Springs, Sprockets, and Pulleys
For the last week, Adessa, every time I drove past the Muscatine Art Center on Mulberry Street, there was a giant banner hanging there that caught my eye. It read:SPRINGS, SPROCKETS, and PULLEYS
The Mechanical Sculptures of
Steve Gerberich
Steve Gerberich
Now, I wasn't quite sure what to make of that. But it sure sounded like something we might enjoy.
So yesterday, we made a trip to the museum together.
Outside the Art Center entrance, a massive, stone, wheel-like sculpture. "Daddy," you said, "look! A donut!"
First thing we saw inside the Art Center was a case full of bugs and spiders. You were already thinking, "This place is cool."
This case was displaying the artist's extensive collection of circus kitsch and you were facinated, asking me to explain what each thing was.
Soon we entered the gallery itself. And the Springs, Sprockets, and Pulleys sculptures were impressive, indeed.
The sculptures were giant, interactive, animated pieces assembled from "old machine parts, kitchen utensils, pieces of furniture, lighting fixtures, medical supplies, toys and carnival figurines" according to the artist's website. Push a button, turn a crank, or even pedal an old exer-cycle and they'd light up and come to life.
Soon you were cranking them yourself to make them go.
You called this mechanical cow sculpture that gave milk "Crazy Cow."
A couple of people out on a fishing trip. Oh, how you wanted to get up in that boat...
Of course, one of your favorite "interactive pieces" was the elevator. Who needs an amusement park ride when you have an elevator?
"Daddy, let's go in the elevator again!"
A pair of golfers.
For some reason, at first you were afraid to push the buttons to make the pieces come to life. You were fine to turn a crank, but when it came to button-pushing, you said, "No, Daddy, you make them talk." But after a while you decided you wanted to push the buttons on your own.
A dentist's office-themed piece.
More circus kitsch -- an antique toy monkey that really caught your fancy.
That's just part one of our visit to the museum -- quite a bit more to post tomorrow.
Daddy
So yesterday, we made a trip to the museum together.
Outside the Art Center entrance, a massive, stone, wheel-like sculpture. "Daddy," you said, "look! A donut!"
First thing we saw inside the Art Center was a case full of bugs and spiders. You were already thinking, "This place is cool."
This case was displaying the artist's extensive collection of circus kitsch and you were facinated, asking me to explain what each thing was.Soon we entered the gallery itself. And the Springs, Sprockets, and Pulleys sculptures were impressive, indeed.
The sculptures were giant, interactive, animated pieces assembled from "old machine parts, kitchen utensils, pieces of furniture, lighting fixtures, medical supplies, toys and carnival figurines" according to the artist's website. Push a button, turn a crank, or even pedal an old exer-cycle and they'd light up and come to life.
Soon you were cranking them yourself to make them go.
You called this mechanical cow sculpture that gave milk "Crazy Cow."
A couple of people out on a fishing trip. Oh, how you wanted to get up in that boat...
Of course, one of your favorite "interactive pieces" was the elevator. Who needs an amusement park ride when you have an elevator?
"Daddy, let's go in the elevator again!"
A pair of golfers.
For some reason, at first you were afraid to push the buttons to make the pieces come to life. You were fine to turn a crank, but when it came to button-pushing, you said, "No, Daddy, you make them talk." But after a while you decided you wanted to push the buttons on your own.
A dentist's office-themed piece.
More circus kitsch -- an antique toy monkey that really caught your fancy.That's just part one of our visit to the museum -- quite a bit more to post tomorrow.
Daddy
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