Kinetics & Electronics

Does your artwork just sit there, dull, boring and blah? Take your artwork to the next level with The Crucible’s kinetics classes that teach you how to add movement, sound, and interactivity to your artwork. We even have a class to teach you how to add flame effects to your art!

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Introduction to Kinetics and Mechanical Sculpture
Entry-level class
This course will introduce you to the physics of gears, CAM, cranks, rack and pinion, pulleys, reciprocators, ratchets, linkages, returns, and other mechanisms related to movement.  Each week, you’ll build new mechanisms from paper, cardboard, doweling rods, and wire. By the last class, you will have learned how these basic mechanical units can be fitted together to create compound mechanisms you can use in all sorts of projects. 

Electronics for Artists
Entry-level class
Animate your artwork and make it more interactive. You will learn to prototype and build electronic circuits using the PIC 16F84 microcontroller, which is a small computer on a chip that can be programmed to operate LEDs, electroluminescent wire, neon tubes, motors, and more.  You will learn basic electronic theory, use of solderless breadboards for prototyping, circuit construction techniques, and microcontroller programming.  Each student receives a kit including the 16F84 and a solderless breadboard.  This beginning course is designed for students with little or no experience in electronics.

Electromechanics for Everything
Entry-level class
Using the simplest of electronic and mechanical components, you’ll learn to make things spin, twitch, jump, bend, and wiggle. This class covers switches, buttons, relays, motors, servos, and solenoids, along with some basic analog and digital control circuits, AC/DC current, and safety. The techniques taught in this class can be applied to almost any kind of project.

Handmade Electronic Music & Sound Design
Entry-level class
An engaging introduction to the craft of making—as well as creatively cannibalizing—electronic circuits for artistic purposes. If you’ve ever thought about integrating electronic music or sound-art into your work, this guided tour through the world of electronics teaches the inner workings of basic electronic devices so you can use them for your own creative ends. The class covers basic electronic principles and practical circuitry from the artist’s point of view. Transcend any fear of electronic technology and experience the pleasure of working creatively with all kinds of analog circuitry.

How to Build a DC Power Supply
Entry-level class
This beginner’s course teaches you how to take the 120-volt electricity from your wall socket at home and turn it into useful low-voltage DC power that’s perfect for a number of electronic uses. You’ll learn how basic electronic components work, where to find them, and how to solder.  At the conclusion of this class, you’ll have created your very own variable power supply.

Clay Animation
Entry-level class
Create and build your own claymation characters. Learn quickly how to draft and organize a storyboard, then build your own scenario. During production, you’ll apply colored lighting to your action scene and then learn how to shoot frame by frame to give life to your creation. You can collaborate with other students to develop a more involved group project. For this class, you must bring your own digital camera and tripod.

Basic Flame Effects
Entry-level class
Create a flaming sculpture. Make your art car more noticeable. Or amaze your friends by adding fire to your art. This class covers all aspects of making safe, effective, and beautiful flame effects. The emphasis will be on propane and the burner and accumulator-type effects.  Student projects are encouraged.

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EL-Wire Workshop (Neon & Light)
Entry- level class
Add sparkly shimmer to sculpture, interiors, and wearable art with electroluminescent wire; also known as EL-wire, it is a decorative, flexible wire that glows very much like neon. This one-day workshop introduces the technology and craft of soldering and working with EL-wire. You’ll learn basic soldering techniques, as well as various ways to assemble and attach wire to fabric, wood, and plastic. Drivers and sequencers for animation and advanced techniques will be introduced.

Youth Kinetics Contraptions (Youth)
Entry-level class
This class is open to younger students, ages 8 - 12.
Learn how to connect motors and lights to a battery to make a sculpture, contraption, or gadget move and light up. Using new components and salvaging from discarded electronic equipment, you will learn how motors, lights, and switches work, how to create suitable mechanical structures, how to create different types of motion, and how to use switches placed in your contraptions to activate at certain times.

Youth Kinetics Kits (Youth)
Entry-level class
Ages 12 - 18
This beginner’s course teaches you how to build an electronic kit. Choose from one of (e.g. animal or other sound effects, LED blinker, light effects, simple radio, time related, radio transmitters, musical instruments) You’ll learn how basic electronic components work, where to find them, and how to solder. At the conclusion of this class, you’ll have made your own functional electronic device.

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