AutomataFest features two days of presentations, Friday and Saturday. The displays of artists and vendors will also be featured. You are welcome to attend any or all of the presentations or wander around the display halls at will during these days.

Sarah Alexander will celebrate the work of two legendary automatists, Ron Fuller and Peter Markey, both of whom are known for their seemingly simple, playful work. Sarah will share some of their most well-known automata and toys alongside artefacts and early designs from Cabaret Mechanical Theatre’s collection.

In 1946, Mervyn Peake published the first volume of his epic trilogy, Gormenghast. His writing has been described as “aggressively three dimensional,” distilling both his poetic and illustrative skills. Inspired by this, at the end of the 1990s Keith Newstead first sketched out some ideas for an automaton of Gormenghast Castle and its inhabitants. The work was finally realized in 2018, after just four months work. Our short talk celebrates both artists through the lenses of their vivid imaginations.

I write a regular column for Automata Magazine, in which I describe the wooden automata I build in my workshop in Berlin. I’ll talk about my own particular way of making automata (and not selling them), o!ering my view on the pleasures and problems of usually making only one unique example of each piece.

11.15 - 11.45

As I expect to be the only brick-builder in the bunch, I should very much like to make a case for LEGO as a valid, fun, and practical medium for automata building. To do this, I will start with a short introduction that details my journey into the realm of automata, which is closely linked to the Cabaret Mechanical Theatre. With this personal experience as a starting point, I will take you through the many advantages (and also some of the disadvantages) this amazing building material has to o!er, and show you some charming, little-known examples of automata from both official LEGO sets and my fellow builders around the world. Afterwards I’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have in the hope of expanding our little niche of LEGO automatists.

My figurative mechanical sculptures combine carved wood, old tins, and found objects. They typically depict strange scenes and eccentric characters that mechanically re-enact fragments of dreamlike narratives. Drawing upon folk tales and myth, my automata merge the everyday with humour and menacing elements of absurdity.

with Sarah Alexander, Henrietta Boex, Kim Booth, Teun de Wijs, and Fi Henshall. A chance to ask questions of all the mornings speakers.

12.45 - 1.15

Choose from the Observer Building Cafe or one of the many local eateries detailed in your programme.

1.15 – 2.15

In 2020, I pursued my passion to become a full-time automata maker. Join me as I share my journey through the automata I’ve created and the stories behind them. I will discuss specific challenges that I faced in the design and construction processes to bring these creations to life, the features and mechanisms that inspired each piece, and the unexpected opportunities that have arisen along the way.

My presentation will be about how Timberkits’ aim has always been to spread the joy of automata building as widely as possible. We design, prototype, and manufacture au- tomata in kit form that can be built by people of all ages and ability levels. My personal mission has always been to do whatever it takes to support makers on their journey to bringing their creations to life through mechanical movement. I am particularly interested in encouraging those who may never have done such a thing before, don’t own equipment or workshops, or have the necessary confidence to simply have a go. It’s all about chasing that moment of triumph and the shout of “Look! I made it work!”

People seeing the first performance will have noticed that in spite of claims to present a jumble of disconnected topics there was an attempt to thread some of them together. That’s how this second talk starts. Randomness only sets in towards the end if time allows.

3.45 – 4.15

My presentation will be about my work, including photos and videos. I may discuss my process, inspirations, and my (although minor) connection to CMT.

with Oliver Pett, Sarah Reast, Paul Spooner, and Tom Haney. A chance to ask questions of the afternoons speakers.

4.45 – 5.30

7.00