Monthly Archives: January 2013

Inspired by Nikola Tesla – Fate Magazine 1949

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Tesla Article 1949 In the fall of 2012, I was fortunate to find a copy of a 1949 issue of Fate magazine, which began publishing in 1948 as a magazine chronicling the paranormal as well as scientific discoveries.

While the 1949 issue is no longer in print (and I was lucky to find a copy), Fate magazine still exists and is published as an online publication which can be found here: http://www.fatemag.com/

For those of us fascinated by Nikola Tesla, this particular issue included an article which begins like this:       “Contemporary with Edison was another inventor, not so well known, but of the two, the more spectacular. This was Nikola Tesla … ”

As Tesla died in 1943, it intrigued me that he was not well-known at the time of his death, despite his contributions to technology (more than 300 patents, some suspected to be still languishing untested in patent archives). My original copy of Fate magazine was given as a gift (to the person who first introduced Tesla to me), but as many people asked to read it, I scanned the article before gifting. I hope you enjoy it.

And for anyone who expected this blog post to be about my curious snow globes, as is typical, scroll to the very bottom of the page for a small gallery of sculptures inspired by Tesla’s inventions. And to the most recent email inquiry: No, these are NOT working miniature Tesla coils. Nice try. I don’t know what Nikola would think of building an electromagnetic coil inside a 4-inch tall liquid-filled glass orb, but I am pretty sure it’s beyond my technical abilities.

Tesla Article 1949

Tesla Article 1949

Tesla Article 1949

Tesla Article 1949

Tesla Article 1949

While Tesla has been credited with the invention of a machine that harnessed a mechanism for generating tremendous electrical force, known either as the peace ray or the death ray, depending on your point of view, he also designed and demonstrated a number of inventions typically called “Tesla Coils.” Tesla coils were used to conduct innovative experiments in electrical lighting, high frequency alternating current and transmission of energy without wires. The design of these coils has inspired several of my one-of-a-kind snow globes, which — when shaken — vaguely suggest the power of electrical force through reflective glitter and metal pieces shimmering in liquid.

Tesla Snow Globe

Tesla’s Workshop, one of a kind snow globe, Camryn Forrest Designs, 2012

Tesla Thing snow globe

It’s a Tesla Thing, one of a kind snow globe, Camryn Forrest Designs, 2012

Tesla Mends a Broken Heart

Tesla Mends a Broken Heart, snow globe, Camryn Forrest Designs, 2012

Tesla Copper Coil snow globe

Tesla Copper Coil sculpture snow globe, Camryn Forrest Designs, 2012

Tesla Chained snow globe

Tesla Chained snow globe sculpture, Camryn Forrest Designs 2012

Your Move – the chess game water globe

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“I don’t know what game we’re playing, but I’m pretty sure it’s your move.”

It might be a chess board, but then again, the squares march both horizontally and vertically. And the pieces seem a little … off.

Perhaps the biggest clue: When you shake the globe, the pieces stay still, but black and white squares dance wildly in the liquid.

Your Move snow globe Your_move_backshake_light your_move_blue Your_move_frontshake_crp Your_move_side_rt Your_move_sideshake_crp

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I Love Shoe – the snow globe

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Department of Bad Puns, can you hold the line?

I Love Shoe.

If you love shoes,I Love Shoe - snow globe, Camryn Forrest Designs 2013

maybe you’ll forgive the pun.

Here is a shoe tree made of

… shoes.

In fact, so many shoes

we lost count at somewhere

past a baker’s dozen.

Still, some would say: not enough.

“I want to write a book about shoes that’s full of footnotes.”  ― Jarod Kintz

“Sometimes comfort doesn’t matter. When a shoe is freakin’ fabulous, it may be worth a subsequent day of misery. Soak in Epsom salts and take comfort in the fact that you’re better than everyone else.”  ― Clinton Kelly

“Above all, believe in true love and know that men are like shoes.
A couple is like a left and a right foot, and out there is your perfect fit. Sometimes you need to change styles and shop around to find it. Sometimes you have to break styles in, sometimes you feel like something that is unstylish but comfortable, and sometimes a style – as much as you like – just doesn’t suit you and will never fit.”
― Camilla Morton, How to Walk in High Heels: The Girl’s Guide to Everything

The best thing about this snow globe? One size fits all.

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Circular Logic – the snow globe returns

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   Circular Logic Snow Globe Circular Logic
has made a round trip.

From Denver to Boston and now back to Denver again,
Circular logic was featured in the
“Celebrating Snow Globes”
winter exhibition
at the Sandwich Glass Museum.

Given its name, it’s a fitting journey.

One definition of Circular Logic is that the answer contains no evidence that is distinct from the conclusion. Circular logic cannot prove a conclusion because, if the conclusion is doubted, the premise which leads to it will also be doubted.

After a lot of trial and error, this is certainly true of this piece. The curious invention appears to go round and round, but always begins and ends in the same place it started. The conclusion is the same as the premise.

circular_logic shaken1circular_logic shaken2

What does change is the murky liquid, which glistens with coppery metallic dust
when shaken.
The tiny machine measures just under two inches tall and wide,
and continues in its endless, and meaningless, journey.
Always a round trip. Of course.

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