Rob Bell's Studio...Animation Stages

I visited Rob Bell's Zomadic Studio again last week. It is always so inspiring to see what he is working on. When I arrived his computer die cutter was working on cutting out segments for an architectural game.


















I felt like I was watching a dance performance as I observed the mechanical arm moved about cutting the wooden lace-like discs.


















I was visiting Rob to commission him to create a portable animation stage for the stop motion claymation classes I will be teaching at Cureton Elementary in Alum Rock, San Jose and in Cupertino in the spring and possibly in the Tenderloin of S.F. at some point. I recently completed teaching animation classes (using iMovies) at Montalvo Arts Center and am preparing to teach similar animation classes across the South Bay. The stage I have made are quite worn (made of cardboard) and it would be great to have a sturdy foldable one that I can transport easily. Here are a few sketch ideas Rob created on the fly while we were brainstorming in his studio:



























After we discussed my project I got to look around his studio a bit. I really enjoyed the detail on this piece below. He told me I could provide an Illustrator file and he could translate that into something his machine could reference to create such intricate etch cutting. I've been dreaming about such detailing on my stage ever since!









































Below is an image of a few of his building toy "blocks". We discussed getting together to think of ways to create elementary/junior high projects that would integrate these components into core curriculum projects. More on this later.



















I also met an artist, Chris Palmer at Rob's studio. He gave me the coolest fold up business card, which should not have surprised me as he is an origami artist. I loved the title on his card "Designer Geometer Ornamentalist Folder" His website is www.shadowfolds.com. His work takes my breath away. It really relates to the textile exploration I will be doing as he folds in fabric as well as paper. I'll be exploring his Flickr site more soon!

Rob Bell's Designs for Hanging My Banners

One thing that is fascinating to me about meeting and working with artists of different disciplines is seeing their process. Right now Rob Bell, a fabricator in San Francisco (I blogged about him earlier last month) is designing and creating two stands for my large hanging mixed media sculpture. I will be using these for sets for future dance collaborations, gallery display and for the Sub Zero festival coming up on June 5th.

Look at the progression of his design below. This was done in an amazingly quick time. The first sketch was sent a few days ago. I gave my feedback to him yesterday and with just a few email exchanges the rest of the images were created and sent to me over a two or three hour time period. Rob told me has been using Google Sketchup for over three years now and loves it as a design tool. His speed made me laugh as I thought I was going to do a series of blogs on this sketch phase portion of the design process. My sister is a product designer/engineer as well and she, too, has this rapid design skill. I think it takes years, decades, to get to the point where you can par down and distill your ideas so well and so quickly.

First concept sketch ( all images Rob Bell copyright 2009)













Below: Notches are added to the hanging beam. This is so that my hanging lines have something to bite into and will not slip around. A flair is added to the base bottom and the bottom stand element is modified.



















Below: A different angle view of the stand. It illustrates what the base design looks like. Seeing this angle is important as it is difficult to visualize the dimensions of the base without seeing this perspective.

















Below: Final design. There are subtle curved elements added to the sides to help prevent bowing. I really like these elements as I feel this slight swelling will visually link my tapestries to the stand as my mixed media pieces have organic swirling lines.
He will first work on the base and make a to scale model to test the stability.

Cool Studio of Rob Bell

Yesterday my daughter Emily and I visited the millwork, design and fabrication studio of Rob Bell. His studio was so fascinating and the varied projects he works on are really unique. I felt like I was entering an old woodshop in Florence as we stepped down the custom curved steps and into the space..that is until I saw all the high tech computer milling equipment and robotic arm at the back of the shop. http://www.zomadic.com/









































In my exploration for fabricators for the public art project I am working on, my sister, Lisa, recommended I contact Rob Bell as Clif Bar uses his creative design and fabrication services for their displays for trade shows and other events. One great aspect of his work is that he can build things that break down easily and are very elegantly designed and are beautiful to look at. Hanging from the ceiling and up high perched on cases were structures that looked like diatoms. This was a happy surprise as the project I am working on references local creeks and rivers and the rise in diatoms due to trash clogging.
























Below is a preliminary design for a modular green house he created. The final greenhouse (located in Berkeley) looked spectacular in the images he showed me. It seemed like a bit of public art itself as he had a team of volunteers follow his directions and completed the structure in two days. Images of it can be seen here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zomadic/sets/72157616983353030/



















I have also begun to outreach to dancers, particular Butoh dancers, as I explore set design. In this frame of mind this "scrap" wood below caught my eye. The open triangular areas were for a project and this board is what remained. I think a series of similar forms would cast really interesting shadows with the right lighting and it would be great for dancers to move in front of and behind. I also love the idea of giving a new life to something that was supposedly scrap. It is hard to see here, but the cuts have very nice clean faceted edges that would cast light in interesting ways. This piece is eight feet by four feet. I am hoping to drive up my van soon and pick this piece up!























Below, Mr. Bell gave Emily a wave form to draw on while we talked. The wave was a test piece for a project that my sister, Lisa Whitsitt, designed at Clif Bar and Zomadic created. Emily drew diatoms and amoebas on it. It was an inspiring visit and I hope Emily retains a memory of it.