KineticWorld

.:: Friday, July 30, 2004

They're English. They're eccentric. They're automata with lots of attitude.

At least that's how the SF Chronicle bills the show. It is well worth visiting, or did I already tell you that?

Anyway, thought y'all might like to see the press on it.

PS - my recently finished coin-op piece, "Awe-Tomata", is somewhere over there on display as well.

Posted at 1:51 PM by CTP |

.:: Thursday, July 22, 2004

EXTRA EXTRA - THIS JUST IN!!

What happens when you turn a British automata artist loose in the Exploratorium and give him a heap of tagboard, wood scrap, old motors and access to a graffiti artist? Come find out....

Keith Newstead, from the Cabaret Mechanical Theatre arrived yesterday and is in the process of sketching and gathering materials, and planning to be fairly far along on a new piece in time for a brown bag presentation this Tuesday.

Keith will talk about his work, show past pieces, and share his newest automata, a life sized urban angel, constructed here at the Exploratorium.

Join us Tuesday, July 27th @ 12:00PM in the Production Studio.
You're also welcome to stop in before Tuesday to see the work in progress.

I was just over there yesterday, and his urban angel was already taking shape and should turn out quite wonderful. The CMT exhibit is great as well, and well worth a visit.

Posted at 11:22 AM by CTP |

.:: Monday, July 19, 2004

Question

Ever wonder...
What is artistic quality?
Where is the meaning in the work?
Who decides what is art or who is an artist?

This isn't specifically about our beloved kinetic and/or electronic art, but I'd say an event like this, done right, is worth a visit by anyone who has created, viewed, or heard of "art".

The Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University announces an experimental project to provoke and address questions frequently asked by visitors about art and its presentation in museums. Featuring objects from the Center's collection, 'Question' will be open July 14, 2004 through January 2, 2005. Admission is free.

'We are not even referring to this as an 'exhibition,' because we want to break out of the boundaries that the term 'exhibition' sets up in people's minds,' explained Patience Young, the Cantor Arts Center's curator for education. 'We are throwing out our assumptions in order to challenge ourselves and engage visitors in new ways. As we distilled a list of queries from the general public and visiting students, we discovered that some of the most basic questions are the most provocative. 'What is artistic quality?'; 'where is the meaning in the work?'; and 'who decides what is art or who is an artist?' have stimulated animated discussions among the staff.

For more information, call 650-723-4177

More food for thought:
Art Crimes
But Is It Art? by Cynthia Freeland

Posted at 4:23 PM by CTP |

.:: Thursday, July 08, 2004

Exploratorium: Tinkering!

Good news! The Exploratorium in San Francisco is running an exhibition called simply "Tinkering!" this month and next.

Great news!!! As part of the show they have secured the Cabaret Mechanical Theatre automata collection to have on display until October 3rd. If you have never heard of or seen these machines you owe it to yourself to go see them while you can. These are many of the pieces that not only got me to dive whole hog into kinetic art and automata building, but also helped me retain my sanity while I was living in London many years ago.

Once I have gone for a visit I will report back, and maybe include some pix...if they'll let me.

Posted at 8:43 AM by CTP |

2007 CTP Design & Creation