Reuben Margolin

Reuben Margolin

CREATED BY ADAM LOFTEN & GARY YOST 09:45 mins 2020

“A wave is not just a ripple in water, a wave is the thread, visible or not, that unifies pattern.” Everything in life can be viewed as a wave and kinetic sculptor Reuben Margolin takes us inside his obsession with wave patterns as he shares his artistic journey of translating their grace into moving works of art.

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Discussion Guide:

  1. Reuben Margolin shares that “A wave is not just a ripple in water a wave is the thread, visible or not, that unifies pattern.” What do you think is an example of this in your life?


  2. Have you ever felt that you don’t know who you are without a connection to your creative process, work or education? If so how do you feel when you are connected or disconnected? 


  3. Reuben shares “As an artist I find that one of the toughest things is to know when to persevere, and when to give up and start anew.” How do you know when to move on from project or problem or continue to try and complete or solve it?

  4. Have you had a version of Rueben’s transparent caterpillar epiphany in your life?  If so, can you describe it?

  5. Reuben uses mathematics to translate his observations of nature into his moving sculptures. What is your relationship to math? Describe how you use it in your daily life.


  6. Reuben reflects that he has essentially been creating the same sculpture his whole life. What do you think he is searching for by evolving this sculpture for all these years.

    Links to discover more:

    Reuben’s website.

    Wikipedia page.

    Wired Video: Creating the Nebula, part 1 (Conception).

    Wired Video: Creating the Nebula, part 2 (Fabrication).

    Wired Video: Creating the Nebula, part 3 (445 cables).

    Wired Video: Creating the Nebula, part 4 (Conclusion).

    Ted talk: “Sculpting waves in wood and time.”

    PopTech talk: “On Kinetic Art.”

    Video of caterpillar climbing the entire woodpile.

    Stop motion video of caterpillar making a complete circle.

    Video: “Maker Profile.”

Gary Yost