Saturday 1445 - 17th November 2012.
You are not going to get what you might expect from the title of this post though it is going to be a very happy one. I spent the last couple of days in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace, but I didn’t do anything Shakespearian. I did go to the Swan Theatre but not to see Shakespeare but to see a new adaptation of Pushkin’s Boris Godanov which was both passionate and thrilling.
This post is not about that but about somewhere else I visited, called MAD or the Mechanical Art and Design museum. Take a look at their website here
I had SUCH a good time there and was allowed to take photos so thanks very much for that you MAD guys 
. I heard about this place a few months or so ago and determined to visit because I love all things “mechanical, weird and wonderful” to quote from MAD’s website.
The founder Richard Simmons also says this
“the term ‘Kinetic Art’ broadly encompasses the genre of the MAD museum and alongside wacky machines, we are keen to embrace the many fun and clever things that can be achieved with modern lighting technology. Steam Punk would also be a genre that deserves recognition within the museum”
top of clock bottom of clock
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I can strongly recommend this place if you are ever in Stratford, it has lots of hands-on ( or feet-on!) fun… press a button or stand on a foot switch and watch in awe as balls or marbles rattle around tracks made of wire and wood, or cogs whizz round, up and down. I was a bit like a child in an old-fashioned toy shop!
Brilliant lighting effects too… There is a description and stuff about each artist/maker.. all very interesting. There were very large pieces and very small and there is much more than I am showing here.
Right no more talk just some more photos to give you a flavour of what’s on offer, although still photos really cannot do this place justice.. a child or childlike adult’s paradise.
Huge light box – the lighting effects and colours were constantly changing
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Below are 2 of the faces at the museum, what do they do?… well you’ll just have to go there and find out for yourself 
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and finally…
Below is a rather gentle piece which was one of my favourites.. it didn’t rattle, whirr or have lighting effects. It just gently moved round making patterns in sand and rubbing them out again.. so restful
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I hope you’ve enjoyed this little MAD visit
That’s all from me Saturday Girl, signing off ’til next week. Have a healthy,peaceful and fun one.
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You can find my photography blog Photomania here I hope you’ll pop over and take a look if you haven’t already and I’m sure there will be lots from Stratford..
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Brilliant! I completely and utterly have to go there. Thanks!
This is a great place to visit. Roger and I went there a few months ago and found it fascinating. As always, your photographs are excellent, Helen.
many thanks Carol.. I seem to be following in your footsteps a lot lately
looks fabulous Helen love mechanical things both practical and artistic
Do go next time you are up there Lisa.. Daz would love it too !
ooh looks great, I love bizarre mechanical contraptions
Well there were plenty of them Caroline.. I recommend a weekend away in Stratford-upon-Avon..
This looks like a place worth visiting Helen. You images capture it well. You say that you were allowed to take photos. Do they normally discourage this?
I’m not sure but somehow I doubt it Dave they were lovely people..
Sounds like my kind of place. Do they have someone who can explain how everything works?
Oh yes you’d love it Pranav, plenty of noise! The staff were lovely so I’m sure they would be very willing to explain stuff..
Ooh! Fascinating place! I am quite the “how does this work?” type, enthralled by Rube Goldberg stuff and all.
I’m surprised they let you out again…..Maybe you’re not mechanical enough..
I figured out how the leg irons latch…
Stuart.. Scilla’s going to stay locked in there with me… Ooo we’ll have so much fun!
It was awesome Scilla !