PHILIP VON FINCKENSTEIN

I choose to work in many mediums and hope to work on more in the future. The projects I have worked on to date focus on Indigenous tools, rotating architecture and kinetic sculptures. I have progressed because I have found love for art that is not on paper or in traditional forms such as painting or sculpture, but rather art that can move and be held.  

Theo Jansen is an artist that builds kinetic marvels that move using the power of the wind.  The sculptures that he makes are based on the knowledge of science. What inspired me to make a fire starter is the first nation village near Quebec city I visited called Huron Wendake. In this village,I saw the fire starter that inspired me. The architect that inspired me to love architecture is William Van Alen. He is the architect behind the Chrysler building. I have loved this building since the first time I saw it in New York. Its soaring lines and dramatic design I attempted to recreate with a small piece with a rotating section.

The biggest challenge was trying to make my fire starter work despite many different strategies to try to fix it. Although the piece did not accomplish what it was intended to do, I did learn how to make modifications and adjustments with tools I was using and solve problems using what I had on hand. I think my great’s success was finding art that I love to do.

I hope viewers will enjoy the different sculptures I have created. I think they will like the building I designed and how it is a grid of power. I wish to try more mediums and work to create more kinetic sculptures.