Tea driven automata

I have recently completed my third tea driven automata. I am interested in how energy used in the home can be harnessed and these automata are a way of using the energy from my cuppa.

I have long wanted to make some automata that was fuelled by my tea but it was only after a conversation with my friend Kevin Badni that it became possible as he showed me a good way to harness the energy. Very big thanks to him.

I have just uploaded three films of the tea driven automata onto Vimeo. The links are here:

https://vimeo.com/92459413

https://vimeo.com/92496685

https://vimeo.com/92459412

Here are some photos of the three pieces. 

1. Mystic Monk who delivers a mysterious message after reading your tea bag.

2. Tea Time horse race gambling with biscuits.

3. Tea time exercise

Derby gold

Gold cladding the recess of Holmes Bridge is complete and the LED lights are going in. These photo's were taken from last nights installation.

Huge thanks to Seb Boyesen and Simon Wilkins.

tea driven automata

I have just finished another tea driven automata. This time a mystic monk sits on a contraption placed on a tea pot and reads your tea bag. He sends you a message as your tea is brewing.

The automata is driven by the heat from the hot water of your tea.

3d animated zoetrope

Here is a rudimentary three dimensional animated zoetrope. The figure is an old fashioned station master. I have used an old record player for the rotating drum - with its own wobble. 

Currently discussing using these within pillar boxes as wayfinders for Burnley Borough Council.

Massive thanks again to Seb Boyesen.

  

Holmes Bridge, River Derwent, Derby.

The gold cladding for Holmes Bridge is nearly complete. Two more days should do it, then the LED lights will be connected and hopefully a beautiful golden arc will glow over the river Derwent. 

The glow of the clad recess in these photographs is simply the natural light being collected and reflected

Massive thanks to Seb Boyesen, Simon Wilkins and Jake.

Holmes Bridge. River Derwent, Derby.

The installation of gold cladding on the interior of Holmes Bridge over the River Derwent is underway. The gold channel will have 10 uplighters on each wall to illuminate the interior. There are 20 down lighters that are directed diagonally onto the river which then reflect back on to the underside of the bridge with ripples of light.

Massive thanks to Seb Boyesen, Simon Wilkins and Jake.

Thanks too to Helen Oakes, Helen Acton and Paulathe 'Tunnel Vision' team.

Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre, Harrogate

Several pieces were installed last week into the new Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre in Harrogate. Professional photographs will be taken soon of all the pieces.  In the mean time here is one section of the animated glass. As people walk along the corridor the image becomes animated.

Many thanks to David Proto, Macmillan and Emily Malins.