# ART & SCIENCE OF PINBALL EXHIBITION **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2017-07-16 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2017/07/16/art-science-of-pinball-exhibition --- ## Analysis The Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland, CA opened "The Art and Science of Pinball" exhibition running through September 24, 2017, co-curated by Michael Schiess and Melissa Harmon of the Pacific Pinball Museum. The exhibition features 35 playable pinball machines spanning nearly 200 years of pinball evolution, from early bagatelle boards to modern games like The Hobbit (2016), along with transparent machines, models, and diagrams explaining pinball mechanics and design. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Exhibition features 35 pinball machines, with all but two playable by the public — _Article states 'Thirty-five pinball machines – the public can play all but two of them – are featured'_ - [HIGH] Exhibition covers nearly 200 years of pinball evolution — _Article opens with 'the science, engineering, design, whimsy and style covering nearly 200 years of the evolution of pinball'_ - [HIGH] Machines range from Parlor Bagatelle and Surf Queens to The Hobbit (2016) — _Specific machines listed in exhibition description_ - [HIGH] Exhibition includes two see-through machines, models, and diagrams explaining how machines work — _Article states 'two see-through machine, models and diagrams that de-mystify and explain how the machines work'_ ### Notable Quotes > "Pinball is an amazing American art form, interactive kinetic art that is pay to play. Its aesthetics are rooted in attraction and distraction as an attempt to remove coins from the pockets of what started out as a predominately male audience." > — **Michael Schiess** > _Exhibition curator defines pinball as both art form and economic mechanism, articulating the philosophical foundation of the exhibition's framing_ > "At first, the bright colors, flashing lights, bells, chimes and wild action of the ball zipping around the playfield brings an excitement to the player. Slowly, you realize the thing that enticed you to put a coin in and try your skill and luck is designed to distract and impede your abilities." > — **Michael Schiess** > _Describes the dual nature of pinball design as both attraction and obstacle, central to understanding pinball's appeal_ > "The Art and Science of Pinball tells stories on many levels. Visitors view the fun and fantasy shown in the art, leading them to think creatively about the social situations at the time the machine was made." > — **Melissa Harmon** > _Exhibition co-curator explains the exhibition's multi-dimensional approach to pinball history and cultural context_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Chabot Space & Science Center | organization | Oakland, CA venue hosting the exhibition through September 24, 2017 | | Pacific Pinball Museum | organization | Located in Alameda, California; co-curated the exhibition with Michael Schiess and Melissa Harmon | | Michael Schiess | person | Co-curator of The Art and Science of Pinball exhibition from Pacific Pinball Museum | | Melissa Harmon | person | Co-curator of The Art and Science of Pinball exhibition from Pacific Pinball Museum | | Scott Horton | person | Reported on the exhibition for Pinball News | | The Art and Science of Pinball | event | Exhibition at Chabot Space & Science Center running through September 24, 2017, featuring pinball history and mechanics | | The Hobbit | game | 2016 pinball machine included in exhibition as example of contemporary games | | Parlor Bagatelle | game | Early flipperless pinball game featured in exhibition | | Surf Queens | game | Early flipperless pinball game featured in exhibition | ### Topics - **Primary:** Pinball exhibition and public engagement, Pinball history and evolution, Pinball as art and design, Science and engineering of pinball mechanics - **Secondary:** Pacific Pinball Museum curation and expertise ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.85) — Promotional and celebratory tone about exhibition opening; curators express enthusiasm for pinball's cultural significance; emphasis on interactive and educational value ### Signals - **[event_signal]** Major pinball exhibition opening at Chabot Space & Science Center demonstrating institutional recognition and mainstream engagement with pinball culture (confidence: high) — Exhibition curated by Pacific Pinball Museum featuring 35 machines and running through September 24, 2017, at established science center venue - **[community_signal]** Pacific Pinball Museum's active role in public education and curation of pinball history and mechanics for mainstream audiences (confidence: high) — Michael Schiess and Melissa Harmon co-curated exhibition with educational components explaining pinball science and history --- ## Transcript We have reported on a number of pinball exhibitions in the past, but a new one has recent opened at the Chabot Space & Science Center in Northern California. Scott Horton tells us about it. The science, engineering, design, whimsy and style covering nearly 200 years of the evolution of pinball will be featured in a new exhibition through September 24, 2017 at Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland, CA. !The Art & Science of Pinball Exhibition The Art & Science of Pinball Exhibition Co-curated by Michael Schiess and Melissa Harmon of the Pacific Pinball Museum in Alameda, The Art and Science of Pinball careens from bagatelle boards to the sophisticated contemporary machines. Thirty-five pinball machines – the public can play all but two of them – are featured, from Parlor Bagatelle and Surf Queens, early flipperless games, all the way to the Hobbit from 2016. In addition, two see-through machine, models and diagrams that de-mystify and explain how the machines work and a full complement of public activities and programs will be presented through the exhibition run. !Thirty-three pinballs at the exhibition are available to play Thirty-three During the exhibition, Chabot Space & Science Center will be energized with the sounds of bells, buzzers and bumpers as pinball machines old and new fill the space and the public can enjoy an adrenaline rush learning about science in a completely new, interactive way. Pinball’s compelling mix of skill and chance together with increasingly ingenious and complex designs, engineering, science and art have made it enduringly popular for two centuries. !Some of the exhibits demonstrating the science of pinball Some The Art and Science of Pinball unpacks the historical roots and the science and art behind the gravity-defying game using a selection of machines the public can actually play and learn about. !Score and credit reels explained Score and credit reels explained “Pinball is an amazing American art form, interactive kinetic art that is pay to play,” says exhibition co-curator Michael Schiess. “Its aesthetics are rooted in attraction and distraction as an attempt to remove coins from the pockets of what started out as a predominately male audience. At first, the bright colors, flashing lights, bells, chimes and wild action of the ball zipping around the playfield brings an excitement to the player. Slowly, you realize the thing that enticed you to put a coin in and try your skill and luck is designed to distract and impede your abilities. But it does it in such a fun, entertaining way you don’t even care.” !Seeing how the game functions with the Visible Pinball Seeing Co-curator Melissa Harmon adds, “The Art and Science of Pinball tells stories on many levels. Visitors view the fun and fantasy shown in the art, leading them to think creatively about the social situations at the time the machine was made. They have a scientific vision of how pinball mechanisms evolved from pins in a board, and complexity grew over the last century. Then the visitor becomes a player and makes his or her own flashy combinations of silver ball magic! The Chabot Space and Science Center is a great place for this exhibit, extending people’s imaginations from gaming into the final frontier, outer space.” !The exhibition runs until September 24th The exhibition runs until September 24th For information on the The Art and Science of Pinball exhibition visit www.chabotspace.org. _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: f94cfa6c-3fbe-43b5-9ab1-6a53cc8b2858*