a rowdy whir, or the perpetual ride (a consolation prize for holding on); 2024

steel, gold-electroplated stainless steel, motors, wires, marble, hardware, brass, arduino, lights, elastic cord, trophy

"Norton abstracts animal motion into mechanical locomotion in both a rowdy whir: or the perpetual ride (consolation prize for holding on) and drought of desire (show pony). The animal is notably absent in these kinetic sculptures that recall the bucking of a mechanical bull, the forward movement of a horse hoof, and the flicking of a tail. Other vestiges of the mammal include motifs of trophies and blue ribbons that gesture to an innately human prize culture. Instead of bodily warmth, there is a cold whir of mechanics, violently shaking or calculatingly manipulative.  Norton considers what is left in the void of the body, as these motorized, self-propelling objects are never laid to rest, constantly performing." - Sarah Cho