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New book on mechanical movement for puppets and automata

Posted: February 16th, 2016, 11:12 am
by ellenrixford
Figures in the Fourth Dimension is a comprehensive study of mechanical movements....how they are constructed, and how they work. Beginning with an introductory chapter on the basics, meant for the beginner, it describes and explains a huge variety of mechanical devices and combinations of them. Included in this chapter is additional information on materials, working methods, and tools. This chapter is then followed by examples taken from the work of over 30 world-class artists and 3 major museums. The artists, who work in a huge variety of media and styles, submitted not only good photos of their pieces, in various positions, but photos of the mechanics and careful, clear drawings showing how the movements are put together, and how they function. The works in the book vary from quite simple to very complex, and include the work of several extraordinary puppeteers and puppet builders: the marionettists Phillip Huber (Being John Malkovich) and Joseph Cashore (famous for super-realistic animal marionettes) ; Corbian Arts, famous for electroluminescent puppetry, a vent figure chapter by Bill Nelson and Dan Lavender, who build figures for TV and movie stars, and Jim Kroupa, whose mechanics power puppets from all kinds of TV and film specials. There is also a chapter on light sculpture and Bunraku style puppetry from our own studio. And there are all kinds of automata, from the clockwork marvels of the 18th and 19th centuries to the moderns, artists from all over the world (Paul Spooner, Keith Newstead, Chris Fitch). The book is 512 pages long, with over 1500 full color illustrations: photos, technical drawings and diagrams. It is an art book and technical book both, a book which will help puppeteers, sculptors, and artists generally, young and old, learn this fascinating subject from the ground up.
So far, five months after publication, this book has found a home in over 28 different countries, and in libraries around the world, including Harvard University and the National Puppetry Archive of the UK. It has garnered stellar reviews from puppetry organizations of all kinds, and from delighted puppeteers and sculptors who tell me that it has saved them an immense amount of time and expense, and inspired them to try many new approaches to their art.
The website for the book is www.figuresinthefourthdimension.com. On it you can find many sample images and explanatory text, reviews of the book, an e-bibliography with many links to related subjects, and a Contact/Buy page where one can purchase the book. I can also send you a sample pdf, with the table of contents and many sample pages. If you have any questions, or would like to know more, please let me know----my email is ellenrixford@aim.com.
Ellen Rixford

Re: New book on mechanical movement for puppets and automata

Posted: February 16th, 2016, 12:59 pm
by observer
It looks amazing ... will try & save up.

In the meantime, just wondering if it has any discussion of Butch, Del Ray's bibulous bear(s), which I think qualifies as an automaton?

Re: New book on mechanical movement for puppets and automata

Posted: February 16th, 2016, 1:59 pm
by Brad Henderson
Butch was a commercially available item which Del modified for his magical uses. You can sometimes find the drinking Bears for sale. However they do not respond on command

Re: New book on mechanical movement for puppets and automata

Posted: February 16th, 2016, 3:04 pm
by Brad Henderson

Re: New book on mechanical movement for puppets and automata

Posted: February 16th, 2016, 4:51 pm
by observer
Brad Henderson wrote:https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V47wfPPyEDE


Amfreakingmazing. Thanks.

Although I admit at 1:30 I skipped ahead a ways ...

And at the end the screen shows links to another drinking bear, from 1870, + other automata clips to watch which could use up the rest of a person's day.

Re: New book on mechanical movement for puppets and automata

Posted: February 16th, 2016, 7:51 pm
by Brad Henderson
aside from my butchering of one of my favorite maker's names, this is a fun watch.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CS6515B1Ycc

Re: New book on mechanical movement for puppets and automata

Posted: February 16th, 2016, 9:19 pm
by Mark Collier
Brad,
Thank you for that.
It was 10 minutes well spent.

Re: New book on mechanical movement for puppets and automata

Posted: February 17th, 2016, 8:37 am
by Richard Tremblay
Wow! The book looks amazing.

As a mechanical engineer and magician, this is a real treat for my eyes!

It's going to be on my wish list.

-
Richard

Re: New book on mechanical movement for puppets and automata

Posted: February 19th, 2016, 4:59 pm
by Brad Henderson
Holy Cow! I finally got around to opening my copy only to find a piece from my collection featured in the book.

Re: New book on mechanical movement for puppets and automata

Posted: April 24th, 2016, 4:51 pm
by Richard Stokes
This new book looks fascinating.

Also worth checking is a website downunder:
http://cyberneticzoo.com/about/