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Design and Tinkering
Strandbeest: The Dream Machines of Theo Jansen

Join Theo Jansen and watch the strandbeests come alive.

A Pendulum Clock
A Pendulum Clock

At first glance, the giant see-through-erector-set-like structure seems to be a realization of one of Leonardo da Vinci's mechanical inventions.

Albert
Albert

A mechanical object may seem alive if it responds to you.

Three people arrange sound makers on a magnetic surface
An Open Kit for Making Rhythms
A series of colorful shapes are balanced on a wire
An Open Kit for Tinkering with Balance

This kit of reusable parts supports participants in building kinetic sculptures that balance on a single point. 

Visitors tinkering with rollers on a ramp
An Open Kit for Tinkering with Rollers
A person interacts with coded animations of crabs
Animate Your World
A person opens a book and an octopus jumps out
Animate Your World: Bring a Book to Life
Animation Station
Animation Station

A stop-motion animation is made of many pictures, each slightly different from the last.

Animation Tower
Animation Tower

Quick-changing views create the illusion of motion.

Archimedes by Douglas Hollis

Meet Douglas Hollis, the artist behind Archimedes.

Artist Theo Jansen Prepares Strandbeests at the Exploratorium
Experience the thrill of Strandbeest: The Dream Machines of Theo Jansen.

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