For years, Bill’s preferred artistic endeavors included writing and woodworking. An award-winning writer, in addition to books, video scripts and training manuals, he has maintained a blog since 2010 (Writings and Musings by Bill Taylor). In his spare time, Bill wrote comedy for famed WKIX morning radio talents, the late Dale Van Horn and the late Pat Patterson.

Shortly after his retirement from a 44-year career in occupational safety and health, Bill stumbled across a website dedicated to automata. Websters defines automata as, “a machine or control mechanism designed to follow automatically a predetermined sequence of operations or respond to encoded instructions.” Usually, automatons include a whimsical theme or message. Because most people are unfamiliar with the word automata, Bill prefers a more familiar and descriptive term, kinetic sculpture.

Bill was fascinated by the shop-made gears, cams, and other mechanisms that made these sculptures function. Trained as an engineer, Bill saw the art of automata as a way to indulge his passions for woodworking, woodcarving, metal working, design and engineering along with an occasional dash of humor. So, he converted his small woodworking shop into a shop more conducive to his new-found hobby.

He begins the process with an idea. From there, he will design the piece including what it will do and how it will achieve the desired movement. He makes sketches which become his working drawings, sometimes changing and revising the project along the way until its completion. In addition to the wood and metal parts he makes in his shop, his sculptures may also include parts from old appliances, discarded printers, ball point pens and anything else that can be repurposed for his work.

A veteran of the United States Coast Guard, Bill is a Wilson native now living in Durham. Although his wife and high school sweetheart, Carolyn, passed away in 2023, Bill has three sons and four grandchildren.

Contact:

Email: billtaylor8771@gmail.com

Blog: Writings and Musings by Bill Taylor