As long as I can remember I've been drawn to machines: the beauty of engineering and the elegance that naturally unfolds when attention is given to pure functionality.

Looking over the wonderful, clever works of automata throughout its history, the thing that continues to hook me is the imitation or illusion of life: an obvious machine that moves so realistically it seems to be alive.  I've come to pay most attention to a certain specific gesture that best evokes a creature's intention or character.

I'm intrigued by the tension between: left brain vs. right brain, engineering vs. organic organism, and on-stage vs. back-stage.  

While building the pieces I've discovered that the designs are most fulfilling when approached with an ignorance of modern technology.  By not employing computer chips, electrical systems, or high-tech bearings, it grounds the work in the tangible and timeless natural world.