Sean Voisen wrote:

Some of you, particularly Manoj, were curious about robots as art and
some of the kinetic sculpture I’ve been studying at UC Irvine. Below
are some links to videos you may wish to check out if you are
interested in this type of art. (As my own first exploration, I
recently built a simple device that rings a singing bowl every time my
heart beats. Wonder? Art? I’m not sure …)

ArtBots at the Dublin Science Gallery
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxvZtu5eq84

Mechatronic woodpeckers
http://vimeo.com/1660414

Autonomous robots that interact and learn from their environment
http://www.interactivearchitecture.org/portfolio/performativeecologie…

Balloons as speakers
http://blip.tv/file/get/Matchees-berloonTreatment585.mov

Pneumatic birds
http://amorphicrobotworks.org/works/birds/index.htm

Glowing cubes
http://www.evolvable.net/poetic/imatges_poe.htm

Cheers,
Sean

Manoj wrote:

This is a response to Sean’s post about Robots and Art.  I found all
of the videos fascinating but was particularly struck by the first one
which focused on a Robotic Exhibit.  Look at how the kids who attended
reacted to the show and I think you will see the face of WONDER.  I
recently was sitting in a public space that had those fountains that
spurt out water in a computerized sequence.  However, rather than
being contained in a pool of water, they were scattered around in the
space and you could get wet if you were not careful where you walked.
I watched one kid about 2 or 3 scream with delight as he chased the
spurts and of course he got soaked.  His mother stood by and just let
him explore the scene.  Another child about the same age went running
for the fountains and was snatched up by her father was was forced to
sit on a bench.  She screamed too but not out of delight.  This got me
thinking about how easily the natural sense of wonder in us all is
easily squashed.

The art exhibits that I’ve seen that have the most impact are those
that somehow manage to connect to that childlike wonder that once
prevailed.  Sean ask whether robots can be considered art or not.  Who
cares?  They do seem to evoke Wonder however.  I look forward to
seeing a video soon of Sean’s singing bowl.
Manoj

Scott Weber says:

The garden of Eden, forbidden fruit, and
the tree of knowledge have always provided intrigue and wonderment.

And it’s also interesting that the childlike wonder we all experienced, now
jaded, fleeting, or gone has such attraction for those who find the present,
an uneasy resting place. I have a friend who’s a Catholic priest and he has
told me on several occasions “the return to innocence” is one of the most
common issues and/or desires shared in the confessional. I guess we all
crave a fresh start(s). I, for one, would welcome a coupon book full of
them.

And what ever happened to “Beginner’s mind” anyway?