I will have two pieces on display in the Fermilab Art Gallery from 3/20 until 5/7/2013.
Fermilab, Batavia, Illinois.
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| These pieces are created with the help of a particle accelerator. This machine produces up to five million volts and is used to accelerate a beam of electrons. The electrons are fired at pieces of acrylic plastic and penetrate deep within the slabs, resulting in a pool of electrons trapped under tremendous electrical potential within each piece. The trapped charge is then carefully released by applying mechanical shock with a sharp insulated tool, and the electrons escape with a bright flash and loud pop. As the charges leave the plastic, they gather into channels following fractal branching rules just like river deltas, plants, and capillaries. Controlling the energy and placement of the electron beam determines the final shape and character of the resulting figure. Here is a video showing the process that I usually run on a digital frame when I display these in a show: [link] Shockfossils are produced in cooperation with Stoneridge Engineering: [link] Please also visit my other collaborators at [link] |
