"Steve Stackpole makes wonderful Machines, seemingly in perpetual motion. Each is a complex world unto itself, and all use the figure, often to witty effect. But the piece I liked most was a hand which kept opening and closing [see "Ponder"], the segments of each finger meticulously articulated. It brought out the abstractness of Stackpole’s works, all the more so because it eschewed social comment, unlike “Outsider”, “Weightlifter,” and “Toe Shark.” Nonetheless, like all of Stackpole’s ingenious works- which are conceptual despite their vivid materiality- they suggest the mechanical character of the human body, and human behavior in general, thus belying our own belief in our organicity and spontaneity. But the kinetic dynamic of Stackpole’s works seems weirdly spontaneous, and his wood gives them an organic feel. The contradiction is exhilarating."

Donald Kuspit
  - Excerpt from Virginia Commonwealth University MFA Thesis Exhibition Catalog 2003



Steve,
It is sad that you have not much time to produce new automata! But the ones you produce are unique and also worth the shipping to Europe!
I’m looking forward to the "rarities" which come out of your workshop!
All the best
Sergio (Basel, Switzerland)



Steve,
I just received and unpacked your wonderful automaton "Watch Your Back". I am VERY impressed! I am a very active collector of automatons. I have a few hundred pieces collected from around the world spanning decades of collecting. "Watch Your Back" is clearly one of my favorites ever! It has solid construction, clever automation, and it is artistically beautiful.

Even the shipping was great! Well protected, clear instructions with lots of photographs of details. Even though the piece has some very delicate parts, I only needed to unwrap it, blow off a few peanuts, and lift one string back on a gear. I can’t tell you how many automatons don’t survive the shipping process nearly so well!

I thank you very much for this fine piece. I am looking very forward to seeing what you will be building next!

Thanks,
Richard Garriott (Austin, Texas)