forever wild (nest machine) install pics

Three quick install pics. Opening on Friday!

TAGS: ,
.

forever wild (nest machine) — show announcement!

.

forever wild (nest machine) — 2nd conveyor belt!



I used an old industrial serger/overlock machine to make the new conveyor belt. Super fun.

 

I also finally solved the problem I was having with the belts riding up on the sides of the pulleys — “crowned pulleys”! I built up the middle of each pulley so that it’s higher than the edges of the pulley, giving it a convex, or crowned, profile. This encourages the belt to stay centered.

TAGS: ,
.

pathetic foals flyer and contest!

Here’s the flyer for the monsters workshop and performance @ Penn Museum this weekend!

 

We’re running a #patheticfoal contest: a $100 iTunes gift card for the most pathetic foal pic or video from the event tagged with #patheticfoal and posted online by Sunday, September 23rd.

TAGS:
.

raw materials for 22 foals



I’m getting ready for a 20 foal workshop/performance at Penn Museum.


+++++++

Monsters: A Workshop and Happening
 
September 16
Sunday, 2:30 pm Workshop; 4:00 pm Performance
Philly Fringe Event

 

Take an afternoon out to discover your inner monster at this audacious Philly Fringe event! Participate in the 2:30 pm DIY workshop where audience members collaborate with artist Douglas Repetto in assembling a herd of frolicking “foals” — small walking tables handmade from scrap wood and simple mechanical parts. Then at the 4:00 pm happening, the monstrous herd will be set free in the Penn Museum’s majestic Chinese Rotunda, where an epic struggle between the forces of good and evil may or may not take place. Afterwards they are herded out into the Warden Garden, free to eat the grass and frolic in the fountains. After the event audience members are invited to adopt a deviant foal. Take-home foal-building plans are also available. Foal friends or foal foes? There’s only one way to find out! Free with Museum admission ($12 adults; $8 children 6 to 17; $10 seniors; free for children 5 and under, and Penn Museum members.) Advance tickets recommended; workshop participation is on a first-come, first-served basis.
 
Tickets available online at: http://livearts-fringe.ticketleap.com/monsters-a-workshop-and-happening/
 
For more information: 215.898.2680.


+++++++
 
Gathering tools and pre-fabbing parts…
 

 

 

TAGS:
.

Forever Wild (nest machine) — conveyor belts



(15mb mp4 video)

Here’s a little video of one of the conveyor belts in action. Too much purple, I may cut that piece down and sew in some others. I’ve got lots of other nice materials for the 2nd belt. It’ll be a bit brighter than this one.

TAGS: ,
.

Forever Wild (nest machine) — slow dumpers



(19MB mp4 video)

The slow dumpers are dumping slowly! A conveyor belt runs under these, transporting the dumped debris to the nest building site.

 
Gotta decide whether to engrave the pulleys or not. Going back to MFTA next week to get more baubles for the shiny dumper. Will take river walk this weekend to collect more sticks and debris for the woody dumper.

TAGS: ,
.

Forever Wild (nest machine) — wire lifter test



(28MB mp4 video)

Here’s a quick video of the wire lifter in action. An electromagnet rides up and down on a 6′ length of threaded rod. When it gets to the bottom the magnet is turned on and it picks up some pieces of steel wire (these will be in a wooden bin with sloped sides). It then reverses and rides up to the top. When it reaches the top the magnet is turned off and the steel wire falls onto the conveyor belt below. The belt will travel through a nearby wall and into the center room where the nest building platform is. When the pieces of wire reach the end of the belt they’ll fall onto the nest building platform.

In this video the conveyor belt lost tension just as the wire fell — imagine that it continues turning the whole time!

TAGS: ,
.

Forever Wild (nest machine) — glue tests





A little video of the first glue tests — it looks like wood glue with ink drops will work great to hold the nest together! This was the result of me just holding a bottle of wood glue above the turntable and letting it drip while dropping the cut wires a few at a time. I then dripped green, red, and purple ink into the mess and let it set up over night.






Testing ink drops in wood glue.

TAGS: ,
.

Picoides borealis (misunderstanding)




Almost finished with the nest commission for Brad & Jill’s backyard. Pics & movies soon!

TAGS: ,
.