Old rocker finds his hands still work
I've always been drawn to visual arts. I remember taking photos in Yosemite with my mother's Brownie - a roll film camera. My grandfather used to sit with me, cover a section of my photo with his palm and say, "now without this part it's a *great* shot." I've taken photos all my life as a way to capture the quirky things that fascinate me.
Off and on in my life I've worked in wood. I love the feel of the tools in my hands; the vibration of a motor running, a tool taking just the right cut from a spindle. Alas, I've never been able to develop the skills that would create beautiful things. Functional, yes; coveted, no. Then computer controlled tools came into my world and, suddenly, if I could drive a computer, I could make fabulous things! My life exploded in joy - and in a lot of odd things around my home ...
I enjoy making interactive art exhibits that are under computer control. A talking and expressive robotic head has been a favorite. When the world of generative art exploded I put up a voice controlled interactive art exhibit. "Promptography" some call it.
In our brave new world I can combine sophisticated manufacturing with the wildest graphic designs.
These days I am often at Maker Nexus in Sunnyvale, California using their breadth of tools, both sophisticated and brutally basic, to create things that in all my life I've only been able to imagine.
I hope you enjoy the fruit of my labor as much as I do.
Jim
