Tinkertoys:
Tinkertoys, an architectural and engineering toy for children, are transformed by artist Alan Larkin into a colorful and expressive art form. “My exhibitions have always contained some playful creations made from these marvelous toys. They’re an underrated art medium.”
The original patent drawings – circa 1914 – for the original Tinkertoy
(Images courtesy of Toy Tales)
Childhood – Alan was introduced at a young age to the joy of Tinkertoys!
The construction of another Tinkertoy Cathedral Alan did back in the 1980’s which was used for a lithograph and a pencil drawing.
-
- Black and white photograph of the artist Alan Larkin with a tinkertoy tower.
-
- Birth of Madness
-
- “The Waiting Room” – A pencil drawing artist Alan Larkin with Tinkertoy Tower
Tinkertoy constructions helped Alan’s drawing students to understand perspective and negative shapes.
The Tower of Power – The Wilson Gallery – April 2016
This interactive tower with moving parts was created for my art exhibition at the Wilson Gallery in Kendallville in 2016. A toy which appears to be capable only of making boxy shapes can be used to create domes, cylinders and roofed buildings. Structures can be engineered to be large, colorful and complex. And they can move!
