Rustic automata – a world built out of spare parts powered by solar energy
In the unassuming town of Papatowai, New Zealand, Blair Somerville has amassed one of the world’s most idiosyncratic collections and, with it, a life that’s entirely his own. A prolific tinkerer, Somerville has transformed a modest property into The Lost Gypsy Gallery, a panoply of objects, once junk, metamorphosed into whimsical, mechanically operated exhibitions. Like Somerville’s own bare-bones, solar-powered lifestyle, the collection is endearingly unusual, constructed from simple parts and built entirely from the ground up.
Director: Joey Bania
videoMaking
On the Norwegian coast, a tree is transformed into a boat the old-fashioned way
6 minutes
videoNature and landscape
California’s landscapes provide endless inspiration for a woodcut printmaker
10 minutes
videoDesign and fashion
A ceramicist puts her own bawdy spin on the folk language of pottery
14 minutes
videoHome
How an artist transformed a dilapidated hunting lodge into a house made of dreams
8 minutes
videoHistory of technology
Replicating Shakespearean-era printing brings its own dramas and comedy
19 minutes
videoMaking
Forging a cello from pieces of wood demands its own form of virtuosity
27 minutes
videoInformation and communication
An animation built from road signs is a whirlwind study of flash communication
2 minutes
videoMaking
Trek to a remote Himalayan village where artisans craft teapots fit for kings
11 minutes
videoEngineering
A close-up look at electronic paper reveals its exquisite patterns – and limitations
9 minutes