Dunja Schandin II

More joyful creations by Dunja Schandin.

Sam Smith III

A last post for now on Sam Smith, and this time it is his wonderful hand illustrated boxes made to house those hand made toys and automata, quirky, strange and fun.

Sam Smith II

" As I get older I get less interested in the way a thing looks and more interested in the spirit that hides within it; so that the things I make are meant to be looked into, rather than looked at." Sam Smith

Kissing by Sam Smith

At the weekend I went to the Scottish Fisheries Museum at  Anstruther purposefully to see the exhibition of Sam Smith's work. The Scottish Fisheries Museum is just fantastic, a maze of wonderful machinery, boats and social history and well worth a visit at any time.

This is the first of a few posts dedicated to Sam Smith who struck me very much as being one of those exceptional eccentric creative figures like Ivor Cutler, Spike Miligan and George Wyllie an older generation of artists have gone. Sam Smith (1908-1983) made automata's and toys that were for adult enjoyment as much as children's. His work is rich with imagination and reminds me of ancient fair grounds populated by strange people, events and shows. The bottom image is of a gondolier kissing an imaginary woman and above that are his sketches for various kissing automata.

James Chedman II

James Chedman's automata at rest stunning wire drawings that with the magical power of movement.

Elephant Wagon/Circus Train (James Chedburn) 2012

James Chedburn is an artist, sculptor and teacher who's preoccupation has been with motion. 
His complex automata look appealingly simple but their wonderful motion  is highly engineered and incredible. You can see further videos of his work and creative process here.

Masayoshi Maeda

 

 

There is a book available in Japanese of  Masayoshi Maeda's beautiful automata, but very little else they are very Calderesque and magical.

Jane Birchley

Today I am returning to my old love, Automata. I have found a few examples of works by Jane Birchley, I wish I could find more. Jane is represented by Mid-Cornwall Galleries, having studied fine art at Chelsey Jane started making automata as a way of combining motherhood and work. Jane's work uses reclaimed wood and it reflects her love of her coastal home, gardening and food.

Jane Ryan

Jane Ryan is an artist who trained in Fine art at Chelsea School of Art. Jane makes these wonderful charismatic Automata. Jane has a cow shed as a studio in Cornwall and delights in reclaimed wood, and simple mechanisms to bring her unique work to life, pictured is her panto cow.

Automata by Cartoonmonster

Wonderful kinetic toys from the cartoonmonster , I love automata's so I was thrilled to find these lovely wave machines, and having watched a film of them moving I am even more enamoured.

Sharmanka (Hurdy Gurdy) Eduard Bersudsky

Top: Forget Me Not Detail

Middle: Time of the Rats

Bottom: Noah's Ark

Sharmanka has touched my life on a number of occasions. A theatre of kinetic sculptures founded by Eduard Bersudsky in St Petersberg in 1989, it has now been based in Glasgow since 1996.

It captures me obviously with its kinetic and automata elements constructed from old sewing machines, wheel chairs ect, but it also has the fantastic added drama of the Shadow theatre. An inspiration on many levels.

Nautical Delights

Above: Sub

Above: Gulls

Above: Swansea Jack

John Grayson is Senior Lecturer in 3D design at Staffordshire University and he is responsible for these beautiful humorous tin automata he is quite elusive on the web but you can see some of his work here: http://www.axisweb.org/seCUPG.aspx?ARTISTID=7208;

Melanie Tomlinson Gleaming Automata and Jewelry

Above: Mrs Topescu and the Wolf

Above: Moth

Above: Chameleon

Below: Butterflies, moths, and flowers

Above: Crow I was in the DCA, Dundee today and tried to buy a piece by Melanie Tomlinson, instead thankfully I took her name, as now I know so much more and I can order the peice I want. Melanie makes these stunningly beautiful works from hand printed tin and is greatly influenced by Romanian folklore. Before now I thought that she made only jewelry but she also makes amazing automata, you can see more of her work and buy directly from her at her webpage.

Lawrence and Angela St Leger's magic Automata

Top: Lion Tammer

Middle: Levitating

Bottom: Surgeon

I love these tiny automata, powered by the pull of an almost invisible wire or a tiny crank, They are 3-6 Cm's tall and have been made in lots of subjects. You can also request your own special subject, as Lawrence and Angela St Leger make to commission.

The surgeon would be a great gift for someone going to hospital, very reassuring.

Kazu Harada automata, kinetic toys

Above: Cat

Above: Shower

Above: Neighbour

Kazu Harara was born in japan in 1974, his initial profession was IT but he developed a hobby creating automata, which eventually lead him to Falmouth, he then worked his apprenticeship for 'the fourteen balls toy company' whilst developing his own style and techniques.

http://www.nizo.jp/gallery_e.htm