New Media by joel Sampson

"New Media" is my newest body of work and the main direction I am working in. It took me a while to get here, but it seems a very logical step with my diverse (ok, checkered) background. It is combines technology, visual art, musical art and design into a fun, often whimscal art form.

I call the art that makes music Kinetic Percussision because it moves. flashes and plays drum patterns on found and made objects. The music is played with a microcomputer controlled group of electro-mechanical solenoids. I personally write the drum patterns, program the computer, design and handwire the electronics and do the mechanics and overall design. It's very time intensive but I enjoy the variety of the tasks.

Objects flash, move, make music, make noise and make fun! Some of the new media sculpture are small and simple, some large and complex.

This page navigates a little differently than my other art pages, as many of the links will be to videos, not still shots.

I will be posting more here soon - I'm having to learn to edit video to get them on-line!

This is a small 8x8" collage on (and in) a 2" panel. It features a blinking red LED. I estimate it will run over one year on the D-cell battery that is in the panel. It includes custom, handbuilt electronics that powers and flashes the LED with a single battery. It was done for a small Christmas benefit sale at the Rising Gallery in Dallas.

Blinkie Tree