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New Art for Texas A&M University

Jul 15, 2019

New Art for Texas A&M University

We recently began a new public art commission for Texas A&M International University in College Station, Texas. This larger-than-life project is designed to bring the university’s logo to life. The sculpture will consist of a 15’ diameter sphere composed of an intricate triangular frame made from brushed stainless steel with hammer-formed metal continents attached to it. The empty areas of the frame will be fitted with perforated stainless steel panels when mixed with the pow

Shimmering Sea Installs in Tempe, AZ

Jun 14, 2019

Shimmering Sea Installs in Tempe, AZ

The first stage of assembly and installation for Shimmering Sea is underway! This installation is going to be on a pedestrian bridge at The Watermark in Tempe, Arizona. The piece consists of hundreds of polished stainless steel discs that will gently move with the breeze, creating an ever-changing canvas of reflection of the spaces’ surroundings. Here are some behind the scenes photos of our team painstakingly adhering hundreds of these polished discs to the railings of the b

Camelback Commons Artwork Ships to Phoenix

Apr 20, 2019

Camelback Commons Artwork Ships to Phoenix

Artwork for Camelback Commons has made its way to Phoenix, AZ for installation. This sculpture is a massive suspended stainless steel mobile that will hang in the open air atrium section of the building and gently rotate with the wind. Check out behind the scenes photos below of our team loading this massive sculpture onto not one, but two trucks! Check out past blog posts about the making of this artwork: New Art for Phoenix, Fabrication for Camelback Commons, Hanging Demo a

Camelback Commons Atrium Art Fabrication Update

Apr 5, 2019

Camelback Commons Atrium Art Fabrication Update

We recently had Camelback Commons’ upcoming atrium artwork painted in bright shades of blue, green and yellow. The paint job turned out great and we can’t wait to get this beauty installed in Phoenix, Arizona. Look back at past blog entries about the making of this monumental suspended sculpture: New Art for Camelback Commons, Camelback Commons Fabrication Update, Camelback Commons Hanging Demo. #joeoconnell #kineticsculpture #StainlessSteel #placemaking #kineticart #Fabricat

Creative Machines Featured on AZ Weekend!

Mar 26, 2019

Creative Machines Featured on AZ Weekend!

We have been featured by KOLD News 13‘s Arizona Weekend blog! Thanks so much for coming down to shop and learning about what we do and sharing our story with the community and beyond. Here is the video they made after visiting our workshop in south Tucson and talking with Creative Machines Founder, President, and Artistic Director Joe O’Connell. ⭐️ See the full article here → This inventive Tucson business is an engineer’s paradise #joeoconnell #community #kineticsculpture #f

“All Systems Go!” Fabrication Continues

Mar 25, 2019

“All Systems Go!” Fabrication Continues

Over the last few weeks, All Systems Go has been taken apart, powder coated in an array of bright colors, and put back together again with all its finishing touches. After the machine was reassembled we began the testing phase where the machine runs for 1,000 hours prior to leaving our shop. This process allows us to notice any kinks that may arise and gives us an opportunity to fix any technical issues that may occur before we deliver the sculpture to our client. This ball m

New Art for Tempe, AZ

Mar 4, 2019

New Art for Tempe, AZ

Over the last several months we have been prototyping and testing materials for a new piece of public art titled Shimmering Sea for The Watermark, an upscale residential, shopping and business center located in Tempe, Arizona. Shimmering Sea is a wind-activated kinetic sculpture composed of an array of polished stainless steel discs. Each of these discs is suspended from just above its center of mass so that it will move with the wind. Arranged in this faceted array, the poli

Cayton Children’s Ball Machine Fabrication Update

Feb 20, 2019

Cayton Children’s Ball Machine Fabrication Update

All Systems Go is a brand new interactive ball machine going into Cayton Children’s Museum by Sharewell (formerly known as Zimmer Children’s Museum). This ball machine is loaded with an array of interactive devices and functions. It’s equipped with hand cranks, foot pedals, a bouncy seat, and special gears to twist and turn that will change the course of the circulating golf balls depending on how the user decides to interact with the machine. The machine is designed to illus

Hanging Demo for Camelback Commons Art

Jan 31, 2019

Hanging Demo for Camelback Commons Art

Over the past few months, we have been working on a new monumental placemaking sculpture for Camelback Commons in Phoenix, Arizona. The sculpture will suspend within the atrium of a beautiful office building in the financial center of Phoenix, Arizona – our neighbor to the north! We held a hanging demonstration in our shop to see the 30ft tall, 1,100lb sculpture in action. Here are some photos and video footage of the demonstration! Look back at past blog posts about Camelbac

Growing Home Featured in Modern Luxury San Diego

Jan 25, 2019

Growing Home Featured in Modern Luxury San Diego

Growing Home was recently featured in Modern Luxury San Diego. We are so proud of this piece and can already see it begin to make a lasting impression on the surrounding community. “I wish to express how impressed I am with your work, “Growing home!” You are indeed the special artist and craftsman we wanted to make Park/12 a unique setting for residents and public alike.” – Jerry Brand, Senior Managing Director, Greystar Check out the digital version of Modern Luxury San Dieg

