Backbone

Here are some shots of a few pieces that I am prototyping to be sound makers. The wheel pictured here holds several firm rubber flaps. The whole thing will mounted on a small motor which, when rotating,  will cause the flaps to slap a piano string held under tension. My hope is to create a rhythmic drone that serves as an undercurrent and backdrop to an array of other sounds.

-Stay Tuned

I recently attended a workshop taught by Sound/Kinetic artist Trimpin. Over the course of two weeks we dismantled three pianos, two electric organs, many woodwind and string instruments and a few electrical appliances. We used the parts to rebuild an interactive sound environment and composed a performance for the culmination of our time spent there.
-Stay Tuned

I was informed a few days ago, that the piece I donated to the Crucible’s annual  auction, (”Steady Diet” – seen here)  sold for more that it was listed for – Woot! The funds raised in the auction will support the free community programs they offer such as the youth bike building classes.

I made this piece in 2007 with the notion of overlapping systems in mind (biological, social, economic etc).  I was curious about the ways in which these systems interact and influence each other and what the possible effects were on our bodies and minds.

Steady diet is one of two pieces in a set. The other, “Kidney’s Strain From The Hearts Wild Ways” can also be seen below. It is currently on display right now, along with a few other pieces from Backbone, in the Flux show at the Cathedral Gallery in Oakland.

Both of these are forged and fabricated steel pieces with a oil paint patina and hang on the wall.

-Stay Tuned

My friend and collaborator Alan Rorie – Founder of Almost Scientific, has a nice interview in the online publication – ASBMB (American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) this week.

See it here:

Almost Science, Always Art.

-Stay Tuned

The Crucible is an industrial arts school in West Oakland. Since 2007, I have been teaching various classes in Blacksmithing and Kinetics there.

For the next two weeks I will be attending a “Reactive Sculpture” workshop led by these two artists:
Trimpin

Mark Allen

-Stay Tuned

Due to the expected social unrest revolving around the shooting of Oscar Grant and the resulting trial of Officer Johannes Mehserle,
the Cathedral Gallery will postpone its show – FLUX – until:

Tuesday, July 20th show opens (regular gallery hours)
Thursday, July 29th Artist Reception 6-9pm
Friday August 6th First Friday Art Walk 6-9pm
Friday August 13th Closing, music by Daniel Yasmin & Co 6-9pm

Follow the details on the trial here

-Stay Tuned