Remember Ice Brain in our “dark room” last year?  The glowing and growing brain-like ice form generated by refrigerator coils + condensation?

That piece was by Anja Ulfeldt, an interdisciplinary artist and curator based in Oakland, CA. Anja co-directs Basement Gallery Oakland and manages a cooperative art and photography studio in Downtown Oakland.  She is a graduate of the California College of Arts and Crafts, and a recent artist in residence at the Exploratorium.

This year, Anja is going to bring her hand-crank electrostatic generators, The Influence Machines, to the East Bay Mini Maker Faire.  They are beautiful and interactive sculptures that animate the making of static electricity.  Something about the feathers and textiles she uses turns science into poetry.  Watch: