Step right up! Gaze in wonder at the gallery of MAGIC! Here you will find a number of illusions, and performance tables which I have made. Come right in and enjoy the show!
(many photos taken at the mini-vaudeville theater at Mingus Magic in Reading, PA)
(many photos taken at the mini-vaudeville theater at Mingus Magic in Reading, PA)
"Ex-Raze" - stop-motion animation as an interactive illusion "showing how razor blade swallowing works"
Created the set and puppets, animated and edited the video.
Created the set and puppets, animated and edited the video.
Created for Penn and Teller's Fool Us winner, Francis Menotti / Menotti Magic
Link to the first performance at New York City's Monday Night Magic: https://youtu.be/sPn7LvLYxzo
Ex Raze: production still, concept art
Miniature props from the Ex-Raze set
Production on the stop-motion animation (Jaclyn Perrault assisting)
Cards Table - folding table of 3 giant cards. Used as a primary performance table.
The whole table folds flat, with 2 triangular shelves suspended on straps and held in place with Velcro
Cards Table
Front, Back/shelves, collapsed for transport
"The Machine" - prop created for a humorous Steampunk version of Cards Across.
I built the machine from found objects and hardware, rigged the moving arms, and wired lighted elements.
The Machine
Close up of the dial - I custom designed the dial face in Adobe Illustrator. A homage to Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea", and Thomas Edison's "actualities" (early films)
Close up of the switch-plate which works the 2 light elements. I soldered a rewiring of existing LED lamp elements, and hand wood-burned "on" and "off" (details rarely if ever seen, but which finish off the fantasy of the piece)
Performance still from the premiere of the illusion at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre in Lancaster, PA
(photo courtesy of Mike Snyder and the Lancaster Professional Magicians Club)
"Fruit Basket" - redesign based on the classic Strat-O-Spheres trick. I hand-built the wooden basket frame, crafted the sleeve, and redesigned the gimmick for better working and to suit the materials used.
Concept challenge: create a purpose for the elements of the trick - turned into a basket of fruit, instead of balls in a tube.
Fruit Basket: sleeve, basket frame, and fruits
Steampunk/Victorian Square-Circle
Materials: Oak plywood, picture frame, black royal velvet, brass findings
Concept challenge: incorporate a giant Slinky as the inner tube; create a classy box that works with the fun colorful Slinky element
Benefits: Slinky shows a great amount of negative space, enhancing that it is empty, and creates a mood moment in "cascading" it down into the box
Square-Circle in various positions in the trick
"Clip Clop!" hand crafted and painted wooden horse cutouts and stables.
The horses change places, and then turn into red and yellow mules
Concept challenge: to adapt the classic Hippety-Hop Rabbits style tricks for a country theme and audience.
Pedestal Side Table: custom build from scratch of a hand chip-carved pine table top, trimmed with decorative moulding, and hand-cut suede fringe. Edged with reclaimed Nocona leather belts. The pedestal is from a reclaimed antique hat stand.
Concept challenge: Create a performance table for street magic that exudes class and quality, as well as fitting the country theme. The pedestal and feet break down and store in the table for transport. The table is hollow and has no back, able to store tricks for performance.