Wet Wheel Coming to Tucson, AZ

Jan 21, 2019

Wet Wheel Coming to Tucson, AZ

The City of Tucson (where we are based) has commissioned a piece titled Wet Wheel, a 20-foot wide and 14-ft tall bike wheel which will straddle a portion of a mixed-use biking/pedestrian path like a gateway. The spokes would be absent except when a cyclist rides through the center, water jets appear in the place of spokes and give the rider an approximately one-second spray of water— a much needed and refreshing way to cool off in the intense, Arizona sun! Wet Wheel will stra

New Ball Machine for Cayton Children’s Museum

Jan 15, 2019

New Ball Machine for Cayton Children’s Museum

Fabrication has begun on a brand new, state of the art ball machine for Zimmer Children’s Museum by Sharewell, which is reopening as The Cayton Children’s Museum in late spring 2019! (#TheCaytonIsComing!) This highly specialized and interactive ball machine titled All Systems Go helps illustrate and promote healthy living through exercise, rest, and healthy eating. The interactive components follow the idea that if you exercise and treat your body well, good things happen! He

City of Lenexa feature on Body Politic!

Growing Home Installed in San Diego’s Park 12

Jan 4, 2019

Growing Home Installed in San Diego’s Park 12

Growing Home has made it to Park 12 in San Diego and was successfully installed by our great team that traveled all the way from Tucson, AZ. This monumental seashell sculpture celebrates all things San Diego with the rich history of the city laser-cut into the beach-inspired stainless steel sculpture. Here are some photos of the installation! Check out past blog posts about the making of Growing Home: Growing Home Fabrication Begins, Fabrication Progress, Fabrication Progress

Year in Review — A Look Back at 2018

Dec 31, 2018

Year in Review — A Look Back at 2018

2018 has been a great year for Creative Machines! We have installed our public art pieces in extraordinary cities around the country, begun sculpture and exhibit projects for awesome new clients from all over, and have strived to create fresh pieces that push the boundaries of what we have done in the past. Here are some photographic highlights from our projects that dominated 2018! PUBLIC ART Camaraderie is a series of three monumental sculptures nestled outside a veteran’s

Community Engagement at Creative Machines

Dec 20, 2018

Community Engagement at Creative Machines

Many of our projects involve extensive community engagement that goes beyond discussions and surveys. We recognize that people think with their hands as well as their minds and that when communities come together to help plan projects they experience a sense of camaraderie and investment in the final product. We also learn valuable lessons that we couldn’t otherwise. We have developed a kit of parts and a process for working with groups of all ages and helping people express

Growing Home Ships to Park 12 in San Diego

Dec 11, 2018

Growing Home Ships to Park 12 in San Diego

Last Friday Growing Home was packed up and loaded onto the truck and headed towards San Diego, California! This week we have a great team of installers working to get the piece put into place. Stay tuned for more on the installation and to see the finished sculpture in its completed form! Want to see more on Growing Home? Check out our past blog posts: Fabrication Begins, Fabrication Update 2, Fabrication Update 3, Fabrication Update 4. #gallery-4 { margin: auto; }

Perpetual Nephron Machine Debuts at Kidney Week 2018

Nov 30, 2018

Perpetual Nephron Machine Debuts at Kidney Week 2018

Here are some photos of the Perpetual Nephron Machine complete at Kidney Week 2018 in San Diego! The complete sculpture measures in at 14ft high, towering over visitors and creating a memorial beacon at the event. Look back at past posts about Perpetual Nephron Machine for more information on the project and for behind the scenes photos: Fabrication Part 1, Fabrication Part 2, Fabrication Part 3, Fabrication Part 4. #gallery-6 { margin: auto; } #gallery-6 .galler

Fall Field Trip to Creative Machines!

Nov 26, 2018

Fall Field Trip to Creative Machines!

We had some great kids visit the shop last week from Vail School District! Here are some photos from their trip to Creative Machines. They got to play with Lissajous, Building with Light, Watercolor Wall, Ball Machines and a Tennis Ball Launcher! #gallery-7 { margin: auto; } #gallery-7 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-7 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-7 .gallery-c

Atrium Artwork Fabrication for Camelback Commons

Nov 15, 2018

Atrium Artwork Fabrication for Camelback Commons

Fabrication is ongoing for the new atrium artwork commissioned for Camelback Commons, a set of office buildings located in Phoenix, Arizona. The monumental suspended sculpture will hang in the center of the atrium and will gently rotate in the space. The leaves will be painted in shades of yellow, green and blue. Here are some photos of its progress! Look back at our first post about this new piece: New Art For Camelback Commons. #gallery-9 { margin: auto; } #gal