Automata is another word used for this kind of sculpture. It means any mechanical device that imitates, refers to, or is a duplication of animal movement, including humans. Cookoo clocks were some of the first automata which developed during the Middle Ages and with the notable exception of Hero or Heron of Alexandra, automata started and grew simultaneously with the development of clocks in the Middle Age.
I called it Crank Art before I knew about automata. To me it is a kind of sculpture that uses cranks operated by the viewer to activate the sculpture. Turning a crank could result in turning a wheel, making something bob or rock, ringing a chime or some other whirligig type action.
I have combined toy vocabulary with traditional fine art vocabulary to make something different. I like the whimsey of toy, the fun of it, but I also like well designed and crafted artwork. Surprise, involvement of the viewer, pleasing design and a high level of craftsmanship are all parts of my kind of mechanical art. These sculptures are intended for adults because they are designed to appeal to a sense of form, rhythm and balance yet allow room for impulse and play.
Different media are used including wood, non ferrous metals and found objects. Paint is of the highest quality enamel and the wood, if there is wood, is high grade maple or alder found here in the Pacific Northwest.
