Date: Fall 2022 - ???
Work in Progress. On Hiatus.
Date: Winter 2021
Date: Summer 2019 - ???
Behold, a true mechanical orrery that drives power and data to controlled LEDs in the planetary arms. Sensors allows participants to interact with lights and orbits as an ambient musical layer responds in turn. This mechanical art piece prominently displays its gear trains and gantries in a celebration of human engineering while also reminding us to look up and behold the wondrous mechanisms of the cosmos. Seeking funding.
Date: 2019 - 2020
Collaborators: Ilya Tinker
Date: Winter 2018
This project was devised to be used in the Freezerburn 2018 effigy, but with the intent to also act as a sustainable stand alone piece, as well as be reasonably easy to install in the head of another effigy down the line. The eyes are approximately two feet in diameter with a large five mirror kaleidoscope running through the middle ending in a large acrylic cabochon serving as the cornea. The Iris is a radial array of LED’s whos patterns can be controlled through buttons and knobs on a separate control panel. The whole eyeball assembly is mounted with a two axis gimbal allowing participants to both look around and “animate” the eyes or onlookers to enjoy as well.
The kaleidoscope and gimbal assembly is made of aluminum tube either welded, or fastened together. Bearings mounted with custom 3d printed parts allow an extremely smooth and reliable action. CNC milled aluminum acts as the kaleidoscope eye piece, and holds it it place together with the iris plate, which is made of CNC milled acrylic. This acrylic plate houses the LEDs in a water resistant enclosure. A shell of frosted Mylar sheet extends from the Iris plate to the inner gimbal ring to form the sclera of the eye, which is further light from the inside by a strip of LED’s around the kaleidoscope.
The eyes are currently undergoing a rebuild in order to improve longevity, aesthetics, and user experience. Updates coming soon!
Below are a couple of videos showing the eyes in action.