The allure of machines

Bernie Lubell is an installation artist based in San Francisco who has long championed the power of human-machine interaction to unlock creative energy. If that sounds hokey, just consider one of his pieces:

It's that kind of human interaction that he has keyed into with his work, which he will discuss during a lecture at the Lamar Dodd School of Art on Tuesday March 19 at 5:30 p.m. in room S151.

His UGA lecture on "The Etiology of Innocence," which will begin with a detailed discussion of his room-sized heart simulation, is a tour of 13 of his interactive wood machines. In discussing their origins, implications and construction, Lubell will draw on the 19th century physiologies of Etienne Jules Marey and evolutionary theory, question the nature of time, explore the palpable contributions of touch and the importance of accidents and failure. Quantum entanglement, language, navigation, magic and the Marx brothers also figure in the exposition.

In addition to his lecture, he will meet with graduate students from various studios in the school of art and lead a workshop on failure, during which the students will build and present what Lubell describes as a "machine that fails at love."

Lubell has a distinguished list of exhibitions and science museum installations. Just the kind of experience students will enjoy and learn from, and it sounds like he remembers that all-important element of art and artmaking: fun. Mark your calendars.