JIM JENKINS
Artist Statement CV Press Release Artist Talk Blog Post
Jim Jenkins believes his role as a Kinetic artist is best described as part sculptor, part engineer, and part choreographer. His animated sculptures are inspired by natural movements and incorporate objects as well as words. The creation process requires Jenkins to choose how a sculpture will look at all stages; from the beginning movements to high activity then at a state of rest.
Jim Jenkins’ “Two Chairs & A House Divided” is a kinetic contemporary, electronic motor-operated sculpture made with wood, aluminum, lead and timed motors. This piece measures 29” x 36” x 25”
“Chair Waves” is a simple piece featuring a row of small chairs collectively moving like a rolling wave. This piece is made of poplar, plexiglass, aluminum, steel, motors and measures 23"H x 25"W x 7"D
The Escalation of Effect” incorporates the use of both “direct” and “indirect” movements. The bottom chair is directly set into motion by the motor while the other two chairs above, supported by balance and counterweights, are simply reacting to the bottom chair. The result is a playful and unpredictable movement. This piece is made of poplar, lead, aluminum and steel and measures 81”H x 23” W x 15”D
In Motion Study “Fork Bird, Spoon Bird”, the branches take on the shape of spirals with the birds sitting atop the tips. Their excitable flapping causes the rest of the piece to tremble. This piece is made of silverware, aluminum, steel, timed motors, formica and wood. It measures 29”H x 23” W x 11”D
“Harrison Chooses Poorly” was one of the first pieces Jenkins’ created based on newspaper headlines. This one spotlights the oft-chronicled piloting woes of actor Harrison Ford. Specifically, this work is based on the February, 2017 event in which Ford mistakenly landed his plane on the taxi way, rather than the runway, at John Wayne Airport in Orange County. Apparently, the mishap narrowly avoided a collision with another plane willed with over 100 passengers. The sculpture offers one possible explanation for the distraction. This piece is made of cast resin, steel and arduino timed motors. It measures 20”H x 10-24”W x 21”D
This sculpture could be considered topical as it shows the world waffling in an unbalanced state. Two chairs are motorized to slowly sway back and forth. A third chair straddles the two and tips from one side to the other based on their movement. This piece is made of birch, a toy globe, aluminum, and steel. It measures 27”H X 22”W x 9”D
This is one of several recent works inspired by the 2020 pandemic. It spotlights how the “Safer at Home” edict from the government resulted in many people navigating their way through these times by spending a lot more time in the kitchen. In the work, a bobbing frying pan with wooden spoons for oars rows above a rolling wave. This piece is made of cast resin, powder coated aluminum and wooden spoons. It measures 15”H x 22”W x 23”D