Although The Harmonograph’s exhibit space is donated by The New York State Fair, there are many expenses associated with operating a high quality educational exhibit. During the 12 days of The Fair I create over 3,000 unique original harmonograms on expensive 110# cardstock and distribute these unique artworks free to the public. I also use very small (size 00 and 000) nibs in my technical pens and I always end up trashing a few of these very pricey implements. The Fair also requires that I carry $1,000,000.00 in personal liability insurance - at my own expense.
Other expensive consumables I have on hand for The Fair are: Various red, green and blue laser modules which I utilize to project Lissajous curves in a classic physics demonstration; at least 50 pairs of disposable anaglyphic (red/cyan) glasses for the public to observe the experimental stereographic 3D harmonograms (these glasses "disappear" on me at the rate of about 4 pair a day), and various chemicals used to create flash-booms, fog and other entertaining theatrical physics effects.
I also like to add something new and totally awesome every year to keep the exhibit fresh and exciting. A few years ago I had the good fortune of acquiring a unique historical NASA artifact from America's manned space program, it is a Space Shuttle Main Engine Main Fuel Valve (SSME MFV) actuator casting and I built a new space science exhibit set-piece around this exceptional item. Last year I installed a 7-foot diameter inflatable Earth globe balloon which rotates over my exhibit space. For 2012 I hope to exhibit a surplus Space Shuttle thermal protection system tile; if I can get one on loan, (working on it)...
