Galaxy Family Travellers

Galaxy Family Travelers

This project began as a personal experiment in 3D and ended up including video, compositing, and an impromptu family photo shoot.
"As soon as I heard we could afford a spacecraft with weekend interstellar reach, I knew we had to try it."
– Dad
 
The kids love when we do doughnuts.

 

Galaxy Family Travellers
Galaxy Family Travellers

Galaxy Family Travellers

 


Tilt Beam / Recharagble Light

Tilt Beam / Rechargable Wood Light

Tilt Beam is a solid block of white oak turned into a solar rechargeable light. A sunny day charges a super capacitor that never needs to be replaced…at least, probably not in your lifetime. Tilting the block over turns an LED light on. Tilt it back up to turn it off. A charge provides around 30 minutes of light.

 

Tilt Beam / Recharagble Light
Tilt the block of wood over and the light turns on.

 

Tilt Beam / Recharagble Light Being Assembled
I sawed a thin piece off the top of the wood, then lasercut a perfect rectangle for the solar panels. This allowed me to sloppily chisel out a hole in the center of a solid block of white oak for the circuitry.

 

Tilt Beam / Recharagble Light Circuit Diagram
A mercury tilt switch detects the angle of the light and turns it on. A .9-5V boost converter provides a steady 5V current off the super capacitor which can be drained to .9V.
Tilt Beam / Recharagble Light Circuitry
Hot glue is used over all exposed metal to protect the circuits.
Tilt Beam / Recharagble Light Gluing
Clamp and glue the top on making sure to align the wood grain. The open cavities get filled with resin to form a solid block. The resin bled to the surface through the pores in the wood to make it even stronger. Sand and finish with wood butter.

 

 

Tilt Beam Public Art - about sheet
Tilt Beam as public art

Tilt Beam Public Art - sample execution

 


Personalized Laser Etched Cheese Boards

 

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Before spoon butter was rubbed into the wood.

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After spoon butter was applied.

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(untitled)
(untitled)

 


Toothpaste BEAM Pummer

Toothpaste BEAM Pummer

I used the cap of a toothpaste bottle on the bottom of my pummer as a stand. This pummer has two LEDs that charge during the day and pulse into the night. The circuit uses a 2.5 volt 10 Farad super capacitor for power, which should have a longer lifespan than a battery. My old pummers continue to tirelessly operate after almost a decade.

Here's a link to a PDF we worked with Make magazine on if you're interested in learning more or building one: Pummers Dude! (PDF)

Toothpaste BEAM Pummer

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKRsXpw7vZI


Italian book on Solar Design

Published in Design Solare

 

Our BEAM robotic creations were featured in an Italian book about solar design and applications. These little robots have been published in books and magazines from five different countries now. Unfortunately, our whole collection was lost in the mail. If anybody sees one in the wild let us know.

 

Design Solare

 

Design Solare

 


Ordinarily Extraordinary Ideas Giclee Prints

 

Ordinarily Extraordinary Ideas are visionary and some have already begun to be realized. Some are simple and some are extraordinary. After all, it’s the thought that counts.

 

002 Run Off Energy - Ordinarily Extraordinary Ideas

002 Evaporating Balloons - Ordinarily Extraordinary Ideas

Ordinarily-Extraordinary-Wool-Recyling-Machine_11x14


BEAM Single and Dual Engine Vibrobot

 

BEAM Vibrobots use pager motors to move. I used what's known as a BEAM "solar engine" (Type 1 "FLED" variety), pager motors, solar cells, paperclips, and some heat shrink to build a couple of Vibrobots this weekend.

 

BEAM Dual and Single Vibrobot

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wx7zZzp_RoU


Miniature Compass Necklace

 

Remove the cork and pin. Fill the necklace with water and put the cork in. The metal is magnetized and should point toward the center/top of the necklace.

May she never lose her way home.

 

Miniature Compass Necklace

Miniature Compass Necklace

Miniature Compass Necklace

Miniature Compass Necklace

 


Cloud Air Pattern

Free Download - Cloud and Wind Repeating Pattern

 

The following pattern was inspired by work in our Ordinarily Extraordinary poster series. Download the free repeatable pattern below.

Download it here: Cloud Air Pattern EPS

 

Cloud Air Pattern


Cleveland Public Art, Eastman Reading Garden Proposal

 

We were in Cleveland last weekend where we were invited to present a proposal for their now annual, temporary public art space in the Eastman Reading Garden.

