanical Toys? The chapters of the book are as follows:

1. A Brief History of Automata and Mechanical Toys
2. The Origins of Contemporary Automata
3. Tools and Materials
4. Techniques
5. Making Automaton Mechanisms
6. Theme Projects
7. Design
8. Painting and Finishing

That's pretty much everything you could ask for in book on automata.

The chapter on the history of automata is among the best short treatments of the topic, dealing with the clockwork examples from history and placing the contemporary form that is the subject of the book in context.

Each chapter is interspersed with profiles of leading automata makers, showcasing their work with many pictures and a page or two of information about the artist. The artists featured are among the best known automaton makers in the United Kingdom. You'll see profiles of Lucy Casson, Ron Fuller, John Grayson, Neil Hardy, Andy Hazell, Tim Hunkin, John Maltby, Tony Mann, Peter Markey, Ian McKay, Frank Nelson, Rodney Peppe, Robert Race, Martin Smith, Paul Spooner, Melanie Tomlinson, Douglas Wilson, Kristy Wyatt Smith, Vicki Wood, and Jan Zalud.

The photographs of automata in this book are outstanding. Printed in full color on glossy paper, you can really get a sense for the devices, their construction, and the finishes that add that artistic touch.

The section on tool and materials is quite good and provides some translation of terms for speakers of American English (e.g. a "pillar drill" is what we call a "drill press"). The sections that cover construction techniques are clear and informative. In addition, there are printed patterns for pin-wheels, ratchets, cams, and splined gears. If you are just starting out, these patterns are invaluable.

A particularly cool thing about this book is the section on the automaton mechanism test platform. The reader is given complete instructions for making commonly used mechanical components. These can then be fitted to the test platform in order to see them in action. The final product is a bit like an interactive display at a science museum. The construction and use of this platform would make a great classroom aid or science fair project.

You won't find plans for any complete automata projects in this book. For that, you'll have to turn to one of the author's other books, Making Mechanical Toys, which is a great companion volume. What you will find are instructions for how to make the components you'll need to make an automaton of your own: ratchets, pinwheels, gears, linkages, cams, cranks, a Geneva wheel, and so on. This is really useful stuff.

Somewhere between a how-to book and a coffee table treatment of the art form itself, the book may frustrate those who want to focus on just one thing or the other. But, if you love automata, want see examples by well known automata artists, and want to learn more about how to make these wonderful devices, then this book is a must-have. If you were to own just one book on automata making, this is probably the one to have.

Click here to learn more about Automata and Mechanical Toys

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An in depth look at a steam-powered dancing man by toymaker Ron Fuller

I highly recommend spending 10 minutes with automaton and toy making legend Ron Fuller. In this video Fuller explains the design and construction of a dancing figure that is powered by the steam produced from a small boiler heated with an alcohol lamp. Once the boiler reaches temperature, we get to see the figure dance...and boy, does it dance! There may or may not be a fun little surprise toward the end of the video, but I refuse to say.

Fuller also shows some more traditional examples of dancing figures or "limberjacks" as they are sometimes called. He notes that the addition of a side-to-side motion really helps to improve the dancers motion. I think you'll agree. I love how one arm of his dancing figure is particularly animated, while the other moves just a little. This adds a lot of character to the motion.

Here are a few fun facts you might not know about Ron Fuller.

[ Thanks Paul! ]

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Frank Nelson, Artist and Automaton Maker (1930 - 2012)

It is with great sadness that we note the passing this month of Frank Nelson, one of the great makers of contemporary automata. I won't pretend that I knew him. Of course, I knew of his work and have always recognized it as some of the finest. Those who knew him have described him as a genius, who was inspirational, funny, and kind.

Like a few other luminaries in the field of automata-making, he was inspired by artist Sam Smith, who encouraged Nelson to try his hand and moving works and to enter them into exhibitions. Nelson, in turn, has inspired another generation of automata makers with his wit, fine carvings, and exquisite use of paint.

Frank Nelson's web site features a nice biography of his life as an artist. The passage below is taken from there.

Frank Nelson was born in Blackpool in 1930 and attended Blackpool Art School during the 1940s. He then spent some years in motor and aircraft design, becoming self-employed in 1960 and undertaking a range of model-making projects and design works for architects, museums film and theatre.

Frank Nelson started to carve and create automata in the early 1970's and for over 35 years he concentrated exclusively on automata with his own distinct figurative style using carved and painted wood. Over the years he has exhibited in most major galleries and art centres and acted as guest lecturer in a number of Universities, including the John Makepeace School for craftsmen in wood at Parnham House in Dorset. Many of his original automata are in public collections but of the many private commissions - he is proudest of the 'Barnum' automata commissioned by the actor Michael Crawford and based on the stage musical.

Nelson once described his piece 'The Tamer' (1975) as "the best idea I have ever had." The Tamer cracks his whip twice, but the big cat shakes its head from side to side, refusing to perform. On the third crack of the whip, the animal finally does the trick. The surprise comes in the form of a role reversal with the tiger putting his head into the Tamer's mouth.

Many of us who love automata own Frank Nelson a debt directly or indirectly. A man known for being generous with his time and knowledge, it is good to know that Frank Nelson's works will endure and his influence will live on.

Here is the official web site of Frank Nelson where you can see the paintings, drawings, portrait sculpture, and automata produced by this remarkable artist.

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Vintage video profile of toy maker Ron Fuller in his workshop

Here's another wonderful video from the archives over at Cabaret Mechanical Theatre. This short video features artist and toy maker, Ron Fuller, in his workshop. In the video we get to see his Woodland Animal mechanical piece The Circus, The Sheepshearer, a sand toy and many other creations from his charming workshop in Suffolk, England.

A kid at heart, it's great to see this grown man making mechanical toys. This piece makes a nice companion to the video profile of Ron Fuller from earlier this year.

If you like Ron Fuller's work and want to make some of the same models and automata, you will want to get his book The Art and Craft of Wooden Toys. It is very clear and well-illustrated. It's one of the few books with complete plans for a wood automaton -- his famous Lion Tamer automaton.

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New automata by Atlanta based artist Tom Haney

Atlanta based automaton-artist Tom Haney has added a number of new pieces to his web site. Among the new pieces is Fruition, seen in the movie clip above.

From the Artist's Site:
I wanted to continue to explore the idea of "experiments with electricity and electric lights." I had the idea to have a figure "switching" a bulb on and off by touching together two brass contact rods. The antique case, which has glass on 5 sides, lets lots of light in, but also serves as a protective container that allowed me to add intricate detail to the scene.

All of his new works can be found at the bottom of Tom Haney's home page.