toys

Asia Ward's Curious Creatures

Submitted by Margaret P on April 24, 2006 - 9:02pm.

It seems that whenever I tell people about what I do at the Science Museum, they tell me I need to get to know Asia Ward's artwork. She makes slightly-creepy, quietly-endearing, interactive creature sculptures like this one: lips.jpg Asia Ward, Lips. Contains a small motor, speaker, toy microchip, motion detector and rotating arm. The creatures are toy Frankensteins, constructed inside and out from pieces cobbled from old stuffed animals and electronic and mechanical toys. The sculptures are interactive.

Low-Tech Squeak

Submitted by Kristen M on April 19, 2006 - 10:16pm.

A few weeks ago, Keith and I took apart toys with visitors. One was a little robotic dog that walked and barked when you pushed a button on its remote control. When he was taking it apart, he reached inside the neck and felt paper. Out came a little paper bellows with a bent straw attached - this was the thing that made the dog bark!