Reuben Margolin: Sculpting waves in wood and time

Summary

Reuben Margolin, an artist and inventor, shares his passion for creating intricate sculptures inspired by natural phenomena. His 'Double Raindrop' sculpture, which combines the interference patterns of two raindrops, is a prime example. Margolin's work involves mechanical motion, using materials like soda bottles, aluminum cans, and tule reeds. He also collaborates with choreographers, such as 'Connected,' where strings attached to dancers mimic the movement of waves. Margolin reflects on the tension between the need to delve deeper into patterns and the immediate beauty of the world, which drives his artistic process.

Takeaways

• 🎨 The artist enjoys working in his shop, finding inspiration in the rain and the patterns it creates.
• 💧 The 'Double Raindrop' sculpture represents the interference pattern created by two raindrops landing near each other, forming expanding hexagons.
• 🔩 All sculptures are mechanically driven, with one example featuring a complex system of nine motors and about 3,000 pulleys.
• 🌿 The artist appreciates the sensory experience of working with Tule, a reed native to California, which has a delightful smell.
• 🌀 The sculptures incorporate various natural phenomena, such as raindrops, spiral eddies, and the movement of clouds.
• 🚴 'Connected' is a collaborative piece with a choreographer, involving strings attached to dancers to create a visual representation of movement.
• 🌍 The artist contemplates the idea that the Earth is not flat or round but wavy, suggesting a deeper, more complex reality.
• 👧 The artist reflects on the limitations of reducing complex entities, like his daughter, to mere waves or patterns.
• 🔄 The sculptures embody the tension between the desire to understand deeper patterns and the immediate beauty of the world.
• 🌱 The artist's creative process involves a journey from initial reactions to a deeper appreciation of his work over time.

Q & A

What does the speaker enjoy doing in his shop during rainy days?

During rainy days, the speaker enjoys cutting wood, drilling holes, and watching the water outside his shop where the driveway turns into a river.

What is the name of the sculpture that the speaker describes as the most talkative?

The sculpture that the speaker refers to as the most talkative is called 'Double Raindrop'.

How does the 'Double Raindrop' sculpture create its pattern?

The 'Double Raindrop' sculpture creates its pattern by adding together the interference pattern from two raindrops that land near each other, resulting in expanding hexagons instead of circles.

What materials are mentioned as being used in the creation of the speaker's sculptures?

The materials mentioned include 800 two-liter soda bottles, 400 aluminum cans, and Tule, a reed native to California.

What is unique about the Tule reed used in the sculptures?

The Tule reed is unique because of its delicious smell, which the speaker appreciates when working with it.

How many motors and pulleys are involved in the mechanism that drives one of the speaker's sculptures?

The mechanism that drives one of the sculptures has nine motors and about 3,000 pulleys.

What is the collaboration piece called that involves choreographer Gideon Obarzanek?

The collaboration piece with choreographer Gideon Obarzanek is called 'Connected'.

What is the significance of the 14,064 bicycle reflectors used in one of the speaker's installations?

The 14,064 bicycle reflectors were used in a larger-scale installation of one of the speaker's sculptures, which took 20 days to install.

How does the speaker describe the Earth's shape in relation to his sculptures?

The speaker humorously describes the Earth as 'wavy', suggesting that every seemingly isolated object is a manifestation of a continuous wave poking through into our world.

What does the speaker's daughter represent in contrast to his sculptures?

The speaker's daughter represents the immediacy and individuality that cannot be reduced to a wave pattern, contrasting with the patterns and cycles found in his sculptures.

What was the speaker's initial reaction to the 'Double Raindrop' sculpture when it was first turned on?

The speaker's initial reaction to the 'Double Raindrop' sculpture was dislike; he hated it the moment he turned it on.

How did the speaker's perception of the 'Double Raindrop' sculpture change over time?

The speaker's perception of the 'Double Raindrop' sculpture evolved over time. After initially disliking it, he began to appreciate it more each day until he came to love it.