I started with a shiny film tin about 12″ in diameter to create this unusual display unit. First, I sanded the outer edges of the tin to create texture. Then I cut an opening into the top surface and inserted a matboard box divided into two sections, and added color and texture around the box with a circular piece of hand-decorated paper.

Next, using matboard covered with hand-decorated paper, I framed the opening and added a door at the bottom. The door operates with a special wire hinge, tied in place with waxed linen threads and beads. A button tie at the top keeps the door closed. I pop-rivited eight small rectangles, made with the same hand-decorated paper, to the top surface for additional texture.

To complete the project, I glued decorated paper to the back surface of the tin and around the circumference at the edge.

©2008 FISHBOWL #3 - interactive wire sculpture, 11'' h x 12.5'' w x 9.5'' d • Turning crank causes curved rocker arm to move back-and-forth, making fish 'swim' in a realistic manner

©2008 FISHBOWL #3 • rear view • crank with handle operates rocker arm by means of wire connecting rod

I posted photos of two wire fishbowls in my September 15 and October 16 posts in the ‘Something New’ category. I just completed another interactive sculpture with a wire fish and crank, but this one features an authentic glass fishbowl, mounted with guy wires to a plywood base with a combed acrylic paint surface to suggest water. Wooden blocks serve as feet.

The crank mechanisms on each sculpture are different, and each was quite a challenge to me. On this third sculpture, I wanted the crank to be in the front, which meant I had to figure out a way to transfer movement to the rear, and then to the top center of the bowl. I didn’t want the crank mechanism wires to be seen through the fishbowl, which presented a further problem to solve.

Close-up view of 3-part articulated fish - made from 18 gauge black annealed wire and 20 gauge copper wire

As you can see in the photos above, my solution is simple. The front crank creates a circular motion, and the connecting rod transfers that motion to the rear rocker arm/crank and creates a back-and-forth motion. Notice the different sizes of the U-shapes in the front crank and rear rocker arm/crank. The tricky part was to get these just right for the proper amount of movement, and this required lots of minute adjustments to the crank and rocker arm/crank.

Fishbowl mounted to painted base with guy wires and hook eyes, fish on hanger inside bowl, sketchbook with numerous fish shapes at right

Trial crank and rocker arm in place with additional crank parts at right

In addition to all that, the rocker arm itself, even though it’s made of 16 gauge galvanized steel wire, was too flimsy to make the fish ’swim’. I tried a number of different curves and right angle shapes and none worked. Finally, I constructed a new rocker arm mechanism, with the same graceful curve I started with, and ‘work hardened’ it by placing it on my pounding block and lightly hammering it. It was noticeably stiffer. I got excited. Now I had to feed the bent and hardened rocker arm through the two tiny holes in the rear guide - no easy feat - just to see if it would work.

To do this, I partially straightened various right-angle bends and very carefully worked the rocker arm/crank through the holes, re-bending the wire as I proceeded. Then, I tied the upper part of the rocker arm to the fish hanger with scrap wire and gently operated the crank. It worked!

FISHBOWL #3 is for sale - click here if interested.

Close-up of front crank and rear rocker arm mechanisms, guy wires and hook eyes

Close-up of rocker arm (far right) attached to fish hanger, guide loops, hanging seaweed

©2008 FLYING FISH - interactive wire sculpture, 14.5'' h x 15.5'' w x 9.5'' d • Turning crank at bottom right causes fish to 'swim'

©2008 FLYING FISH • V-shaped part of crank mechanism at top right makes hanging fish move back and forth, causing them to 'swim' in a realistic manner

The past couple of months I’ve been pouring over books with photos of Alexander Calder’s motorized and crank operated sculptures and toys, and am duly impressed with the number and diversity of his creations, some very simple and others incredibly complex.

In my September 15 post under the ‘Something New’ category I talked about Alexander Calder’s 1929 wire sculpture ‘Goldfish Bowl’, how it inspired me to fabricate a similar version, and I challenged any wire workers out there in the blogosphere to make one and send me digital images. Making the bowl and the two articulated fish was easy enough, but not so the crank mechanism - I made several cranks before I got one to work properly. I posted two images of my fishbowl in that post.

This month, I challenged myself to make another fishbowl with three fish, a larger bowl, shaped differently, with wire and tin ’seaweed’, a base, and a different crank mechanism. The first two photos show my completed ‘Flying Fish’ wire sculpture, the third photo is a closeup of the crank mechanism, and the subsequent images depict the sculpture under construction. Enjoy!

©2008 FLYING FISH • Closeup view of crank mechanism • Note spiral wire 'tube' which places L-shaped rocker pivot 3 inches into bowl - necessary to make mechanism work, and a challenge to figure out!

FLYING FISH is for sale - please click here if interested.

FLYING FISH is maintenance free and you’ll never spend a dime on fish food (with real fish, you’ll be buying fish food forever). Not only that, you’ll be the proud owner a very cool interactive wire sculpture which will be a big hit with your friends when you entertain. And finally, the fish will only swim when you turn the crank, so you’ll never get dizzy watching real fish swimming monotonously back and forth.

©2008 ORBITING INFINITY • 15'' h x 11'' w x 11''d

I recently completed a commissioned piece, titled ‘Orbiting Infinity’, and shipped it to its owners in California last month.

It’s a mixed-media creation, made from wood, wood veneer, brass screws, nickel-plated washers, acrylic gels, pastes and paints, copper and colored wires in various gauges and horse hair, and contains a battery-operated motor hidden from view on the inside.

The motor is accessed from the back and causes the delicate wire and horse hair top section to slowly orbit the main body of sculpture.

©2008 ORBITING INFINITY • Top view

©2008 ORBITING INFINITY • Close up view of top section

Wire is flat out fun to work with. I’ve been playing with it as an art/craft medium for many years and find the process very addictive. Wire is cheap, readily available in many gauges, metals and colors, and working with wire requires only a few simple tools.

I’ve admired Alexander Calder (1898 - 1976) ever since I discovered his art at age seventeen, when his outdoor sculpture, Hello Girls, commissioned in 1964, was installed at the Los Angeles County Art Museum one year later. This water-powered sculpture totally blew me away. Calder worked extensively in wire throughout his 50-year career and is most widely known as the inventor of the art form we call the mobile.

Calder’s ‘Goldfish Bowl’, a charming, interactive wire sculpture made in 1929 as a last-minute addition to a gallery exhibit, is funky and playful, and turned out to be a big hit! He had used cranks earlier to make his circus figures move, but his Fishbowl was his first sculpture to incorporate a cranking mechanism. I’ve also seen this same sculpture titled ‘Fishbowl with Crank’. I smile every time I see a picture of Calder’s Goldfish Bowl, and would love to see it in person and operate the crank.

I decided to make a Fishbowl with Crank, and the result is shown above and below. I experimented with several different cranking mechanisms. The crank on my fishbowl differs from Calder’s, but it works nicely. I will make several more fishbowls and try different mechanisms. In the meantime, I am quite pleased with this one. It makes me smile, too!

My fishbowl project was fun and quite challenging at the same time. Here’s my challenge to all you wire artists out there - Check out the photo of Calder’s Goldfish Bowl, then construct one of your own! The only requirement is that one (or more) fish ’swim’ when the crank is turned. Then send me digital images of the result.