Make: Online: Arts Archives

Arts Archive: Arts

November 23, 2009

LadyBugBot bot crawls on your fridge

Vadim Ryazanov of Let's Make Robots is at it again with the LadyBugBot. If you were wondering what he was going to make with his papier-mâché shell, this is it! I really appreciate his choice of materials and homebrew parts, such as the combination bump/cavity sensor pictured above. His inspiration for the project:

Once upon a time I was getting into my fridge for another bottle of beer, and after closing the door, my eyes stopped at little funny ladybug magnet... And I thought: "Hmmm... Why don't I build slightly bigger one, intelligent, robotic fridge magnet? :)"

Laptop Etch-a-Sketch via Arduino & Processing

Michael created the Hack-a-Sketch -

An Arduino board reads the inputs from two potentiometers (the knobs), and sends the information via USB to a Processing sketch which displays the path of the stylus on the screen. This was extremely easy to build because the Arduino is just running the StandardFirmata firmware. No custom code on the board. The Processing sketch was surprisingly easy to write. Using this really did feel like using an Etch-a-Sketch.

The shake sensing comes courtesy of a mercury switch behind the monitor. Of course a lot of laptops come with built-in motion sensors nowadays - might be fun to tap use those as erase triggers instead.

November 22, 2009

Science through graphic novels

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Science Friday's "Science Through Graphic Novels"... Great interview(s)! Using graphic novels to teach science...

In this segment, we'll take a look at two graphic novels that approach science from a different direction. One tackles Darwin's 'Origin of Species,' while the other deals with the life and ideas of philosopher and mathematician Bertrand Russell.
Michael Keller - Journalist, Author, "Charles Darwin's On The Origin Of Species: A Graphic Adaptation" (Rodale Books, 2009) 
Apostolos Doxiadis - Co-author, "Logicomix: An Epic Search For Truth" (Bloomsbury, 2009)

November 20, 2009

Cross multi-tool

Dutch designer Michiel Cornelissen sells these cruciform screwdrivers, which are laser-sintered stainless steel. There's a flat-blade, a Phillips head, and an IKEA-sized hex bit. [via Dude Craft]

November 19, 2009

Money hats

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Origami money hats, sent in by a maker - anyone know where this is from?

Photographing Spiral Jetty

On a tight budget, documenting art that lives in a lake can be quite a challenge - especially when it's composed of "6,000 tons of rock and soil" -

After considering nearly every possible way to document "Spiral Jetty" from above -- Rent a weather satellite? An airplane? A helicopter? Use a kite? -- the institute, which often works in countries where conservation projects are carried out on shoestring budgets, came up with a remarkably simple solution: a $50 disposable latex weather balloon, easily bought online. Along with a little helium, some fishing line, a slightly hacked Canon PowerShot G9 point-and-shoot digital camera, an improvised plywood and metal cradle for the camera and some plastic zip ties (to keep the cradle attached and the neck of the balloon cinched), a floating land-art documentation machine was improvised, MacGyver-like.

Full Story over at NYTimes. [Thanks, Erica!]

November 18, 2009

Crayon rings

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Timothy Liles Crayon rings...

3D beehive bracelet

This beehive bracelet was modeled using OpenSCAD, a tool I'm looking forward to exploring! It was made by Thingiverse user Catarina; she printed it on her MakerBot. Stylish!

November 16, 2009

Oh no, my painting has crashed!

MAKE subscriber James Theophane writes in to share his project, called My Painting Has Crashed. I like the idea- can I order one to put on my coffin, for when I pass away?

I made this at work the other day. They asked me to contribute a piece of art for our reception. I decided to hack an old replica painting from my local flea market. I built a motor using one of those kits you can buy from a good electronic store, painted acrylic on canvas and glued a spinning beach ball of death cut out of mounting board.

