Name: The painter and the pendulum
Uploaded: 2010-02-05T09:08:00Z
Duration: 13 min 4 s
Description: TED visits Tom Shannon in his Manhattan studio for an intimate look at his science-inspired art. An eye-opening, personal conversation with John Hockenberry reveals how nature's forces -- and the onset of Parkinson's tremors -- interact in his life and craft.

TED visits Tom Shannon in his Manhattan studio for an intimate look at his science-inspired art. An eye-opening, personal conversation with John Hockenberry reveals how nature's forces -- and the onset of Parkinson's tremors -- interact in his life and craft.

The painter and the pendulum

Art and science merge when creative tools harness the same magnetic and gravitational forces that shape the cosmos. A 35-foot bronze sculpture tapers from four inches wide to a single millimeter, connecting sun and Earth as an object. With a pendulum and remote-controlled valves, layers of color become records of physical events, interference patterns, and even forms that evoke unknown life. As Parkinson’s tremors challenge fine motor skills, embracing unpredictable forces leads to new ways of making and seeing.