Fledgling is a large mechanical bird, powered by a single human operator. One person at a time is allowed to climb a staircase up the tail-feathers and climb into the rib-cage, where they sit in a seat and assume the position of a recumbent bicycle rider. By pedaling a set of bicycle cranks, the operator sets in motion an intricate arrangement of chains, sprockets, gears and cranks which surrounds them and powers the wings, which open and close and simultaneously fold inwards towards the body, much as a real bird’s wings do. Fledgling is constructed almost entirely of stainless steel, with small amounts of carbon steel and aluminum.

About the artist: Christian Ristow has been building mechanical art since he was a child. After opting out early from a career in architecture, he became involved in his 20’s with the underground robot performance-art scene in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the amazing world of Burning Man. A decade working in film special effects in Southern California rounded out his formative influences.

Upon moving to New Mexico in 2005, Ristow shifted his focus to large-scale interactive sculpture. These works have been showcased at arts and cultural events around the world.

While large kinetic sculpture remains Ristow’s lifelong focus, the scope of his artistic output has recently enlarged to include smaller-scale sculpture, traditional figurative clay sculpture, and oil painting.

Ristow lives with his family in Taos, New Mexico.