(photo: Farming in Nevada, credit: Michael Eckblad)
September
24
Bending Metal at the Madagascar Institute Last week I stopped by the Madagascar Institute while they were in the shop prepping for Maker Faire New York. I stumbled on their website a few weeks ago, and was impressed by their kinetic sculptures / experiments like the rocket-powered “Death Rattler” fish above.
When I got to their studio in Gowanus, I peeked my head in the loading dock and was greeted by co-founder Chris Hackett. He talked a bit about what they were working on — a 360º swing, rides for the chariot race, and a big sculpture in back. Then he showed me an ugly gash with sutures on his hand and said “we also do stitches.”
I stepped into the shop and was almost immediately given a pliers, tin snips, pair of gloves, and a paint marker and set to work helping build the “Voodoo Lily.” I then spent the next few hours wrestling metal grating into a wire armature, forming what would eventually become a metal petal. I never quite got the full story, but from what I can tell the finished product will involve a lot of spinning metal and flames.
He wasn’t kidding about the stitches, either — later I watched Hackett undergo “surgery” on his hand and have the sutures replaced. Somebody caught it on video, so you can watch it too if you can stomach it.
You can find the Madagascar Institute at Maker Faire this weekend, or see their schedule for classes — including their $60 welding workshop that I’ll certainly be checking out.
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