Nine Pins in the Catskills

Kinetic Sculpture 

Sculpture: Stainless Steel with a Basalt Stone

13.5"h x 8.8"d x 9"w

Base: Granite 

18" x 18" x .5

A conical rocker consisting of a stone at the point and an elliptical formed rectangular bar, supports a pendulum, revolving around the cones axis. The pendulum has a fixed spherical weight at one end and a movable counterweight at the other. As the rocker and pendulum move, the energy of these elements cycles between kinetic and potential forms and is transferred between the pendulum and rocker. Since their periods of motion are not equal, there is an interesting pattern of motion as one catches up to, then passes the other. Changing the counterweight’s position changes the rockers frequency, and thus changes the pattern of motion of the sculpture. The pattern is also dependent on the initial conditions angle and velocity, given the pendulum and rocker as the observer sets the piece in motion. I have filed marks in the pendulum rod that serve as starting points for positioning the weight.