For those of you who don’t recognize electronic components, this guide is for you ⚡️ My installation, “Circuit Garden,” is planted with oversized sculptures of common electronic parts used in nearly every circuit ever made. Hardware components are the media fundamentals of electrical engineering and electronic art — without which we would not have computers or software. They comprise the physical anatomy of machine intelligence. These are: capacitors (electrolytic and ceramic types), transistors, resistors, LEDs, wires, and ICs (integrated circuits, aka chips). Yes, there are other important types of hardware not included in Circuit Garden (or mentioned here), but I’ll sculpt those another time 😉
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Sounds of Another Time (Rising Dragon), 2021 /
I am pleased to reveal my latest commissioned piece, “Sounds of Another Time (Rising Dragon),” 2021. This sound-generating work of art fuses several themes: new and old symbols, rising and falling cultures, electronic and traditional media, and feminist electrical engineering. The piece is made with functioning and non-functioning circuit boards, celebrating the expressive potential of electronic hardware as an artistic medium, and specifically highlighting the naturalistic, decorative form that electronics can take. The circuit boards are fiberglass with etched copper, some plated in solder or gold, to which I have selectively applied various chemical patinas in the style of Louis Comfort Tiffany. Because fiberglass is translucent, I am able to backlight the central dragon and cast shadow on Venus reclining with her cherubic cohorts. The silver-colored circuits on either side of the dragon (copied from an illustrated winged griffin by Alexis Peyrotte, 18th century) are abstract electronic Foo dogs that have been overprinted with floral vines in the style of Zuber. East rises above the West. Blinking LEDs on the Foo dogs evoke fireflies and are, in fact, powered by the (hidden) analog electronics that generate this cricket soundscape. There are two knobs, one of which controls the dragon’s growling voice and a second changes the chirp rate of a single cricket (to show the dynamic nature of the analog electronics). I plan to wire one piece from this series with additional knobs that control the entire soundscape in greater detail. The art can be enjoyed with or without electricity (and has the option to turn on backlighting only, without sound).
Soon, I will post images of other available works from this series (message me with inquiries) which have subtle variance in color due to different patinas on the metal. This specific piece is destined for a private collector in Washington, DC. Thank you to Felix Etienne-Edouard Pfeifle for orchestrating this amazing commission!
”Sounds of Another Time (Rising Dragon)",” 2021. Analog electronics, printed circuit boards, and silkscreen on fabric-covered panel. Unique series of 6 mixed media electronic artworks with one AP. 23.5” x 37.5 x 2"
Electronic naturalism and collective intelligence /
Detail from recent experiments in 3d. Collective intelligence, AI, and Elon Musk have been on my mind lately. This image was made possible by a wealth of information and tools that are free for anyone with an Internet connection, notably Blender, Andrew Price aka “Blender Guru” videos on YouTube, and models available under the Creative Commons license (butterfly by Kirin Karpenko and LEDs by Sonny See, both available on Blendswap). Although not free, Julius Harling’s incredible Graswald also deserves mention. #creativecommonslicense