Art-aficionados can see the
exhibit “Tinguely’s Children”
in the Hicks Art Center until
Oct. 15 at the Newtown
Campus.
The exhibit displays kinetic
sculptures, photographs, and
sketches that make statements
on the artists’ individuality, as
well as statements on the relationship
between man and machine.
The exhibit is inspired by
Jean Tinguely’s work
“Homage to New york,” which
premiered in the Sculpture
Garden of the Museum of
Modern Art in New york City
on March 17, 1960. It was the
only time the exhibit had ever
been shown, more of a performance
than a gallery display.
His piece, considered
modern art, was a machine created
to destroy itself. 27 minutes
later; viewers of the
exhibit were invited to pick
through the remnants and take
souvenirs from the rubble. The
machine was representative of
New york City’s energy and
ability to rebuild itself.
The artists featured
in“Tinguely’s Children” are
Arthur Ganson , Chris Vecchio,
and Mark Zirpel. Ganson has been creating these
machines, called kinetic sculptures,
since 1977. Most are
powered by people viewing
them or are very simple.
Vecchio’s work is representative
of different emotional
states, claiming that they
examine the relationship
between “man and technology.”
He uses mostly radio
designs and gauges that “measure”
human emotion.
Zirpel’s work is mostly glass,
focusing on the deterioration
of the human body and nature
in relation to his work.
“Tinguely’s Children” is
highly interactive, featuring
pieces that respond to sound
and touch. One piece, “Be
Careful What you Say,” is a
microphone connected to a
small monitor displaying what
appears to be an electrical current.
It moves and dances to
the sounds it picks up on from
viewers.
“It creeps me out, but I like
it,” says Stefani Costick, 20, a
graphic design major from
Levittown. “I like to play with
all the ones you can touch.”
Each of the pieces is incredibly
unique. While none of
them are self-destroying such
as Jean Tinguely’s original
piece in 1960, all of them pay
respect to his unique and
unconventional work.
“Tinguely’s Children” is
open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on
Mondays and Fridays, 9 a.m.
to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays,
Wednesdays, and Thursdays,
and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on
Saturdays. There is no charge
for admission.