Install view at Real Tinsel Gallery
Walker (Blue Jay), 2024Animatronic Blue Jay, tire, steel, polyvinyl
Walker (Cardinal), 2024Animatronic cardinal, steel, wheel, polyvinyl
The Walkers’ series sprung out of a fascination with the PARO seal robot. The PARO seal is a companion robot made for patients with dementia; they are fluffy robots that cry and pur. In order to charge the robot, one must place a bottle into their mouth.
![]()
Around the same time, I also read Shery Turkle’s On Split Personalities, in her essay she speaks of the first identity many young people experience as the one of a cyber caretaker. I thought of my tamagotchi, my nintendogs, my furby etc. I started researching other forms of cyber companions and found the companion bird. The animatronic cardinal and bluejay are made specifically for walkers that help people walk. The bird chirps in response to movement and petting.
Around the same time, I also read Shery Turkle’s On Split Personalities, in her essay she speaks of the first identity many young people experience as the one of a cyber caretaker. I thought of my tamagotchi, my nintendogs, my furby etc. I started researching other forms of cyber companions and found the companion bird. The animatronic cardinal and bluejay are made specifically for walkers that help people walk. The bird chirps in response to movement and petting.