New sculptural concept inspired by seed anatomy
Designed in Solidworks 2009. The Heartseed is 16 feet tall and 8 feet wide.
The main body is CNC plasma cut steel. The core is lined with wood.
Four red Chinese lanterns hang from the center of the seed providing illumination.
We’re going to be installing the Tree House permanently at Dogfish Head Brewery in Milton, Delaware.
The Steampunk Tree House @ Dogfish Head Brewery
The Steampunk Tree House was first conceived in 2006 as a collaborative project with Kinetic Steam Works. This 25,000 pound interactive and immersive sculptural installation made it’s debut at the 2007 Burning Man event.
The Tree House was a big hit that year and a very successful large-scale collaborative art project.
KSW provided the steam and engineering and we provided the art and environment.
Check out one of my favorite pics here: http://burningcam.com/2007/photos/large-40.html
Burning Man generously granted us the seed money, NIMBY provided the space and The Crucible acted as our fiscal sponsor.
This is the first major large-scale art project that this crew has worked on together.
The Tree House was, in many ways, the origin and beginning of a very successful collaborative Bay Area arts group (to be named later…)
So many talented people worked on the Tree House from all walks of life. Many, many friendships were forged as a result of this collaboration.
For many of us, this was the first large-scale sculptural project that we’ve ever done.
Since then we’ve seen giant rail-riding hamster wheels, huge neurons, time machines and a freakin rocketship! www.raygungothicrocket.com
Now, after 3 years of working together (and partying together), we can all proudly say that the first large-scale sculptural installation that we made together is getting permanently installed in a public setting.
By Sean Donnelly
Blast Off! from Sean Donnelly on Vimeo.
KSW Roll Out!
Come experience tons & tons of steam powered contrivances!
Join us in celebration of our new STEAM HQ and our new Non-Profit status! Fun for the whole family!
Bring your pumpkins, have a steam stirred margarita!
Featuring:
-”Pappy” The mighty 15ton Steam Tractor from 1917
-”Hortense” the hot rod of Steam Traction Engines circa 1920
-The bone-crushing “Dingus”
-The Double Decker Sky Box
-Wicked water cannon
-The Golden Mean Mutant Snail Car
-Our very own steam powered sewing machine
-***and introducing: The Gory Pumpkin Guillotine!***
When: Thursday, November 5, 2009
Time: 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Location: The Exploratorium
Street: 3601 Lyon St, San Francisco CA
Bar opens at 6:00 p.m.
Only $14
I’m excited to announce that the Almost Scientific team will be installing both The Neuron Chamber and The Raygun Gothic Rocketship Uira Engine for a one night show this Thursday, November 5th, at the Exploratorium in San Francisco.
Be there!
Both The Neuron Chamber and The Uira Engine will be part of a Exploratorium After Dark: Electricity. Exploratorium After Dark is an evening series exclusively for adults that mixes cocktails, conversation, and playful, innovative science and art events.
Coming to this event (and bringing along all your friends) will be a fantastic way to support Almost Scientific, The Raygun Gothic Rocket, The Exploratorium and Bay Area art/science culture all at once!
In addition to The Neuron Chamber and The Uira Engine there will also be:
* No Kids!
* A Cash Bar!
* All the cool Exploratorium exhibits.
* oh yeah … And Dr. Megavolt
(And tell them you came to see the Neuron Chamber and the Rocket Engine!)
I have been selected as a finalist for the City of San Jose/ZER01 project for temporary artworks on the San Fernando Street Corridor. Chosen artworks will be installed in June 2010, be a feature of the 3rd 01SJ Biennial (September 15-19, 2010) and will continue to be displayed through October 2010.
Click the image for the full Flickr set.