Nexus Spiral

One-of-a-kind

• Size: 45” w x 55” h x 7” d

• Aproximate Run Time: 15 hours

• Price: $10,000. - Opening bid at future auction

• Nexus Spiral ©2021

• Sold

About Nexus Spiral:

I made Storm, Nexus Arc and Nexus Spiral all as part of the design challenge. This was an study I set for myself several years ago. I wanted to explore what would happen when I used the the same basic pattern of wheels moved with different mechanisms.

In Storm’s case I drove each pattern wheel independently creating an energetic chaotic pattern. For the Nexus sculptures I kept the 6 satellite patterning wheels synchronized using a completely different mechanism. This creates a calmer more relaxing pattern that draws you in and then releases you. It’s almost like breathing in a way. I find the Nexus designs very relaxing, almost meditative as the pattern starts out moving quickly and gently, over several minutes slows down and stops before getting another push and repeating the cycle.

During my computer animation studies for Nexus I could not decide if I wanted to use a spiral arm to connect the fan spokes or an arc. Both created patterns that were interesting. My indecision inspired me to make both! In all other aspects these 2 sculptures are the same. Can you see the difference? Does either speak louder to you?

Nexus Arc

• One-of-a-kind

• Size: 45” w x 55” h x 7” d

• Aproximate Run Time: 15 hours

• Price: $10,000. - Opening bid at future auction

• Nexus Arc ©2021

• Sold

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About Nexus Arc

One of my joys in semi-retirement is the time to fully explore new ideas. Nexus Arc is the second part of my exploration that started with the sculpture Storm released in 2021. With Storm I used 6 separate mechanisms to create a “stormy” mix of 6 independent elements. 

Nexus Arc is a study of what happens when I use 6 wheels set in a Storm’s radial pattern but synchronized. I incorporated a different mechanism to achieve this variation. The result is a completely different pattern that seems to collapse toward the center and then burst out again but all in a repeating and orderly fashion. The rotation starts out fairly rapidly but over the course of several minutes gradually slows down and finally stops and reverses. This reversal is the signal for the spring-based mechanism to give the entire assembly another push. The cycle time is long so during the beginning of the video I cut out 90 seconds of time so you can see both the start and end of the motion quickly. The video then continues and shows the full cycle. 

If you listen carefully you can hear 1 click per rotation and a louder click then the main push happens.

Nexus Arc creates endless evolving patterns as it moves. The still photos to the right shows three of its many different orientations.