Acme Clockworks represents the work of Steven Parker. As you browse through the site, you will also find pieces that result from collaborative efforts with other artists – the synergy of such creation is incredibly rewarding.
Over the years, Steven Parker has been active in the design and manufacture of product in two industries – toys and jewelry. The work you see here brings together the knowledge culled from that experience with the elements of mechanics, narrative, and an interactive experience woven throughout. Another element present in some of Mr. Parker's work may be apparent in the discoveries documented here of Mr. Parker’s alter ego, Dr. Kent Streaver – a barely perceptible hint of parody.
We hope you enjoy the work shown here, and look forward to adding more to the mix.
Steven Parkerは長年にわたり、玩具とジュエリーの2つの業界で製品の設計と製造に積極的に取り組んできた。ここにある作品は、機械構造や物語の経験から集められた知識と、全体に織り込まれたインタラクティブな経験の要素を結び付けている。Parker作品のいくつかにある別の要素は、Parkerの分身であるDr. Kent Streaverの発見記録である。これは、かろうじてパロディであることに気付けるヒントである。
「Dr. Kent Streaverが書いた発見記録」という形で添えられた能書きも、そのアートの一部である。そのようなアートでよく知られているのが、バビロン円筒印章を模した作品だろう。これには以下のような、Dr, Kent Streaver名義の能書きが添えられている。
BABYLONIAN CYLINDER SEAL
From Ancient Babylon, a Discovery of Great Importance
Kent P. Streaver, Ph.D., FNAS, GAA, DMv
And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. On Babylon, from the King James Bible, Revelation 16:18
そして、稲妻、轟音、雷鳴が起こり、また、大きな地震が起きた。それは、人が地上に現れて以来、いまだかつてなかったほどの大地震であった。(ヨハネ黙示録16章18節)
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The images on this smallest seal depict a powerful scene: King Nebuchadnezzar II, releasing a large constructed form.
A cloud of dust, sending weapons of warfare in all directions accompanied by the eight pointed stars of Ishtar, goddess of war. The same tree, by the same artisan, that appeared on the other seals, but this tree bore no fruit – instead it was dropping its dead leaves as it died (Fig. 8).
Figure 8. Clay imprint of the innermost seal, King Nebuchadnezzer II with weapon of awesome destruction, actual seal height ~14mm.
I understood. The implications of what I was seeing were far reaching, and I knew what I had to do. On this dreary day in March of 2003 I called my sponsor at the Foundation, explained what I had discovered, and asked if he had any way to bring this information to responsible powers in government. The rest is history. The world is now a safer place, thanks to a government that could respond quickly and surely when presented evidence of a terrible threat, and thanks to the Science of Archaeology.
Cylinder seals are engraved, cylindrically shaped objects – usually made of stone – designed to be rolled into clay to leave impressions. The engraved images, and usually text, are carved in reverse, so that when rolled out onto clay they face the correct direction.
Throughout much of the ancient Near Eastern world, from the end of the 4th millennium B.C.E. until the 5th century B.C.E., cylinder seals were used both as administrative tools – functioning much as a signature does on an official document today, or used to mark one’s property and to prevent tampering with sealed doors or containers – and as decorative or protective amulets – often worn on a necklace or a pin. ...