User:Hobsonlane/sandbox/David butts



David Butts is a sculptor in the modern media of interactive kinetic art. Butts has been mechanism tinkerer since his childhood when he entertained himself in the basement workshop of his father, a medical doctor. As an adult, Butts spent years tinkering on a decrepit go-kart at home with his family and children. Butts opened Mad Dog Garage in an abandoned Northwest Portland transmission repair garage to create and display his recent artwork.

Art
Butts's work is recognizable as an extension of the tradition of kinetic sculpture. By incorporating wooden (rather than metal) mechanisms and exposing the electronics and wiring guts to the viewer as part of the art piece, Butts has expanded the interactive kinetic art tradition. This contribution to the new tradition in interactive kinetic scuplture is unique relative to the contribtions by West Chester University professor and artist Henry Philippe Loustau as well as Portland contemporaries Don MacLane Pete Beeman. Unlike other interactive sculptors, David Butts employs embedded electronics and sensors to react to the presence, touch, or gestures of the viewer rather than relying on the viewer to push or pull on the structure directly.

In 2012 Butts received notariety as an artist in this growing new medium of kinetic sculpture when The_Oregonian reviewed his work in Feb 2012 The Willamette Weekly later awarded David Butts' "interactive sidewalk art" a 2012 best sights in Portland.

Gallery
Butts opened a workshop and studio gallery in Northwest Portland, Oregon called Mad Dog Garage where his sculptures are currently on display.