The Exquisite Contraption (February 2014)

The Exquisite Contraption (February 2014)

Flux Factory invites artists, designers, engineers, hackers, and makers to collaborate on an elaborate, exquisite corpse-style Rube Goldberg machine that will span multiple rooms and floors throughout Flux Factory to accomplish a simple chore.

Inspired by Rube Goldberg’s cartoons that depict overly complex machines; chindōgu, the Japanese art of “unuseless” inventions; and the growing popularity of producing these objects and machines as an art practice; The Exquisite Contraption will result in a massive, interactive, kinetic sculpture that is activated once a week for the duration of 2014 to perform its task.

Participants will work together to collectively identify the machine’s task and individually build pieces of the chain reaction. The final contraption will be created from a wide array of materials and methods and become a long term addition to Flux Factory’s architecture. In an age of consumerism that worships the invisible and efficient, The Exquisite Contraption is an experiment not only in the spectacle of visible automation and the aestheticization of externalities, but in living daily life surrounded by a conspicuous machine.

Tell us your idea for a task or chore to be automated and a section you would like to build (max 1 page). Applications are due December 16th to [email protected] and applicants will be notified by January 6th.

http://www.fluxfactory.org/news/open-call-2014-exhibition-season/