Arthur Ganson
Arthur Ganson | |
---|---|
Born | 1955 (age 68–69) Hartford, Connecticut, US |
Nationality | American |
Education | BFA, University of New Hampshire (1978) |
Known for | Kinetic art |
Awards |
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Arthur Ganson (born 1955) is a kinetic sculptor. He makes mechanical art demonstrations and Rube Goldberg machines with existential themes. His moving sculptures have been exhibited at a number of science museums and art galleries. Ganson's work appeals to viewers of all ages, and has been featured in an animated children's television show. He has invented mass-produced children's toys, and hosts an annual competition to make Rube Goldberg chain reaction machines.
Ganson was an artist-in-residence at the Mechanical Engineering department of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 1995–1999. In addition, he has given invited presentations about his work at the TED conference, and at the Long Now Foundation.
Biography
Ganson was born in
Work
Ganson describes his work as a cross between mechanical engineering and choreography.[4] His sculptures have been called "gestural, humorous, evocative, and introspective",[2] or "Ingenious. Philosophical. Witty".[5]
Some of his extremely elaborate machines have one very simple function, such as elegantly anointing themselves with
Though some critics read deeply philosophical meaning into these works, Ganson's machines also exhibit a childlike, playful side.
Ganson and his wife, Chehalis Hegner, create collaborative works such as He and She, a kinetic sculpture that interacts with a photograph whereby a mechanical arm with a feather at the end of it tenderly caresses the toes of the female figure seated on a table.
In addition to his artistic productions, Ganson is also the inventor of Toobers & Zots, a commercial toy-set consisting of bendable foam pieces in abstract shapes that can be assembled into almost anything.[2] He has also been involved in other toy designs.[further explanation needed]
Friday After Thanksgiving
From 1999 to 2019, Ganson was the
In a variation, the competition has used a single
Exhibitions
Ganson has held residencies in science museums and collaborated with the Studebaker Movement Theatre. His work has been featured in one-man shows at the
Ganson has a permanent installation at the
Since 1995, a large collection of his works has been on permanent display in Gestural Engineering: The Sculptures of Arthur Ganson at the MIT Museum.[4][5][6] This collection was one of the few displays from the original museum site which were carried over into the new MIT Museum space, opened in 2022 in Kendall Square, on the east end of the MIT campus.[11]
See also
References
- ^ "Muffy's Art Attack". Arthur. Season 8. Episode 8A. PBS. WQED (TV).
- ^ a b c d Davidson, Martha. "Metaphysics in Motion: Arthur Ganson". Innovative Lives. Smithsonian Institution. Archived from the original on 2012-02-01. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
- ^ "Inventor of the Week: Arthur Ganson, Kinetic Sculpture". Lemelson-MIT Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
- ^ a b "Gestural Engineering: The Sculptures of Arthur Ganson". MIT Museum Exhibitions. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
- ^ a b Thurston-Lighty, Kathy (January 8, 1997). "Ganson's machines will be working at Museum". MIT Tech Talk. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
- ^ a b Blume, Harvey (August 13, 1998). "Subtle Mechanisms". The Atlantic Online. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
- ^ Waugh, Alice C. (February 25, 2004). "Arthur, Arthur! Ganson drawn to TV cartoon". MIT Tech Talk. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
- ^ "Friday After Thanksgiving: Chain Reaction". MIT Museum [website]. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-06.
- ^ Ganson, Arthur (Nov–Dec 2009). "Falling, Unwinding, Cascading: MIT's post-Thanksgiving chain reaction". Technology Review.
- ^ Crease, Robert (December 3, 2009). "Working on a Chain (Reaction) Gang". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2014-04-04.
- ^ Ventura, Anya (July 28, 2022). "3 Questions: John Durant on the new MIT Museum at Kendall Square". MIT News. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
External links
- Arthur Ganson's official website
- Video of several Arthur Ganson sculptures
- Ganson's MIT Museum Exhibition
- Arthur Ganson: Machines and the Breath of Time, a presentation for the Long Now Foundation, September 14, 2009
- Arthur Ganson at TED
- Large collection of Arthur Ganson's videos on YouTube
- Friday After Thanksgiving chain reactions led by Arthur Ganson for the MIT Museum.
- Smithsonian/Lemelson profile of Arthur Ganson's life and his work