Joseph herscher rube goldberg machines
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This kinetic masterpiece showcases Herscher's signature blend of humor and engineering, transforming everyday objects into a suspenseful chain reaction that keeps viewers on edge.
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This childhood passion was rediscovered in his early twenties when he built a contraption that spanned his entire apartment in a three minute obstacle course culminating in a hammer smashing an egg.
In the UK these machines are known as Heath Robinson devices, named after an English cartoonist who also drew eccentric machines.
In addition to being insanely fun, participants learn:
- basic physics concepts
- the design process
- team building
- how to design a show for an audience
Workshops range in length from 5 days to 1 hour.
If you'd like to get in touch with Joseph or his manager Betsy Berg, send a message below and someone will get back to you asap!
WORKSHOPS
Joseph has led Rube Goldberg workshops all over the world, working with kids and adults of all ages as they come together to create an enormous machine.
For bookings, contact Betsy Berg: [email protected]
WORKSHOP AT THE VENICE BIENNALE (2011)
A plant watering device built with the help of 40 local children.WORKSHOP AT BROOKLYN INVENTGENUITY WEEKEND
Joseph worked with Beam Camp staff and attendees to build this contraption at the 2011 Brooklyn Inventgenuity FestivalJoseph Herscher Builds a Life-or-Death Rube Goldberg Machine
Joseph Herscher unveils his most perilous creation yet a Rube Goldberg machine that playfully flirts with danger, featuring swinging bottles, smashing glass, and split-second timing.
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PRESS
IMAGES
Joseph Herscher boiling some water
February 2012
Photo: Fletcher Lawrence
© 2012 Joseph Herscher
Full Quality ImageHeadshot
February 2012
Photo: Fletcher Lawrence
© 2012 Joseph Herscher
Full Quality ImageA ball flys through the air in La Macchina Botanica at the Venice Biennial
June 2011
Photo: Stijn Wuyts
© 2012 Joseph Herscher
Full Quality ImageThe Falling Water - a cocktail-making machine
May 2008
Photo: Stijn Wuyts
© 2012 Joseph Herscher
Full Quality ImageThe Lolly Machine - Joseph Herscher's first machine, age 5
1990
Photo: Linn Lorkin
© 2012 Joseph Herscher
Full Quality ImageWatering a plant on Sesame Street
June 2012
Photo: Elizabeth Mills
© 2012 Joseph Herscher
Full Quality ImageFilming the machine on Sesame Street
June 2012
Photo: Olivia Lynch
© 2012 Joseph Herscher
Full Quality ImagePreparing the machine for Sesame Street
June 2012
Photo: Elizabeth Mills
© 2012 Joseph Herscher
Full Quality ImageExperimenting with books
February 2012
Photo: Fletcher Lawrence
© 2012 Joseph Herscher
Full Quality ImageJoseph Herscher with his Page Turner device
February 2012
Photo: Fletcher Lawrence
© 2012 Joseph Herscher
Full Quality ImageJoseph Herscher and The Page Turner
February 2012
Photo: Fletcher Lawrence
© 2012 Joseph Herscher
Full Quality ImageJoseph Herscher playing with his hamster
February 2012
Photo: Fletcher Lawrence
© 2012 Joseph Herscher
Full Quality ImagePlant-watering device at Venice Biennial 2011
June 2011
Photo: Stijn Wuyts
© 2012 Joseph Herscher
Full Quality ImageTerms of Use
- The images can only be used editorially.
- They can not be used for any type of advertising, commercial use or any other use of commercial nature.
- They can only be used in conjunction with media coverage about the Joseph Herscher and his work.
- They are protected by copyright worldwide.
- The name of the photographer and the copyright notice must be printed next to the images.
Creme that Egg racked up three million views online, encouraging him to build more and more elaborate machines.
ABOUT
Joseph Herscher is a kinetic artist and YouTube personality, best known for his channel Joseph's Machines. He has appeared on numerous television shows, from Jimmy Kimmel to Sesame Street, and lectured at Parsons the New School For Design.
RUBE WHAT-BERG???
Many of Herscher’s devices are referred to as Rube Goldberg Machines™.
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At the end of the workshop all the teams must race against the clock to connect their boards and create one huge, interconnected chain reaction. The name comes from the famous American cartoonist who drew complex gadgets that performed simple tasks in indirect and convoluted ways. He is also a public speaker and gives talks about creativity and play at international design and business conferences.
Joseph grew up in New Zealand and now lives in London, where he continues to create his machines for film, television and art festivals around the world. He specializes in making comical chain-reaction machines. Soon came the workshops with kids, participation in the Venice Biennial and a feature in the New York Times.
Usually each team has the task of getting a ball from one side of a board to another, using everyday objects. Not knowing what to do with it, Joseph filmed the thing in action and posted it online. His videos have had over 3 billion views.
Joseph made his first machine when he was five years old, the Lolly Machine, a device for storing his candy.