Paul Spooner Live

A chance to hear Paul Spooner talk about his work at the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society, Falmouth, Cornwall.
February 16th at 7.30pm.
Tickets £8

Love by Carlos Zapata

A new one-off piece from Carlos Zapata.
A couple in love fly endlessly around the earth, with a heart above them.
Beautiful colours and style.

Height 28 cm

Wood, metal, acrylic paint

One Only.
£595 (excl. VAT)

Toasted Heart by Paul Spooner

Pulling out the bottom drawer of this small chest of drawers makes two toasted hearts pop out of a toaster. Inside the drawer is the lever that lifts the toast but there is also room for a scroll of paper on which to inscribe a romantic message. Paper is supplied as well as a length of special red thread with which to bind it. Outside help may be required to tie the bow- do not fall into the trap of asking the intended recipient to do it or the whole surprise will be compromised.
This piece was inspired by a survey of people in long term relationships who, hearing on the radio that it’s Valentine’s Day and realising that they haven’t done anything about it, resort to the pathetic expedient of making breakfast for their loved ones incorporating toast cut into heart shapes.
Ingredients; wood, metal, paper, thread, grass.

Dimensions
140mm High x 50mm Wide x 45mm Deep

Edition of 12

IMPORTANT: If you wish to receive this item before 14th February 2012 – please choose express shipping to guarantee delivery in time.

Price: £137.50 (excluding VAT)

Fingers Mk II by Nik Ramage

An eternally tapping copy of the artist’s own hand. At the flick of a switch the resin cast fingers drum rhythmically until switched off. This is a limited Edition of 25 pieces.

Designed by Nik Ramage who describes himself as a mechanical sculptor who makes useless machines and invents contraptions that the world didn’t know it needed.

Materials: Cast aluminium resin, steel and motor.
Dimensions: Human hand.
Power: 2 x AA Batteries (included)

Available from February 2012.

£600 (excl. VAT)

Click here for more pictures.

Uneasy by Paul Spooner

A new piece from Paul Spooner.

“If you were trying to make a mechanism that transmitted rotary motion smoothly, here are three mechanisms to avoid.

1). The well-known sliding block mechanism which translates steady circular motion into a wobbly approximation of it.

2). A magnet rotating near another magnet which picks up its motion in a fitful manner.

3). A bearing which deviates from the ideal cylindrical form by having two ears, two noses and four eyeballs added to its circumference.

The result is an uneasy action which might not be desirable in many machines but is OK for this Shakespeare-inspired item. Comes with a very small pair of shoes and a facsimile of a spread from Sue Spooner’s school edition of Henry IV part 2.”

Limited Edition of 3 only

15cm wide by 15cm high by 5 cm deep

£575 (excl. VAT)

See more pictures here.

Sketchbook Moment No.54

The Boyhood of Hitler

Watch out everyone. He’s having a big idea
Click image to enlarge.

Dug’s Automata Tips, Techniques and Tricks No.6

21 Rotary Tool Tips and Tricks for Automata-Makers

The high-speed rotary tool can do the work of dozens of other tools. With the right bits and accessories, this little powerhouse can cut, carve, engrave, drill, grind, sand, brush, and polish a variety of materials! Here are some tips to help automata-makers get the most from a rotary tool. Read more

Not Yet by Paul Spooner

A new limited edition from Paul Spooner.

‘Another piece that exploits the attractive/repulsive effects of neodymium magnets. The handle turns a cylinder in which a magnet is inserted radially so that its poles alternate, causing a magnet buried in the fish to feel attracted or repelled by turns. The foil, which is pure tin and beautiful stuff in its own right, stops the fish from becoming airborne.
I didn’t think of a title until I was half-way through making the batch. When I was at art school there was a kiln in the pottery on which the tutor often chalked; “NOT YET” to stop people opening the door too soon. If I don’t admit to not knowing quite why this piece has the same title, some people might think that it represents some deep thought about time and existence.
Finishing them on Remembrance Day, and having to date-stamp them 11/11/11 will only add to the suspicion that I’ve started taking myself too seriously’.

Dimensions
80mm Wide x 40mm Deep x 50mm High

£41.50 (Excl. VAT)

Lab Birds

Fi Henshall’s latest piece The Lab Birds features two birds with an interest in science.
The intricate mechanism includes bellows, cams and linkages, which produce realistic bird tweets, and graceful movements on the inquisitive birds.
Wood, metal and paint.

Dimensions
40 cm High
21 cm Wide
13 cm Deep

£475 (excl VAT)

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CMT presents Automata! at the Allen Gallery

This new exhibition of 20 exhibits from our collection is travelling to Hampshire for the run-up to Christmas this year.

Many of the exhibits are by Paul Spooner, including several of his iconic Anubis pieces.

Exhibition open 5th November to 24th December 2011

Opening Hours:
Tuesday to Saturday 10am – 4.30pm
Admission Free

Allen Gallery
Church Street
Alton
Hampshire
GU34 2BW

Allen Gallery Website