Anvilhead: A kinetic sound sculpture

A mixed media sculpture that forges the worlds of blacksmiths and animated cartoons, bringing together sonic and visual memories from the 20th century industrial era. The piece uses analogue and electronic media, including a 70 lb iron anvil, and Arduino micro controler, 5 solenoids, wires, wood and foam, among other minor components. Once it is powered by electricity, Anvilhead performs a score composed by Andres Lombana-Bermudez and programed with the Arduino IDE. The sculpture has been exhibited in Houston, TX, and Cambridge, MA.

Anvilhead is an art project made by Andres Lombana-Bermudez and AJ Liberto, with the support of a director's grant from Center for Art, Science & Technology (CAST). We would like to thank fellow MediaLab students Mark Feldmeier and David Merril for their advice and feedback during the development and prototyping of the sculpture.

Exhibits: Skydive Gallery (November 26 - December 24th, 2008), Houston,TX. MIT infinite Corridor (May 14, 2009), Cambridge, MA

Anvilhead at Skydive

SKYDIVE is an artist run exhibition venue unique to Houston. Its mission is to broaden the spectrum of the dialogue in Houston by bringing in artists from outside of Texas. The aim of SKYDIVE is to host a range of art practices that push the limits of their material forms, including non-traditional methods of sculpture, installation, video, performance, and works that engage the viewer through participation, as well as text and web-based projects.

Thicks as Thieves art show at Skydive gallery in Houston, TX. November 26 - December 24th, 2008

Anvilhead at MIT inifinite corridor

On the afternoon of May 14 we did a pop-up installation of the Anvilhead at the infamous MIT Infinite Corridor , more exactly at the Memorial Lobby near the Barker library, almost under the dome. We spent about 45 minutes setting the sculpture and then left it for about an 90 minutes. The percusive sounds of the Anvilhead filled the infinite corridor and called the attention of some of the people that walked nearby. Some friends came to say hello and to see and listen to the sounds of the kinetic sculpture.

Anvilhead Design and Building Process

We worked for over a semester in the design of the sculpture and spend a couple of months building the final version of the prototype that we were able to exhibit. The idea of the piece came out as a derive from the research on the comedic uses of sound (see The "New" sounds of the slap-of-the-stick : Termite Terrace (1937-1943) and the slapstick tradition) and several conversations with artists, roboticits, and musicians friends.

Anvilhead Documentation

Scheme

The circuit (Arduino connected to the breadboard with transistors, diods, and wires that go to the solenoids)

Video of the prototype: first performance in Sommerville, MA

Audio recording: Listen to a 1 minute recording of the sound of the anvilhead performing the Score for 1 anvil and 5 solenoids.

Anvilhead Prototype Archive Records