Robots take to the streets of the Bywater

With a “Robots…march!!” the Robot Parade was underway Sunday in the Bywater.

The parade is an outgrowth of kinetic art collective show series Automata, said event by organizer and sculptor H. Cole Wiley, 23.

As he explains: "This year we were kind of looking for something different to do and since robotics is kind of at the heart of Automata, kinetic sculpture, bio-art, that kind of thing, we figured it'd be pretty fun to get some robots out on the streets and show the people what's going on and drum up a little more support for the Automata shows."

Judging by the strong attendance Sunday, they were successful.

Parade attendees were also treated to a smaller version of the Automata shows in the Old Ironworks building, featuring an Iron Giant by local sculptor Barton Gilley.

Here's a look, courtesy of photographer Linda Friedman:

: Robot Parade, courtesy of Automata (Photos by Linda Friedman)

: Robot Parade, courtesy of Automata (Photos by Linda Friedman)

: ‘I’ve been taking things apart my whole life,’ says Gilley. ‘I love to tinker and kind of make garbage look good.’ (Photos by Linda Friedman)

: Gilley’s ‘AngryBeats,’ made out of ‘wheelchair motors, welded steel, a cardboard box, satellite dish pieces…it’s a junkbot, I guess. (Photos by Linda Friedman)