This ain’t Reno.  It’s Wiltshire, England.  There’s a groovy retro photography exhibit called “Icons of the Highway” at the Fox Talbot Museum at Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire.  Think motels touting electric neon signs for weary travelers, flamboyant over-sized automobiles, aluminum Air-Stream caravans, colorful burger shacks, bustling 24-hour diners, and rich red brocaded cinemas of old Hollywood glamour.  Just good ole’ Americana in England.  Who knew?

The  images on display are the works of Dorset-based photographers Tony and Eva Worobiec.  Not to sound too romantic here, but Tony and Eva’s photos really do take visitors back in time on a classic 1960s American road trip.  The exhibtion opens on January 9, 2010 and runs until June 27, 2010.

And here’s a tip if you’re planning to go.  Members of The Royal Oak Foundation get into the museum and all other National Trust properties for free.

Robots drawing humans.  A family of light beings.  And a giant orchestral milk float. 

This just brings out the big ole dork in me.   These are just a few of the insanely creative and techincally masterful exhibits at the Kinetica Art Fair 2010, the UK’s only art fair dedicated to kinetic, robotic, sound, light and time-based art.  This all sounds so modern, doesn’t it?  Like, sooo 2009.  But, kinetic art has been around since the 1900’s with artists like Marcel Duchamp and Alexander Calder.

Even before we started Unlabelled Britain, I’ve been on the search for the quirkest and coolest of art fairs, and Kinetica Art Fair has been on my mind ever since I got an email almost a year ago announcing its initial launch. 

Some artists that will be featured are:

Rosaline de Thélin uses light as a medium and a subject to develop sculptures and installations that explore life and illusion. Rosaline will create a family of holographic light beings inspired by astronomy, scientific theories and quantum physics.

Patrick Tresset takes the 30,000 year old practice of artistic drawing and sketching and uses sophisticated computational simulations to enable machines to recreate some of the identifiable perceptual and cognitive processes involved in face sketching by artists.

Paul Friedlander specializes in work that continually blurs the lines between art and science. A scientific artist and light sculptor, Friedlander uses waves to create luminous, dynamic and transparent works.

The fair will take place from February 4 to 7, 2010 at the P3 space in London.  Over 25 galleries and organizations specializing in kinetic, electronic and new media art are taking part and will draw over 150 exhibiting artists.  It is the brainchild of the Kinetica Museum (also in London).  Tickets to the fair start at around $13.   Now, if you’re like me and can’t make it for the fair, a visit to the museum is well worth it.

Image: Holographic light sculptures by Rosaline De Thelin © Homos Luminosos

Image: Part of the Aikon2 Project ©  Patrick Tresset and Frederic Fol Leymarie

Image: Waves © Paul Friedlander