Home Automation : The Robotic Crash Test Dummy Project

The Home Automation Robotic Art Project. Visit http://www.crashingart.com - A family of animatronic crash test dummies react to the color code threat alerts on their home television.

A satire of the Homeland Security Department's color code threat alert system, created by the american robotics and multimedia video artist David Karave.

In 2005 a family of crash test dummies was borrowed from the defense department, in order to create an artwork for peace. Over the next two years, more than 40 artists in the US and Canada would combine efforts to create the Home Automation project. Elaborate eurythane plaster shell moulds were made. Wax reproductions of 36 body parts were sprued and ceramic shelled. Three new crash test dummies emerged, made from foundry poured aircraft aluminum alloy.

For more information on the Home Automation project, robotic art photos and videos, as well as info on booking a robotic art performance for your museum, gallery, or event, visit :

http://www.crashingart.com - The Robotic Art of David Karave

Home Automation
1 Aircraft aluminum robotic retrofitted Crabi 12 month crash test dummy
2 Aircraft aluminum robotic retrofitted Hybrid II 50th percentile dummies
(female's breasts moulded/sculpted)
Pneumatics
Color video recognition programming system via Max/Msp/Jitter/Cyclops
(allowing the crash test dummies to "see" the alerts on Telnet)
Retrofited color code couch with pistons

This movie was shot in Rockdale, TX.

Special thanks to Edward Albee whose fellowship of this project in New York made this all a possibility.

For this Texas production a special thanks goes out to Keepher Pez, whose help was critical in the creation of a complex linear pneumatic to rotary head turning motion. Also if it were not for Keepher Pez's help during this show's installation at the Art Outside Festival, this movie would never have been possible.

The credits that roll at the end of this movie reflect the core crew that was involved in the original production in Montreal, Quebec, but there are countless others who have contributed. David Karave was the cinematographer and video editor for this latest production, however Christopher Payne was the original genuis behind many of the experimental visual and text effects. Kevin Pez and Jeffrey Hill have been vital in Home Automation's web presence. Josh Dow and Lauren Holmgron lended their foundry pouring and sprueing assistance with great generosity and skill. Genevieve Ayotte was the life model for the moulding of the female crash test dummy. Denis Petrushin was the engineer behind the original piston retrofitted couch system. For this Texas production, DJ Placebo of Galaxy Salad was the voiceover sound engineer. Grundle Pez the dog makes a cameo appearance. James Ireland played the voice of the father, with Meg Shick as the mother. Doug Price remains as the indomitable voice of Telnet, and Jack Burke stays on as the voice of the child.

The Home Automation project is an anti-war artwork that involves orwellian themes of personal freedom, fear, propaganda, and the struggle for peace and human autonomy. For more info on the Home Automation project and to check out other kinetic sculptures, collage, robotic puppets, mechanical puppetry and stop motion animation artworks :

Visit http://www.crashingart.com


Dedicated to Samuel W. Alderson (October 21, 1914 February 11, 2005), the inventor of the crash test dummy, whose creation has saved billions of lives.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• robotic art
• David Karave
• homeland security department
• satire
• animatronic theater
• Edward Albee
• crash test dummies
• dummy
• mechanical
• puppets
• anti war
• robot
• puppetry
• propaganda
• defense dept
• color code
• threat alert
• fear
• parody
• Fahrenheit 451
• NFB
• HSD
• surveillance
• spying
• Max Msp
• 1984
• Orwell
• Orwellian
• big brother
• freedom
• patriot act
• kinetic sculpture
• new media
• experimental
• film
• video
• pneumatic
• Art Outside
• interactive art
• peace art