SRL will be performing a mini-show for the Mad Science exhibition at the Sonoma County Museum in Santa Rosa, CA this Saturday October 30, 2010 from 3pm-5pm. FREE to the public. Two new machines will be featured the Spine Robot and the Baseball Bat Wielding Motoman.Directions.
I call them poofers. These wonderful fire toys were the next generation of vortex generators I made for SRL. After making supersonic vortex rings with oxy-acetylene explosions I want to take it one step further and make giant fire rings. I experimented with different shaped nozzles, pilot lights and valve sizes and came up with ball, ring and disk shaped flames. I was able to achieve great fire rings that fully separated from the cannon and traveled 30-40 feet into the air. The low sounding thump of these poofers can be heard for blocks attracting moths of all kinds. I also worked out a remote crane controller to trigger the poofers. I’m able to walk around the perimeter visiting with the crowd and letting them get a chance to shoot a giant fire ball. I’ve had kids approach the fire balls crying with fright, but wanting to shoot one themselves. The look on their face of achievement and delight with crocodile tears still fresh on their face is worth all the time experimenting.
You can see the perfect fuel air mix achieved (blue) at the flame front and tail of this fire ring. Note the vortex starting to form at the top. the unspent fuel still in the center of this ball will form the ring that will continue anouther 30-40 feet higher before the fuel is spent.
Here is the fire ring.
This poofer shoots and throws a very tight fireball 50 feet in the air.
Here are the poofers. I can rotate the tops on the balls below. This alows me to adjust for wind and crowds.
History Channel did a small story on the Vortex gun Mark Paline and I did for SRL in the 1990’s
They kept asking us about how this German guy Zepperman had influenced us, we kept telling them we did it for art. I’m surprised they got this much footage without us saying “art” in a sentience. I’ll have to work on that in the future, maybe an I Phone app. Is that the Alpha Fox in the back ground?
Another great one of Mark right after he blew his hand off. So young!
People I know doing strange things with electricity!
The next Dorkbot SF takes place this Wednesday, September 23rd at TCHO in San Francisco
Presentations by:Mark Pauline (Survival Research Labs)
Mark will talk about what ever comes to mind in his life filled with grime, fuel and art.
Timothy Childs (Technology and Chocolate)
Maker& supporter of life and the arts
Light, Attraction and Emotion: Projects with Photons, Biology and Electrons
See the Dorkbot SF #47 event listing for more info.
Commissioned by Stanford Lively Arts and Meyer Sound Labs
Please Join Us for the World Premiere of
The Paul Dresher Ensemble Production of
Matt Heckert is a long time friend from SRL’s olden days. He has gone on to do some amazing sound installations. This should be an amazing bio mechanical performance.
Collaboratively created by: Paul Dresher – Composer, Instrument Inventor and Builder Steven Schick – Performer/Percussionist Rinde Eckert – Director/Writer Matt Heckert – Mechanical Sound Artist Daniel Schmidt – Instrument Inventor & Builder Tom Ontiveros – Lighting & Production Design Gregory Kuhn – Sound Design & EngineeringThe mysteriously-packed subterranean workshop of the (possibly mad, possibly genius) inventor, sound collector and audio philosopher Lazlo Klangfarben. His invention: the Schick Machine – an uber-algorhytm, a logic instrument made from a giant motorized hurdy gurdy that produces heavenly sounds, a deconstructed pipe organ played with electrical mallets, and indescribable metal machines that seem to be alive. You ask: “What IS this stuff?
Paul Dresher returns to Lively Arts with the World Premiere of an evening-length solo musical theater work for virtuoso percussionist Steven Schick. Noted for his ability to integrate diverse musical influences into a unique and communicative personal style, Dresher has invented and built large-scale musical instruments that will transform the stage of Dinkelspiel Auditorium into an environment in which every object and surface is sonically active. The composition synthesizes the latest percussion sounds, performance aesthetics, and instruments into a new realm of choreographic, sculptural, and theatrical engagement.
MARCH 7, 2009_SATURDAY / 8:00 PM_DINKELSPIEL AUDITORIUM 471 Lagunita Dr, Stanford University, PALO ALO FOR TICKETS PHONE: 650-725-ARTS (2787) Or on-line at http://livelyarts.stanford.edu
