SC Connecticut News

Jason Nuttle, a senior at Yale College, merges engineering and art to create unique mechanical artworks. His creations include a robotic bird that simulates death, designed to evoke empathy from viewers. "I like this piece because people empathize with it," Nuttle said. "They feel really awful about watching this robotic bird die."

Nuttle's work was showcased at Yale’s Center for Collaborative Arts and Media (CCAM), where he was a studio fellow during the 2023-24 academic year. Among his exhibits were three other automata: a self-typing keyboard, a car crash recreation, and a robotic arm making random gestures.

His fifth artwork, “Signal Symphony,” features 50 small black cars with blinking turn signals. CCAM Assistant Director Lauren Dubowski remarked on Nuttle's dedication: “Jason’s enthusiasm for realizing his vision was infectious.”

Nuttle funded his projects through Yale College’s Creative and Performing Arts Grants and utilized resources from the Center for Engineering Innovation & Design (CEID). He emphasized the importance of integrating technology into art: “Using technology to create artistic pieces is really important.”

Originally from Rogers, Arkansas, Nuttle has long been interested in STEM fields. In high school, he participated in competitive robotics and later combined these skills with art. He completed an internship with Creative Machines in Tucson, Arizona.

His influences include sculptor Alexander Calder and absurdist humorists like Monty Python. "Being human can be a weird experience," he said.

Nuttle's automata often reflect life's absurdities. His “Player Keyboard” mimics indecisiveness by typing different greetings before deleting them. Another piece recreates his recurring dream of a car crash using metal arms and toy cars.

The artist is now exploring AI integration into his work through machine vision technology. “Machine vision is fun because it allows you to create pieces that will look at you when you enter a room,” he explained.