"We propose, PLATFORM, a project employing people from Cleveland’s varying neighborhoods to perform their trades. By staging these performances in the Eastman Reading Garden, we are creating events that invite the public to the city center while simultaneously introducing them to people active in their communities with possible incentives to encourage them to head out to new neighborhoods.  In addition, by presenting these trades as an art performance we hope to give a perspective of renewed value to work that may sometimes be underestimated or unfamiliar.  As each performance will be a contract with us, and payment given for the work, we see the project as directly feeding in to Cleveland’s local economy.  Ultimately, in highlighting individuals who are contributing to their community we are hoping the public may ask themselves, “What is my role in Cleveland’s future?”."

 

slides-v01-07b-stage-and-banner

Eastman Garden proposal 02

Eastman Garden proposal 05

Eastman Garden proposal 04

slides-v01-06

Eastman Garden proposal 03

slides-v01-09


Geta Grinders @ Spoke

 

A couple of photos at the exhibition at Spoke.  Thanks to those who came out.  Exhibition photos by Heather Mullins.

 

Print

Geta Grinders @ Spoke Chicago

Geta Grinders @ Spoke Chicago

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Pecha Kucha Night Poster Design

Poster for Pecha Kucha Night Chicago Volume 12. More info at www.pecha-kucha.org.

 

Pecha Kucha Night Chicago 12


Kim and Zach at Poptech's Creative Reuse Workshop

We had the opportunity to participate in Poptech's Creative Reuse Workshop last week. First of all, we'd like to thank Poptech, Make Magazine and Ebay Green Team for helping to bring everything together. We were able to get makers of all ages together to build their own BEAM vibe robots. The turnout was fantastic and Kim and I were impressed with the creative output.

Poptech Creative Reuse Workshop

Poptech Creative Reuse Workshop

Poptech Creative Reuse Workshop


amusment magic

Amusement Magazine

 

Zach and I had a brief interview with regards to our work and the BEAM bots in the spring issue of Amusement.  A French publication, Amusement is a gaming and technology mag with the styling of a fashion publication.

 

Amusement Magazine

Amusement Magazine

 


Financial Times Weekend Cover Design & Illustrations

 

Illustrations for a December issue of the FT weekend magazine.  They were interested in the images from The Ministries of Sustenance and asked us to do a cover and a few other supporting illustrations for an article on microfinance.  Check out the article at the FT.

 

Financial Times Weekend Cover & Article Illustrations

Financial Times Weekend Cover & Article Illustrations

Financial Times Weekend Cover & Article Illustrations

Financial Times Weekend Cover & Article Illustrations

 


Best of Make Magazine

 

About a year ago, Make magazine did an article about our BEAM robots which have appeared again in their book The Best of Make which is available now at makershed.com.  That's our bot in the bottom left corner of the cover.  The book has 75 of their best DIY projects from their first 10 issues.

 


Maine Oil Tank Public Art Proposal

The Maine Center for Creativity hosted a design competition, Art All Around, that would be painted on these blank tanks at the Sprague Energy Tank Farm.

We researched the harbor in South Portland, Maine and were influenced by the activity of the Sprague Energy company, as well as this history of the cities shipyards and Maine's state icons.

 

Maine Tank Farm Public Art Proposal

Maine Tank Farm Public Art Proposal

Maine Tank Farm Public Art Proposal

Maine Tank Farm Public Art Proposal

 


les robots

Les Robots

 

Les Robots :  Du Plus Simple au Plus Sensationnel

Our "Helioforms" (BEAM robots) is pictured in a new book for children.  The book about robots is a French Canadian release from the Editions Scholastic publisher.  Another great connection made through Flickr as they found us there and approached us about including out little bots in the book.  Should you have a geeky, french speaking young friend, it's a very nicely put together, comprehensive introduction to robots.

 

Les Robots

Les Robots


Transmission

 

Transmission is a series of prints based on a tower that can amplify thought energy to be used as a power source.

 

transmission - oceanic

deepwoods

Transmission

Transmission

Transmission

transmission - 1x7_beamed

transmission - 1x7_expanse

transmission - 1x7_unity


Bailliwik Publication

 

Bailliwik is an artist collective who produces a self published periodical and they've just released their fifth publication. Some of our photos from the Noetical Succession series that we posted last month are included in this book. There's great work from many diverse artists and includes some extra goodies stuffed inside that make it better than a box of Cracker Jacks. Dare I say, tastier.

 

Bailliwik


The Precession

Noetical Succession

 

Giclée Prints featuring solar BEAM robotic accessories and custom made garments.

 

The Precession

The Substance and the Supersubstance

The Gathering

The Attunement

The Casting of the Elementals


The Crane Operators

 

Late in 2001, one of our first collaborations was born. The Crane Operators remains an unfinished online comic book. The project allowed us to bring costumes, photography, 3D, and storytelling together for a unique online experience.

 The Crane Operators

The Crane Operators - Badger

 

The Crane Operators

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Crane Operators

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Crane Operators - Calypso