Machine for Preserving the Wind

I drew inspiration for this work from watching the movement of wind blowing through the prairie grass. The swirls and waves are here recreated through a large mechanical cam that stores a program of the winds patterns. This mechanical memory serves as a puppeteer and conductor for all the moving parts in the sculpture. It in turn drives a series of linkages and connections that are designed to be visible so the viewer can explore their workings and function.

This machine is constructed largely of wood, a material that does not intuitively lend itself to delicate machinery. The wood adds a living element to the machine, variations in each piece change the movement, and further disrupt the reproduction, making the effect closer to that of the wind in the field. With careful study of the character of the material and the nature of each piece used, the mechanism can be designed to play upon the strengths of the material, unifying the organic and the mechanical.

In this piece I am exploring the process of translating a natural movement into an abstract mechanism. This machine reproduces the effects of the wind but excludes the cause. In the process a sensory disconnect is created, throwing the sensation of wind into relief by virtue of its absence.

For more information on the construction of this piece, please refer to my blog.