This page is a place for me to share the various experiments, projects and devices I'm currently working on in the studio. Some will be eventually realized in a finished installation or sculpture, others won't be so lucky.
Hungry Merle
A collaboration with Natalie Stevens, Merle is a pull toy automaton. All four legs move (lower, and upper), and the tail wags. Merle was entered into the 5th annual Carnivorous Nights Taxidermy Competition, where we won the "Best Buddy" award. Carnivorous Nights is an annual rogue taxidermy competition which takes place in conjunction with the Secret Science Club at the Bell House in Gowanus, Brooklyn.

There is a nice photo which ran in a story in the New York Times about the competition. Click here to see some video of Merle in action.

Natalie and I plan to do a few more of the Automata over the next year. Once I have a few more completed, I'll post a new section for them.

25-27 kHz
I read about a strange phenomenon that occurs within our ears when two tones which are close in frequency are played at the same time. The tones have a combinatory effect. For example when we play a 2,000 Hz tone and a 5,000 Hz tone, we will hear both of these but also a 3,000 Hz tone (5,000 - 2,000) and a 7,000 Hz tone (5,000 + 2,000). This occurs within our ear, and does so because of the mechanics of the ear. Strangely enough this also works for ultrasonic frequencies (sounds above our range of hearing). So if we take a 27 kHz tone and a 25 kHz tone (both which we cannot hear) we will only hear a 2,000 Hz tone, and it will seem like it is originating in our ears. This device generates high frequency tones via a 555 timer, a pretty common circuit. This still needs a bit of work. It does generate the tone, but they are not really high enough frequency to get the result I'm after. Right now it does give you a righteous headache though. I like the idea of having an installation which consists of nothing, no visual elements, and sound that you cannot really hear. I'll probably develop this piece a bit further. I'll post schematics and instructions for the circuit, once I get it right.