My first try using a laser cutter. These came out pretty much as-advertised, from templates I bought on Etsy. I’m taking these as a training round – and inspiration for working on my own designs.
Techno-tribal mask for Luminata
Every fall, Seattle holds “Luminata” – a festival of lights with a parade around the Green Lake in lighted costumes. I built this from scrap plywood, found hardware, chicken wire, and added a light array in front, and wore it with a black robe. You could *just* see through the slit across the bridge of …
Lamp for the future
This was scratch-built from 3mm birch plywood, transparent red acrylic rod, patterned sheet plastic, and an assortment of hardware including metal strap and hog rings. I leaned hard on influences from the art deco age, where something warm and futuristic was always in the corner, lighting the room.
Gong Fights at Seacompression 2022
Once again, ladies and gentlemen: the brutality, the majesty, the stupidity of Gong Fights. (What???) This session was at Seacompression a few weeks ago. @findthecoretruth (parading the round numbers around the ring), our good friend Lara (in referee garb, judiciously scoring the fights and calling the winner of each round) and I (the robed announcer in …
Gong Fights at Burning Man 2022
I wanted to bring something fast, loud, and stupid to the playa this year. Something that was portable, easy to make and use, and memorable. (photo gallery below!) You know the sound a steel mixing bowl makes when you strike its edge? I love the round, BONGing resonance of it. So: Equipment: I built two …
(video) – Fighting with VIOLENCE!
(video) – Fighting with ART!
GONG FIGHT armor – principal build test
The sound inside the kit is kind of glorious, but I think during a fight it will be hellaciously loud. Might need to hand out earplugs to the fighters. I’ll be working on arm protection next. And maybe some smaller noisemaking items.
GONG FIGHTS – helmet test
It works. More to come.
What do you do with decommissioned gongs?
You recommission them, that’s what. I had to leave XyloVan’s keyboards behind in storage when we moved from Los Angeles (no room in NYC). But I brought the disc gongs with me. I finally got around to rebuilding them into something a lot more compact and portable, and I took the opportunity to engrave them …
Pandemic Warning Mask 3, with magnets
This mask was the largest one I could manage to cut out and make wearable from the tin ceiling tile, which was originally a 3-by-3-foot sheet of tin. It is definitely meant to be worn without sunglasses so that the wearer’s eyes are visible. I also fabbed a new mask, including magnets so that the …
Pandemic Warning Mask 2
I learned some things on the first mask. I’m still really pleased with the way it turned out, but this time around I primered the surfaces I intended to paint, and the paint went on a lot more smoothly and did not crawl and craze in the way that gave the first mask it’s beaten-to-hell …
Quarantine project – pandemic masks
I’ve started a new personal project about the pandemic, masks and fear. I’ve had these sheets of tin ceiling floating around the shop unused for years and found that the stuff lends itself to cutting, bending, painting and rivets, plus it’s sturdy and not too heavy to wear. (And yes, that’s a double-layered cloth mask …
R.I.P. XyloVan – 2010-2019
XyloVan began its life nearly 10 years ago as an idea: Let’s build a mutant vehicle so our young kids can ride around even after bedtime and we can all enjoy Burning Man safely together after dark. The van’s full, rich and musical life ended last month – after so many adventures, mishaps and miracles …
XyloVan is (mostly) FOR SALE
You read that right: This day had to come. We’re moving, and the time has arrived for me to send XyloVan (1) on to its next incarnation. Underneath the instruments, (and the patina of wonderful music, noise and love that thousands of people have laid on them during its 9.5-year existence), lies a sturdy old …
Veering off into left field – to build a marimbula
This is a long way from xylophones and propane-tank drums, but I’ve really enjoyed building cajóns and – for the first time – a marimbula. The marimbula is a Caribbean instrument, descended from the African kalimba, and generally functions as a bass. As you’ll see in the video at the bottom of the post, I …
Building cajóns – all of a sudden
The old-timey title for this post could have been: The Wisdom and Benefits of Contemplating a Temporary Shift from the Traditional Norm for This Institution in Materials, Methods, Design and Construction of Multi-Purpose Acoustic Percussion Instruments: Or, a “Box to Bang On” Because this post is about a kick in the head. A total world-shifting …
Photos, videos and thoughts from Burning Man 2018 – The Big WHY
It’s been four years since I first mutated XyloVan as “the Light Fandango” and cruised the playa dressed as a glowing ballroom ceiling. This year’s journey to Burning Man proved just as magical as the 2014 outing, thanks to amazing new campmates at OKNOTOK who helped me build and light it, a couple of excellent …
Percussion cruise to Sonic Runway and beyond
A percussion cruise is a pretty simple pleasure: Invite people onto the roof to play the drums and gongs, and drive across the Black Rock Desert. As I drive, happy sounds drift down – people lazily striking the gongs, and chatting passionately about their burns. The first part of this clip is the sound of …
Austin burns down Keyboard 1 at Burning Man, 2018
I built XyloVan to give others the joy of playing music. More often, they give me the joy of hearing amazing talent. This guy – who told me his name was Austin – really brought it.