It often happens that one sculpture starts the idea for another. This is especially true at this late stage of my career where I have explored and given up on many ideas. In 2016 I explored a new concept in a one-of-a-kind sculpture called Blink. I explored what would happen if I reversed the normal order of fans in a patterning wheel and had them point in opposite directions. Of course this created a significantly off-balanced wheel but I compensated using a large outside frame ring that varied in width. This was a difficult sculpture to make because even with the outside ring, balance was still hard to achieve. I did enjoy the “blink” effect and the varied patterns but thought it too challenging to produce in an edition.
These are the types of challenges I’ve been enjoying revisiting now that I’m “retired”. Last year I decided to explore whether this really was an impossible wheel to balance. Using my ancient copy of Working Model software along with my favorite drawing program Illustrator and a spreadsheet I ran numerous simulations looking for a design with the center of mass at the center of the wheel. I played with the number of spokes, their thickness and their angle relative to each other. Eventually I found a design that I thought would work both visually and dynamically. I tested the patterning by generating an animation of the design in motion. Of course the real test was to actually make the design. My first attempt wasn’t quite right. It was still too off balance. I tweaked the design and refined my center of mass calculation to more precisely locate the exact point. The second attempt worked as I had hoped.
I love the mix of 3 different patterns during each rotation. Half of the pattern shows as collapsing fans while the opposite half is expanding. Just as that becomes recognizable everything is wiped away in a blink pattern. The constantly shifting rotation rates combined with this pattern creates a piece I find hard to stop watching.
Fraud Warning:
Apparently there is a concern out of China that is currently putting up fake websites, instagram, tiktok and facebook posts offering David’s designs for $39- $59. All have stolen videos and images from our website and David’s IP. No one has been given permission or been licensed to use these designs or images. If you purchase, some sites steal data while others ship you wood scraps. None ship kinetic sculptures. A number of kinetic artists are experiencing this. The “companies” dissolve and new websites appear every other day as the previous ones get shut down due to complaints. Additionally now they are selling “kits” on Amazon. These are wooden parts taken as screen shots from my designs. They are incorrect, incomplete, without instructions and will never work. Please report them as fraud. They have no connection to me what so ever! Thank you.