Nothing but heavy duty

Artist David Ersser created this balsa wood installation called "Nothing but heavy duty," a workshop of hand-replicated tools. From Seventeen Gallery's site:

David Ersser creates seemingly cold, meticulous reproductions of Hi-Fi equipment, turntables and keyboards. The thin wooden cable running down from the stereo to the floor and to a sculpted plug, is made up of short sections of straight balsa to give the impression of a curve. From a distance these works appear at first flawless, however scrutiny reveals the makers hand. This hand is the hand of an enthusiast model maker fervently gluing late at night in his garage. This mode of production and subject matter evoke the nerds hermetic and frantic DJ-ing in his bedroom. Lifeless and slightly wonky, his facsimiles are drawings and aspirations made solid, as the teenage geek fetishizes the stereo equipment of his dreams.

I think I recognize that circular saw as a Festool, can anyone confirm? [Thanks, Andrew!]

In the Maker Shed: Cabaret Mechanical Movement

The Cabaret Mechanical Movement book is packed with information, diagrams, and useful tips on making your own automata. The book uses machines and automata from the Cabaret Mechanical Theater to explain levers, shafts, cranks, cams, springs, linkages, ratchets, gears, and even coin-op control. This is a great introduction for those inspired to go and make their own work.

November 14, 2009

Brush furniture could become bristlebot

The scrub together table and lazy stool furniture pieces by designer Jason Taylor are pretty neat looking, but is anyone else thinking what I'm thinking? Thats right, they are just a motor away from becoming giant bristlebots! The bristles look like they might need to be bent over a bit first, though. [via dude craft]

November 13, 2009

Amazing homemade globe

Spotted in the MAKE Flickr pool:

Flickr member davesbit built a globe by making a mold from a beach ball, and designed a map for it using The Generic Mapping Tools.

The globe is about 20inches in diameter, made from fiberglass and filled with foam. The map parts are built with the Generic Mapping Tools and glued on...

Making-of photos on the Flickr photo page.

November 11, 2009

Fist sledgehammer

Spotted in the online portfolio of design firm Martus & Silvio, of Grand Rapids. It's a sculpture, technically, entitled "Early Tools," but I'd have a hard time not using it at least once, Office Space style, on something that really made me angry. [via Dude Craft]

Capturing that Mona Lisa smile in silicon

This giant Mona Lisa sculpture is made of motherboards. Reportedly conceived of and built by Asus engineers, it is on display at their headquarters in Taiwan. [via technabob]

Photo above by Flickr user johnkoetsier

November 10, 2009

Tape sculpture contest

If you are inspired by the use of everyday objects as art, then Scotch Brand wants to see your creativity come off the roll and into the art space. The Scotch Off the Roll Tape Sculpture Contest, sponsored by 3M, is inviting creative minds to submit photos of their unique tape sculpture -- constructed from Scotch Packaging Tape -- for the chance to win a $5,000 cash prize.

Deadline: February 10th, 2010. Entries will be narrowed down to a pool of finalists by noted tape artist Mark Jenkins and winners will be selected in an online vote with the first place winner receiving $5,000 and a 1-year supply of tape and runners-up receiving less money but still a lot of tape. Personally, I prefer duct tape, but you gotta like the translucent quality of the finished sculptures.

Catena clock tells time with a chain

If there's one thing I can't get enough of, it is funny ways to tell time, and this catena wall clock definitely fits the bill. Instead of rotating a set of hands, or lighting a digital display, this clock works by slowly turning a chain that has a set of numbers attached to it. The current time is whatever number is closest to the top. It's a neat artifact, and could be a good use for an old chainsaw or bike chain that you have laying around. I could also see this being turned sideways, with a set of gears and different chains to represent both the time and the date. [via technabob]

Sled coffee table

I'm digging this sled coffee table and rug, built by design firm Duffy London. The concept of suggesting a narrative through simple things such as a rug cut to look like snow with tracks in it seems really compelling to me. What would be an appropriate geeky version? A mars rover table with tracks in a red carpet? A siege engine with a flat top, tiny soldiers pushing it and tons of little footprints? The possibilities must be endless! [via curbly]

"Know It All No 2 Pencil Set"

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"Know It All No 2 Pencil Set" on Etsy, lovely.

Giant gramophone plays the earth

The Alunda Church Choir put their backs into this performance titled "Harvest" using the land-amplifying terrafon instrument. The piece, created by Olle Cornéer and Martin Lübcke, is apparently part of an ongoing series (requiring some very sturdy and determined participants). Read more over at Create Digital Music.