the Pasta Cycle

A kinetic sculpture that takes advantage of magnetism to perceptually confuse and entice the viewer.

Since it's creation, the Pasta Cycle has morphed from being a pasta-centric gag piece, into a multi-functional interactive sculpture. It gets its name from an early prototype in which magnets dragged along on its surface pushed elbow maccaroni around to form concentric circle patterns. The Pasta Cycle's 2 x 2 foot box contains a rotating wheel covered with stacks of strong magnets. As the wheel is spun by a DC motor, it creates varying magnetic fields that interact with other magnets or objects placed on the top surface of the box.

The top surface of the box is made of clear plexi-glass, but when a mirror or a sheet of paper is placed on its top, it is not apparent what is going on inside to cause the strange behavior of the chain, marbles or pasta. I have built frames and removable tops so that I can easilly place the different materials on its surface. The piece can also be a hand-on experience where the audience can touch the objects on the surface and control the speed of the inner wheel with a large exterior knob.

This project is the most recent result of an investigation into magnets and how they react when in motion. I have become increasingly interested in making kinetic sculptures. This semester at ITP, studying generative art in Living Art, and torque transferring couplers in Mechanisms and Things That Move provided me with the inspiration relating to materials and form that culminated in this project. I would like to thank Todd Holoubek and Dustyn Roberts for their technical help and creative input on this project.

As the wheel rotates within the box, it drags a few small disc-shaped magnets along the top. The magnets collide with the marbles on the top of the box, creating a chaotic pattern of collsions. The sound of the marbles hitting the mirrored surface mixes with the rhythmic sound of the motor. A bright light shining on the polished marbles adds to the hypnotic nature of the piece. People often end up watching the piece for minutes at a time, unfocusing and refocusing their eyes and thinking about what might be going on inside the box. A common misperception is that the marbles themselves are magnetic.