Survival Research Labs

New Machine Projects: Volunteers and Producers Wanted

2009-09-13T15:16:00.000-07:00

Well, after a year and a half of moving from San Francisco to Petaluma and a few months of setting everything up again, SRL is finally back in the robot making business. We're working on a couple new machine projects and want to be ready to show them off to the public. Photo from John BehrensPhoto from Jon AllowayPlease contact Mark Pauline at markp [at] srl [dot] org if you can offer us an

Renegade Art & Democracy

2009-09-11T09:46:00.000-07:00

What do Andrew Stanton (writer director of Wall-e), Lynn Hershman (acclaimed filmmaker/video artist), Mickey Hart (Grateful Dead), Anne Lamott (author/activist), Mark Pauline (SRL), and Jane Metcalfe (co-founder WIRED) have in common?They (and 40+ other artists and activists) support the Renegade Liberal (as labeled by the National Journal) and champion of the public option in health care reform,

2008: SRL Turns 30!

2008-11-24T20:01:00.000-08:00

30 years ago today, I started Survival Research Laboratories. I hadcome up with the idea of machine performances a few weeks earlier,and when the owner of a local free magazine, "Boulevards Magazine"heard my spiel, and learned that I was thinking of forming SRL as acompany, he offered me, a free, full page ad space in his Novemberissue. Click to see bigger imageI started working on the first SRL

We've Moved!

2008-10-11T13:26:00.000-07:00

Finally after 25.5 years at the San Bruno Ave shop in SF,we've moved. Thankfully, to a shop that's twice the size of the previous oneand does not leak. It also features a large flat paved lot for testingmachines. The new SRL shop in located at 839 North Petaluma Blvd in PetalumaCalif. 32 miles north of the Golden gate Bridge. This is the third move forSRL. (The first SRL shop was the junkyard on

The Todd Blair Wall Unveiled and For Sale!

2008-07-23T10:28:00.000-07:00

A new mechanical, kinetic sculpture made by SRL and several among the growing Todd Blair community was unveiled last Sunday at Rhythmix Culture Works in Alameda. It's a 7x9 steel wall with 25 movable aluminum gears built with love by Todd's friends and family to raise funds for his continued rehabilitation. Todd suffered a traumatic brain injury at the SRL show in Amsterdam September 2007.

Image Section of the Amsterdam Show Updated

2008-06-06T01:27:00.001-07:00

Some new images of the SRL show at Robodock (A Complete Mastery of Sinister Forces: Employed With Callous Disregard to Produce Catastrophic Changes in the Natural Order of Events) have been posted by the following photographers:Nina AlterJon AllowayJurgen Barelin addition to the ones from Jessica Hobbes, John Mathieu, and Steve Double.Also there is another event: the Todd Blair Gear Wall Project

The Todd Blair Wall Project

2008-05-21T10:16:00.000-07:00

A kinetic sculpture will be erected on July 20, 2008 in honor of Todd Blair and also to raise funds for his ongoing rehabilitation and recovery. As many know, Todd was in a serious accident at the SRL Robodock performance last September. The wall is being designed and built by Mark Pauline, Kevin Binkert, and Greg Jones and will be made up of 25 gears that can be purchased and customized by

RE/Search Pranksfest at the Roxie Apr 3rd 2008

2008-03-26T17:44:00.000-07:00

Save the dates for the RE/Search Pranksfest on Thurs. April 3rd 2008 at 9pm.Screenings of SRL videos, the Mark Pauline Pranks! segment, QA with SRL crew members.Admission is $10 benefitting Todd Blair

Another Benefit for Todd Blair March 5 2008

2008-02-27T06:24:00.000-08:00

Todd is much loved, if you missed the other benefits as seen on the Todd Blair Recovery Blog or would like to attend another event of Todd friends and family, please come to a special , limited seating screening of Electrum and LA <3 SRL on March 5th 2008 at the McBean Theater at the Exploratorium.More details here.

Feb 25 - ATC Benefit for Todd Blair

2008-02-21T04:08:00.000-08:00

This special ATC event is a benefit for the continuedrecovery of Todd Blair who was injured in Amsterdamafter an SRL show. Suggested donation at the door is$10-100. toddblair.wordpress.comThe Art, Technology, and Culture Colloquiumof the Berkeley Center for New Media announces:Attention Depiction Disorders Naut Humon, Recombinant Media Labs, SF V. Vale, REsearch Publications,

Blue and Green Ball - A Benefit for SRL's Own Todd Blair

2007-11-26T03:57:00.000-08:00

As you all may know, crew member Todd Blair suffered major head injury in Amsterdam in September. His communities have joined forces to help raise funds for his ongoing medical and living expenses by presenting an evening of entertainment, holiday shopping bazaar, and an art as well as talent and collectibles auction. This is your chance to purchase art at a bargain, including your very own

Your Very Own Sneaky Soldier

2007-11-14T19:14:00.000-08:00

On December 1, SRL along with other Todd Blair communities is putting on the Blue + Green Ball a benefit for Todd's continuing medical, living, and rehabilitation expenses.Aside from entertainment, food, shopping bazaar, cash bar, kinetic sculpture, fire art, and more, there will also be an art auction of art from artists such as Stelarc, Lynn Hershman, Eduardo Kac and many others... One of the

SRL Brisbane House for Sale!

