Looking at: Philip Beesley

My professor at school recommended I look at the work of Philip Beesley as a reference for a project we are doing in our advanced computing/digital fabrication/parametric design class, which you can read more about here.  He is an architect working in Toronto, but more interesting to me are his sculptures and installations, which are large scale interactive environments that incorporate programming and lighting to react to their surroundings.  (see video at bottom)  Philip, I'm coming to work for you!

 These first few images are of one of my favorite projects, entitled Endothelium, which is described as

"an automated geotextile, a lightweight sculptural field housing arrays of organic batteries housed within a lattice system that might reinforce new growth...The sculpture acts in the tradition of the marginalized mid-century American medical doctorWilhelm Reich, who said, 'all plasmatic matter perceives, with or without sensory nerves.  The amoeba has no sensory nerves, and still it perceives...The terror of the total convulsion, of involuntary movement, and spontaneous excitation is joined to the splitting up of organs and organ sensations. This terror is the real stumbling block.'"

Read more here.

Der Lauf Der Dinge - The Way Things Go (1987)

Der Lauf Der Dinge (1987) from INSOC on Vimeo.

Clik Clak

Baby Robot

This is one of my favorite murals in my neighborhood. Its on Bedford Avenue, right next to The Bagel Store on the corner of North 1st.

Make Your Own Robot

My friend Adam sent me a link the other day to this and I really want one! Its called micRo, and its a little desktop CNC robot! This little machine can make switch-plates, outlet-covers, cabinet knobs and other home accessories. It can make circuit boards, A/V components, and any other little 3d object you can think of. The work area is as follows:

X axis total travel is over 13" (roughly 13.375)

Y axis total travel is 10"

Z plunge is <= 3.5"

Its a bit small, but there are ways to extend it a little. Still doesn't take away from its overall coolness.

I'm definitely saving up for one...

And here is some more information on other similar products:

Fab@Home
RepRap