Kinetic Food

Masters can paint or sculpt a moment frozen in time, but what about art that captures and plays a movement? What about art that changes with time? If you guessed Kinetic Sculpture, you win the prize! Art is both an expression and a practice. So we will get right into the practice from day 1. Seeded by a few examples (mobiles, chain reactions, wind powered beach walkers, music making machines), we will begin by building small prototypes and experimenting with basic mechanical elements. We will cover the basics of motion (the wheel, lever, linkages, bearings, etc) as well as the basics of energy use and storage (gravity, spring, wind, electricity, hand crank).

Students will gain hands-on experience with mechanical linkages, energy storage mechanisms, trigger mechanisms, pendulums, crankshafts, and balance dynamics. This course will cover basic mechanical engineering concepts. We will practice extensive small prototyping, drawing, brainstorming, and iterative testing to develop mechanical intuition. This is a computer-free course. Students will definitely leave this course with some art for their desk or a gift for a friend!

Jeff Lieberman

MS, Mech. Engineering, Media Arts and Sciences, MIT

Jeff Lieberman explores the connections between the arts, sciences, education, passion, creativity, and the potential future of human consciousness. He hosts ‘Time Warp’ on the Discovery Channel, using technology to see beyond the limits of our normal human perception. He composes music in the duo gloobic, and has performed in Carnegie Hall. He shows technological sculptures around the world, to bring people an emotional and mystical connection with science and the universe. Having finished four degrees at MIT (BS: Physics, Math, MS: Mech. Engineering, Media Arts and Sciences), he is exploring the applications of technology to evolving and shifting human consciousness.

links:
‘Time Warp’
gloobic
Jeff Lieberman

Dan Paluska

MS, Mech. Engineering, Media Arts and Sciences, MIT

Dan Paluska is an artist and engineer who works in kinetic, robotic, and various other media. He has BS, MS and ABD from MIT in Mechanical Engineering. He worked in the Leg Laboratory (MIT AI Lab) on walking robots and in the Biomechatronics Group (MIT Media Lab) on leg prosthetics and orthotics. While at MIT he founded the Collision
series of art and technology events which is still running today. He has collaborated with numerous artists and engineers on large scale robotic installations including a 10,000 pound, 55 ft tall abstract transformer for Citroen in Paris, and a 213 dof interactive robotic ensemble(w\ Jeff). He has been on the Discovery channel, the cover of Wired
magazine, and been the recipient of the Prixars Award of Distinction for Interactive Art. He is inspired by people, the most amazing technology of all and currently is working on the daily practice of small actions.

links:
Plain Front