08.02 Robotics, Sculpture and the Art of Motion Control - by Bruce Shapiro, MD

Last thursday the Science Buzz Cafe presented the art and science of Bruce Shapiro. Bruce was a practicing physician before feeling the powerful call of art. His training and practice as a medical doctor led him to electronics which resulted in a fascination with computer programming and robotics, the Art of Motion Control. His interest in mathematics and programming has resulted in gorgeous 3 dimensional objects that run and automatically produce art objects which someone in the audience said reminded them of the Tibetan sand paintings, presented at the Sonoma County museum a few years ago. A skeptic in the audience then asked the ever popular question, "But is it art?". Bruce said it was to him and furthermore was like writing music for an instrument which he was simultaneously building. If you see his work you will agree that is a good answer.

Bruce just recently moved to Sonoma County from Minnesota. He is a long-time friend of Sonoma County Sculpture Ned Kahn and the two of them presented some of their work in the Sebastopol Center for the Arts just few months ago. Bruce made explicit an interest in a sort of "Holy Trinity" of science, art and education, things high on the priorities of us who present the Science Cafe. Good job, Bruce!

Sisyphus I

Visit Bruce Shapiro's Website