Make Kinetic Art
Kinetic art uses motion as its most significant dimension, including use of light and dark to bring constant change to the effect of the piece on the viewer. The sound of the moving parts adds an additional dimension, whether irritating and alarming or soothing and hypnotic. Each viewer experiences a different piece every passing moment. Kinetic art makes use of principles of physics such as balance, inertia and equal and opposite reactions as well.
Instructions
1. Gather a variety of found objects, particularly anything with hinges, gears, wires, flaps or slats. Sort them by material composition, size, color and shape.
2. Move and strike each object to see what sound it will make as it is in usee in your work. Note the mood that particular sound inspires.
3. Decide what type of kinetic sculpture you wish to create: mobile, stabile, balanced, gravity driven, chemical reaction powered, pivotal, Rube Goldberg, wind, solar, heat or hand powered. If planning a massive sculpture, check with local authorities to be sure your piece follows any applicable building or zoning codes.
4. Begin assembling your piece. If your piece will be a mobile, decide which objects will hang and which objects will serve as supports. Be sure that anything that is intended to strike something else makes the sound that pleases you and best fits the mood your piece is intended to convey. If it will be a stabile, which is a fixed piece in which light and dark, rather than positional change, provide the motion, decide best affix your piece to its intended site. If your piece is massive and balance driven, be sure that all heavy parts have adequate support in order to avoid injuring your viewers if something goes wrong.
5. Weld large pieces if necessary. Be sure to use a welding helmet and gloves. Solder is fine for smaller pieces where there is little or no risk of a part falling off and injuring someone. Use carriage bolts with acorn nuts rather than standard bolts with flat nuts, to minimize chances of someone being cut or scraped.
6. Use a file or a disk sander with emery paper to work away any burrs or other sharp edges when working with metal.
7. Place your piece where it can be enjoyed by the greatest number of viewers. Many communities provide grants to produce public art.
