Illinois-based artist Justin Gershenson-Gates, known as A Mechanical Mind, breathes new life into discarded timepieces. His mesmerizing sculptures emerge from the remnants of broken clocks and other objects. With meticulous precision, Gershenson-Gates soldered together watch parts to create mini-sculptures that evoke the whimsical spirit of steampunk.
Each delicate insect — whether it’s a beetle, dragonfly, or butterfly — takes shape through the fusion of gears, springs, and tiny cogs. The result is a harmonious blend of mechanical intricacy and organic form. These tiny creatures seem to buzz with life, their metallic wings poised for flight. Gershenson-Gates’ work invites us to appreciate the beauty hidden within forgotten fragments, transforming discarded materials into captivating art pieces.
The grandson of a railroad man, the son of a gearhead, my life has been filled with all things mechanical. As a child, I would take my toys apart in order to see how they worked, but was never able to put them back together again. Now, I take dead old watches from the top drawers of the world, and rearrange their bits and widgets into whimsical designs. My aim is to show the beauty of the mechanical world, a place generally hidden from the public behind metal and glass. My pieces display the more delicate and ephemeral side of gears, rather than the cold, hard factory feel they normally portray.
Justin Gershenson-Gates
More info: Website, DeviantArt, Etsy, Facebook (h/t: My Modern Met).
