Tom Haney
“Much of my work is unseen. Whether it’s an intricate part of a mechanism or the curve of a leg; so much of what I do is not instantly apparent. On a kinetic piece, 50% - 60% of my time is spent on the mechanism hidden inside the work. I hand-carve the bodies of all my figures and sculpt each head one at a time, doing things the old-fashioned way. No corners are cut, no shortcuts taken. When making a piece that moves, I aspire to produce a piece that will operate for years to come. A great deal of time is spent perfecting the mechanisms to ensure I will never have to spend my time repairing them.
The special people who collect my art understand what goes into creating it. They appreciate the hours, days, weeks, and sometimes months of dedication it takes to create these unique pieces. Woodcarving was my initial approach to creating the figures, but lately I’ve found myself using materials as diverse as fabric, polymer clay, and found objects. Electrical motors, miniature lights and motion-detectors have been added to my mechanical repertoire.
For the most part, I approach my work searching for that characteristic of the human spirit that struggles to overcome anything fate can throw its way. I’ve always been on the side of the underdog, rooting for the little guy. Their lives and stories inspire me.”
Some of Haney’s earliest memories are of creating things (toys, games etc,). He has always been fascinated with anything mechanical, often taking household items apart, much to his parents’ disapproval. He took art classes in high school and received a BS in Industrial Design from the University of Cincinnati.
Prior to becoming a full-time artist in 2000, Haney’s professional work consisted of making props and models for television commercials and still photography for advertising. He created things that couldn't be found anywhere else. This included a 5 foot ping pong paddle for a Japanese television show, miniature laser printers for a magazine ad and marionettes for TNT's "Rudy and Go-Go's World Famous Cartoon Show". He attributes his skill at aging, partially to the experience I gained working on the John Sayles' movies, Eight Men Out and City of Hope.
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio 1962. Tom Haney currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia. ooks and magazines. One reviewer commented, "Kazuhiko Nakamura’s art is a surreal hybrid of man and machine, a hard marriage of metal and flesh."
