Making moving art
Story by Jeffrey Day, video produced by John Mounier
Matt Gilbert’s art, along with that of six other master of fine arts candidates, can be seen in an exhibition June 5 – 21 at theRichard L. Nelson Gallery at UC Davis.
You won’t find paint tubes or sticks of charcoal in Matt Gilbert’s studio. Gilbert makes machines. His creations are composed with a 3-D printer, a makeshift mini-machine shop, surplus store items, handmade circuit boards and dark dental floss.
When he flips the “on” switch, small motors hum and interwoven floss moves, sometimes almost imperceptibly, in a kind of dance. These artworks — both sophisticated and raw — reward the attentive viewer with an unexpected and magical experience.
Jeffrey A. Day 