Overview
Project Information
Project Description. Summarize the proposed project. Address the following: What will you create?
How will the sculpture manifest physically?
The sculpture I’m presenting for the Bike Bridge is a modular kinetic sculpture built with salvaged bicycle parts. The sculpture looks like a futuristic creature. It posses a flapping “dorsal fin” evacuating the skeleton of Spinosaurus of or the dorsal fin of Marlin. This dorsal fin is connected to a set of gears and custom hinges allowing it to flap sideways. The movement can be propelled by a number of circular gear based hinges such as the pedal on a bicycle, the swing of a SeeSaw seat or by physically moving one of dorsal vertebras.
The overall movement of the sculpture and the mechanics connected to it emulates a living form. This intrigues the visitors by transforming the sculpture into a mechanical play ground.
The skeleton of the structure is striped down to its engineering needs functioning as a blank canvas that can be modified based on the creative input of the people building the sculpture.
In collaboration with The Oakland Youth program and The Crucible’s team the sculpture can evolve on the spot tailored to both the kids creative desires and visitors needs. Sitting spaces will be carve-out for parent to sit, meet and greet. Kids and adults can climb, swing, cycle or rest together while the sculpture flops its dorsal fin.
The sculpture can be installed as one monumental peace or as a combination of smaller modules, in different sizes embellished by a different team creating a horde of metal flapping creatures each with its own character.
For example this can become an open source art project similar to the Cow Parade charity program or the Canadian Moose Sculpture Series. The work can be replicated in other context by making all structural and engineering drawings available online and allowing who ever to personalize the sculpture.
Project Realization
Summarize integral elements of the project’s realization. Address the following: How will you obtain your materials? Have you worked with these materials? Are you part of an artists’ collective or do you have an existing team/crew? Do you have a physical space available to work on this project? What resources do you have available? What resources do you require?
PROJECT REALIZATION
The sculpture is made of 2-core components:
1) The kinetic dorsal fin mechanical system
2) The sculpture skeleton
My first task will be to work with the engineer to design the kinetic mechanics of the dorsal fin as well as the sculpture skeleton based on a modular system. This will make the sculpture easy to build, assemble and transport.
This initial effort is paramount to simplify the structure, reduce production costs and transportation costs.
Most important however is the transparency of the design will foster experimentation allowing each module to be miss-matched and reassemble in different ways, while maintaining the function and kinetic propriety of the sculpture. Think of it as a oversize LEGO exercise, were modular elements (like bricks and beams) are combined together to create a unique structure, yet each module can be personalize to a degree by its maker.
Finally following the steps of the Open Hardware community or the Open Architecture Network created by Architecture for Humanities, all mechanical and structural drawings will be made public. Blueprints will be downloadable for any one interested in building new versions of the sculpture. This way both the mechanics and structure can be modified, new design created and possibly shared on the project website inspiring a community of creative minds.
Step 1 : Modularization of both the skeleton and the kinetic mechanisms
Kinetic System
The Kinetic Dorsal Fin is made of a combination of recycled bicycle part such gear, chain, pedal and some of costume made hinge that connects the “metal vertebras” to the structure itself. These materials can be easily recycled from old bicycles and then build into the final skeleton. However the mechanics of the kinetic dorsal fin may be tested in a smaller scale before production starts.
The goal is to simplify the mechanics using hinges, gears and parts communally used in bicycle making or enhanced with minor modifications. The system should be able to function using simple movements such cycling or swinging while being easy enough to assemble and modified if needed.
Structural Skeleton
The Sculpture skeleton will be build with a combination of bicycle frames and steal tubes. Working with the engineers the skeleton will be design in modular subsection. The intent is to keep the structure to its minimal form both construction and transportation needs; yet the minimalism of the core structures allows creative room from 3rd parties modification without compromising the structural needs of the sculpture.
To illustrate, if the modules are design simple enough to build, each kid or team of kids will be able to build one on their own, adding their creative input (instead of simply decorating it) and fully owning the project.
Step 2 : Production
Once all modules are designed and overall blueprint is completed the design will be presented to the kids having them talk it through allowing for participation and creative input in the early stages of the project.
The structure will be then divided into core structures and secondary structures.
The core structure will be the first one to be built. This is the backbone around which every thing is constructed.
This is were the dorsal spine will be incased and were the core of the kinetic mechanism will be build. I will personally take implement this part of the sculpture to make sure each module is safely built.
Secondary structure will be built involving kids participation as much as possible. Based on their technical skills student will be responsible for specific section of the sculpture. Tasks will be divided between smaller and larger group of students based on the complexity of the structure, interests and skills.
Together with The The Crucible’s team I will supervise the work and help students through the process. As modules become available they can add to the sculpture and make adjustments on the fly if needed. The sculpture is ultimately the result of the community collective effort and thus is owned by the community.
I think of it as puzzle structural building exercise. As a way to teach kids solve problem and build
Finally following the steps of the Open Hardware community or the Open Architecture Network created by Architecture for Humanities, all mechanical and structural drawings will be made public. Blueprints will be downloadable for any one interested in building new versions of the sculpture. This way both the mechanics and structure can be modified, new design created and possibly shared on the project website inspiring a community of creative minds.
Step 1 : Modularization of both the skeleton and the kinetic mechanisms
Kinetic System
The Kinetic Dorsal Fin is made of a combination of recycled bicycle part such gear, chain, pedal and some of costume made hinge that connects the “metal vertebras” to the structure itself. These materials can be easily recycled from old bicycles and then build into the final skeleton. However the mechanics of the kinetic dorsal fin may be tested in a smaller scale before production starts.
The goal is to simplify the mechanics using hinges, gears and parts communally used in bicycle making or enhanced with minor modifications. The system should be able to function using simple movements such cycling or swinging while being easy enough to assemble and modified if needed.
Step 2 : Production
Once all modules are designed and overall blueprint is completed the design will be presented to the kids having them talk it through allowing for participation and creative input in the early stages of the project.
The structure will be then divided into core structures and secondary structures.
The core structure will be the first one to be built. This is the backbone around which every thing is constructed.
This is were the dorsal spine will be incased and were the core of the kinetic mechanism will be build. I will personally take implement this part of the sculpture to make sure each module is safely built.
Secondary structure will be built involving kids participation as much as possible. Based on their technical skills student will be responsible for specific section of the sculpture. Tasks will be divided between smaller and larger group of students based on the complexity of the structure, interests and skills.
Together with The The Crucible’s team I will supervise the work and help students through the process. As modules become available they can add to the sculpture and make adjustments on the fly if needed. The sculpture is ultimately the result of the community collective effort and thus is owned by the community.
I think of it as puzzle structural building exercise. As a way to teach kids solve problem and build
