In this exhibit we look at Dan Zen's physical creations as opposed to digital or theoretical creations. We review art and fashion but then quickly move to creations of general craft. Many physical creations have been given away by Zen as gifts and are not shown in the exhibit nor are outdoor creations. On we go!Art Exhibit ▲ an Expo look at the Art of Dan Zen who works primarily in sculpture. ART EXHIBITFashion Exhibit ▲ Dan Zen also makes physical items for fashion some of which can be seen in the FASHION EXHIBITDressup Exhibit ▲ Then there are costumes that can be seen in the DRESSUP EXHIBIT
Rolli (2012) ▲ The Dan Zen robot that rolls around. There is also Hoopi - Rolli's friend.
Hockey Stick Broom (2011) ▲ Make sweeping more fun and efficient.
Dan Zen Museum Launch (2014) ▲ Many of the physical creations seen in the exhibit below were displayed live at the Half Century Celebration - once you get past the intro.
Caravan ▲ Made for daughter, Madeline, the caravan features a crystal ball, love beads and running water that is collected from the roof through a hose into a pot with a spigot. (Click the pictures to enlarge).
Doll House ▲ Dan Zen used two drawers to create a modular dollhouse with stairs and a fire pole. The house is in storage mode so not fully set up. Note the vegetable garden that had little potatoes, strawberries, lettuce, etc. One house had a slanted roof added that provided storage room in the attic. The other house had a rooftop patio. The TV was an old slide viewer that actually worked and showed art. Note, the bottom picture at left shows a ZEN CORNERS sign that Zen was not allowed to put at the front of the house. And you can just see a couple baskets that get hooked onto the ceiling fan to give toys a ride during holidays.
Bead Diorama ▲ Madeline has a fascination with far off lands and this wire world features flying carpets, camels, jewels, baskets, fruit and stars all made with buttons. Madeline would imagine jewel thieves and princesses hiding in the baskets.
The Phantom Presents... ▲ That's the Phantom in the middle. He was cut and sewn into existence by Dan Zen when he was about ten. The Phantom sits beneath a halo of flying saucers made from buttons. To the Phantom's left is a Spooky Shadow Puppet - it appears to be a little girl and all these monsters spook around her but then at the end, the string is pulled and head flips down to reveal a vampire with a tall collar. Madeline's Q Scepter is at the left as is a walker made on request for a doll so Madeline could experience empathy. Under the Phantom is a working medical device. The cardiograph is a loop of paper that is on rollers and passes through slots in the back allowing the loop to be secretly circulated by the fingers holding the device. To the right of the Phantom is a steampunk motorcycle, an alligator (made from a clip) in a swamp with butterflies (also clips). At the top right is a puzzle where you string the Beryean letters (some missing) across the divide. Beryea is the language and culture created by Madeline and father.
Necklace Holder ▲ Made with wire for Madeline to hold neclkaces.
Flying Submarine ▲ Really two separate creations - the Sub was for a Halloween costume. It was on a stick and Zen looked through the windows. The outer windows had lenses that would affect the view. The clouds were for the a game Zen made involving whispering. They were also used at the Dan Zen Museum Launch as fans - that was a lot of fun!
Optical Creations ▲ Here we have a mechanical op art light show at left. The apparatus sits on an overhead projector and the motor spins the acetate creating an effect. Another motor in combination with a fish tank bubbler powered a unique bubbling oil drop show. Zen made a few different types of oil drop shows including spinning disks with veins for mixing and pouches squeezed by cam action. In the center is an eggbeater transformed into an optical viewer. In the tube at left is a dragonfly lens and you replace tubes of patterns made by Zen and friends on the top of the beater to get different experiences. At right is a tester for patterns - you close the tester, spin the wheels and look through a window to see what the final show will look like. At right top is one of Zen's half dozen kaleidoscopes - this one made for Madeline. LIGHT SHOW EXHIBITBot World! ▲ At right is a land made for Zen's son, Elliot. Unbelievably, it is the inside of a powermac! Zen has not seen circuitry that big since opening old stereos. Zen installed magnets throughout the land and created bead bots on rivet bodies that stand on the magnets to play out nano stories. At the left is a sculpture instigated by a broken tube of GOOP glue. Zen quickly put the glue in the tupperware and instead of throwing everything out, made a sculpture that represents living in a hierarchical tube world. The sculpture looks more interesting from the side. Above are three corkbots made from corks and adorned with various pieces found in the workshop - these also look better from the side. Zen has made many corkbots and sold them at galleries and given them away. In the middle are samples of Zen's work with a variety of fasteners for Lego such as suction cups so lego sculptures can be added to windows, wires, strings, and computer parts so that the lego world can be cyber!
Love Ties ▲ Zen used ties as love beads across his kitchen door. Anytime he wanted a tie he just unclipped it from the hanging. Also shown is the modified owl wind chimes - the owl says WHY instead of who. Zen did a series of modified windchimes including his favourite, the Five Buddhas and the Banana. Note, the three ties on the left are Oleg Cassini and are like brocaded carpets!
Pop! ▲ A Jack in the Box made for wife, RoseAnne. A hand made drum with nail pegs plucked a ear tuned set of metal tines to play Pop Goes the Weasel and then the wood carved feet set in pants made from Zen's old pants fell out the bottom when the trap door latch was release. A golden handle encouraged people to pick up the box and the top opened up to let people see the workings. At left is a headdress Zen wore to a spacerock band in Toronto. People guessed he came from Hamilton - seriously. At right is a physical rendition of YesUmNo the voting game worn by Christine at the Museum launch. It collected coins for people's votes on issues and the money was put in a pile on a street island where a man with a cardboard sign often stands.
Space - The Preferred Frontier! ▲ Let's see if you can guess the items: an alien translation tube used a Space Disco Party held by the Polyester Explosion; a steampunk mask that actually fogged up; a golden rocket from Zen's moon put miniput nine hole course; two remote control guns used to control assailants; the first space gun Zen used in Thee Gnostics space rock band; A sand writer and eraser for when Zen visits the underwater civilization of Gorgolon (or Andre's alien party) and a couple medallions of futuristic variety.
Communication! ▲ A satellite used as a ramp for the Dan Zen Moon Put miniput nine hole course made from a box of junk his dad gave him. Gnostic Goggles and Helmet with communicator fins and rotating antennae sitting on Zen's space cape of heavy silver and black thick slick tight velvet amazing material - never seen the likes since.
Some Leftovers ▲ Zen's "drift" wood magic trick where he passes a ring around a piece of driftwood. A hypnotizing mask, a brain reading mask, chewing powered strobe goggles, Professor Y's space beret and Zen's original kaliedoscope with adjustable ends - this one with oil drop show. Oh... and we cannot forget... the Brass Moustache - used at the Moustache Mysteries party.
Dan Zen Museum Biography Tour ▲ There are also historical creations shown in the Bio Tour. TAKE TOUR
We hope you have enjoyed the Physical Creations Exhibit for the Dan Zen Expo. We encourage you to go make something!
Physical Creations
