dorkbot bristol

When confronted with the idea of a completely open slate Arnolfini exhibition, at it’s December “Uncraftivism” event, Bristol Dorkbotter’s eyes all flashed (and maybe darted around) simultaneously with the same idea, as if triggered by some kind of internal exhibition idea sensor that dorkbotters are all of course, modded with just after birth.

Many among the robot builders and tinkerers who gathered in our hackspace had for long years secretly harboured these deep urges to make rotating mechanical eyes that are able to follow an onlooker. Who wouldn’t, we asked ourselves? I myself, yours truly, had even imagined a pretend historical setting for these eyes, a legend that could somehow add depth to a gigantic mechanical eye installation.

Initial tests however, showed that no-way were we going to be able to produce a whole wall of them in the free time we had. They would look brilliant, but would all have to share the same movement, using pulleys or ingenious contraptions used commonly in animatronics.

We started discussing how they could be made without the usual system that powers moving eyeballs, i.e Servomechanisms, or - servos - which can be loud and jerky, as well as generally expensive both in energy consumption and parts cost. An interesting development came when Roboticist and puppet designer David McGoran realised you could move a small ball, held in place in some way, using only home made electromagnetic coils that push and pull a magnetic base around inside a sphere.

We now have two prototypes of this device, and more to come soon for sure. But the interesting thing about this of course is that if you have an idea for something you want to create or experiment with, Uncraftivism is a completely open exhibition, as explained in the detailed flyer for the event:

For example, I will be using the Arnolfini’s Light room, (or Dark room?) to run some Ganzfeld Experiments using arduino based or DIY sensory deprivation machines. It’s part sound/light installation and experiment, and part fun brain hack and DIY gadget, which I hope you will be able to take home in some way or other. And lots of other people are joining in in many ways. According to the Arnolfini “Craftivism is a participative exhibition responding to the resurgent interest in craft as it relates to socially-engaged art practice”, so basically anything you make is a happy entrant.

Here is what the organiser Rui Guerra has to say about taking part in Craftivism’s satellite event, Uncraftivism:

“unCraftivism is uncurated. Your work will not be judged, or restricted by a theme, nor does it have to be finished.”

1.    Create a wiki page to document your event;  (Simply type the desired URL ex: http://www.craftivism.net/wiki/MyEvent )
   
2.    Add your event to the program;  (Edit the online Program)
3.    Announce it in your own network;

Hope to see you there!