2007-11-02T09:31:00.001-07:00

Mark, Amy, and Jake Eddie are moving and their wonderful Brisbane home is for sale. The house was designed by Mark and Amy, built by Neal Pauline, and note that metal work (pictured here) was designed and created by Mark Pauline! Great opportunity to own a piece of machine art history!For more information check http://www.rondavis.com/300visit/

Mark Pauline on Todd Blair (at dorkbotSF fundraiser)

2007-10-16T16:23:00.000-07:00

A good background on Todd's involvment and numerous contributions to SRL from Mark Pauline, from the special dorkbotSF fundraiser for Todd Blair. Video taken by James Young: Todd continues to make good progress and is out of ICU! But recovering from head injury is a long process. There are a few fundraisers in the works including a dinner on November 9th and a big Blue and Green Ball on

Show Images, Todd Blair Fundraisers

2007-10-05T16:39:00.001-07:00

The previous post was premature, Todd did seem to be waking up but doctors had to sedate him until a re-occuring fever subsides. He remains in a stable holding pattern and his father has arrived in Amsterdam, while Mark, Amy, and Jake Eddie return to San Francisco.There are several events planned for the coming months to address the very real and serious medical and financial condition Todd and

Todd Blair is Waking Up

2007-09-30T17:04:00.001-07:00

From Mark Pauline:"Good news. Todd is with Alex and Amy and is responding to Alex's voice with hand pressure. Eyes open a bit. Resting again now. See the blog for details!"Photo of Todd from John BehrensThanks everyone for the prayers, healing and loving thoughts! Keep them going toward Mr. Todd! But Alex and Todd still need our help, please check here for what you can do. A PayPal account for

Todd Blair Injured in Amsterdam

2007-09-25T15:48:00.000-07:00

In a freak accident veteran crew member Todd Blair was knocked to the ground sustaining critical head injuries after the show on Saturday. The doctors in Amsterdam are keeping him in an induced coma and won't have a complete prognosis for awhile. In deference to Todd, Alex (Todd's girlfriend) and the families we had been keeping the information about this tragic occurence within the family. Amy

2007-08-27T12:35:00.000-07:00

A Complete Mastery of Sinister ForcesEmployed With Callous Disregard To Produce Catastrophic Changes In The Natural Order of EventsSeptember 22, 2007NDSM Wharf, North AmsterdamforRobodock 2007Track show preparations on the Official SRL Robodock Show page

SRL Show at Robodock Sept 22 2007

2007-08-06T08:13:00.000-07:00

SRL has just shipped a little over 45,000 lbs of 'obnoxious cargo' to the Netherlands last week (August 1st). The crew will meet the machines in Amsterdam next month and begin preparing for the finale of the Robodock Festival on 22 Sept 2007. To keep up to date with crew activities pre and post show, check the SRL Robodock page periodically.Pulse jet staging. Image from Karen MarceloMachines

SRL Patrons Wanted

2007-07-11T15:05:00.001-07:00

We need $2M please!SRL is at a crossroads. The Shop, SRL HQ for 25 some odd years, must move, change and/or cease to exist.SRL has created mayhem for the world to enjoy and now SRL needs real help.Mark and Amy have been on a real-estate hunt for the past couple of years up and down the Bay Area and beyond.. looking arduously for the right home for both The Shop and their family. There have

Preperations under way for next show

2007-06-28T01:14:00.000-07:00

Original image of Greg Leyh's Tesla Coil from Ghostly Scenes of Infernal Desecration Show by Lilia AhnerThis week the crew has started clearing out the shop and taking machines apart for repairs in preparation for Robodock in September. Check here for on-going pre-show prep shenanigans

Maker Faire Makers Day

2007-05-18T08:38:00.000-07:00

David Pescovitz interviews Mark Pauline and John Law kicking off the 2nd Makers Faire yesterday.The rest of SRL at Maker Day 2007 set hereSRL Maker Faire 2007Images from Karen Marcelo

SRL at Maker Faire (May 19-20 2007)

2007-05-07T13:45:00.000-07:00

SRL will be exhibiting a few machines at this month's Maker Faire at the San Mateo fairgrounds. Come meet Mark Pauline and other crew members and see some of the machines in action up close. It will also be the debut of the NEW and IMPROVED MR SATAN!Image of the Inchworm and ScrewMachine from Ghostly Scenes of Infernal Desecration by Neil GirlingTrack best of the SRL Yard and pre-show

A Bit of SRL History...

2007-05-05T19:01:00.000-07:00

This is a piece of the rocket motor casing that blew up Mark's hand last century. The blast was enough to deeply embed this piece deep into the telephone pole. Luckily, shrapnel didn't hit Mark! More details on Mark Pauline's unfortunate rocket motor accident here

Stay Tuned for Premiere of SRL Video

2007-03-31T13:35:00.000-07:00

Last year's Ghostly Scenes of Infernal Desecration: An SRL End of Days Production was filmed by a stellar crew of film makers and videographers and the result is an amazing edit by Ian Williamson and Babalou where the audience is immersed within a 16 channel audio recording, putting them into the middle of the performance, while 10 10' screens surround them with a multi-camera, multi-screen