Art Donovan sez, “After four months of deep ‘design and build’, I finally completed this commission for my client. But, alas, it won’t be installed in time, as it is now going to be featured in the National Watch and Clock Museum’s exhibit, ‘A Matter of Time’ for three months. I’m confident the client won’t mind, as they will be now getting a museum piece>”
The Grand Master is 6′ tall x 5′ wide and featured an illuminated, double-sided center disk. Over three months to design, build and paint. Oversized, hand machined brass bolts. Solid Mahogany body. A Moon Clock is located in the center and is back lit with hand painted phases of the Moon. Five 48″ diameter, horizontal rings encircle the disk. The Crown Unit features moving gas flame bulbs along with hidden up-lights to wash the ceiling with light. The amber glass plates are illuminted from within the crown.
The two clockworks on the right are calibrated in special increments:
(Top) The time it takes the light from the Moon to reach the earth in seconds. Avg. 1.25 seconds.
(Bottom) The time it takes the light from the Sun to reach the earth in minutes. Avg. 8.3 minutes
The swinging brass pendulum is back lit with a U.V. bulb.
On the reverse side is a hand painted moon rendered in translucent dyes with the craters hand carved into the fiberglass surface. It was inspired by a digitally enhanced Nasa image.
Twin 41″ diameter convex lenses cover both the front and back faces. The gimbal and round bezel are painted in zinc gray with the crown in matte black.
Designed and entirely hand made by Art Donovan for Donovan Design, Southampton, NY
New. 2013. The Grand Master. Steampunk-Inspired Pendant Device