Misc

MISC.

Exhibitions, installations, miscellaneous musical instruments, publications and quirky sports.

- EXHIBITS AND INSTALLATIONS -

Addison Street Window Project

Public street art project, where sixty feet of Berkeley city owned window space was converted to a rotating art gallery. "Where do Guitars Come From? - Luthiers of the East Bay," was curated by East Bay Builders in the fall of 2008.

Addison Street Window Project 06_web.jpg

Oakland International Airport

San Francisco Museum of Craft and Folk Art

The 2007 exhibition, "Evolution of the Ukulele," held at the previous, San Francisco Museum of Craft and Folk Art, featured a historical overview of the ukulele and showcased both traditional and avant garde work from around the world. Many Pohaku instruments were featured by curator, Stephen Becker. The exhibit was accompanied by a day long ukulele concert held within the adjacent Yerba Buena Gardens, featuring a host of uke-centric performers, including Jake Shimabukuro.

The Umbrellas, Japan - USA, 1991

Peter Hurney had the honor of providing some art handling and installation work for the artists, Christo and Jeanne-Claude in the United States. The historic exhibit was a large-scale, landscape altering, public art project.

- QUIRKY SPORTS -

Tightrope Walking

"There is only one rule in tightrope walking- which makes it very enjoyable. Don't fall." -Peter Hurney

Fencing

"If fencing is good enough for Morticia and Gomez Addams, then it’s good enough for us." -Peter Hurney

- OTHER HANDMADE INSTRUMENTS -

Hexagon Congas
Plywood, Nylon Straps. 1992.

Harp
Koa, Cedar, Mahogany, Strings. 1995.

Cocktail Traps Drums
2001.

Marimba
3 1/2 Octave, Paduck bars, Aluminum Resonators. 1992.

Emergency ViolinIn
Wood, glass, old violin, paint. 1985

Hannah and her Gypsy Violin
Traditional Romanian Gypsy Tune "I Like Dances," performed by, Hannah Glass, on a Horn Amplified Violin, built by Peter Hurney of Pohaku Ukuleles. Opening narration on the short is by Andre Milota and the end Narration was by Nicole Eiland. The film was shot in 2015, in Berkeley, California.

- restored vintage automaton -

J. Chein Melody Player
The J. Chein company was an American toy manufacturer based in New York. They produced musical lithographed tin toys amongst other items. This melody player was like a player piano and used a paper roll with punched holes to perform various tunes. The roll is hand cranked over a harmonica like device which air is blown thru to make its tunes. I first saw one of these in the permanent collection of the NAMM foundation’s Museum of Making Music located in Carlsbad, California. I found an old one on e-bay which was broken and restored it and is now part of my collection of oddity music makers.

Red Electric Shock
Advance Machine Co Penny Arcade Carnival Electric Shocker

Advance Machine Co. built penny arcade machines which gave electric shocks from the late 1920's up until around 1950. The machines remained in common use until the 1960's when the apparent danger of such machines to people with pace makers was noted. A penny is inserted and the two silver knobs are held, one with each hand. The right hand slowly twists the right knob increasing the voltage (indicated by a mechanical gauge on top) until the player can take no more. Even though the electricity is high voltage it is extremely low amperage, thus staying near the skin. But the actual jolt felt is quite strong. This is definetly not a game for the weak of heart! An internal 3 volt battery provides power to a vibrator and step up transformer coil.