A biomechanical arm built out of found objects and stainless steel rods served as inspiration for one of the world's weirdest microphone stands.

Artist Chris Conte created the gleaming, sci-fi–looking mike holder for Adam Gontier, lead singer of Three Days Grace. Gontier found photos of Conte's original artwork online and inquired about a custom piece of gear based on the arm. "When he asked me over the phone if it can be done, I was like, 'Hell yeah, it can be done,'" Conte said in an e-mail interview with Wired.com.

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The only problem: The band wanted a left arm and the original was a right.

"I suggested we take molds and make casts from the original," said Conte, 40, who lives on New York's Long Island and worked in prosthetics before concentrating full-time on art. "I first needed to sacrifice the original arm and reverse-engineer it into a left arm. I also needed to construct it in such a way where it could be broken down into sub-assemblies that were practical for mold-making and casting."

The biomechanical mike stand breaks down like a traditional piece of music gear.

Conte made three of the mike stands (Gontier bought a backup for the road). The mike stands are constructed primarily of stainless steel. One part of the quick-release mechanism is made of brass.

"The arm you see in the photos is actually a casting in stainless steel of the master using the lost-wax process," Conte said. "Eleven separate silicone molds were taken from the master to create the wax models needed for the casting process." The project took about three months, and Gontier used the stand onstage for the first time Feb. 19 at the Prudential Center in New Jersey.

Conte, who was previously profiled by Wired.com ("Creepy Cyberpunk Fantasies Come to Life"), said his work is a reflection of the things he loves.

"I simply build the things I wish I had," he said. "The work also expresses my fascination with advanced technology, specifically cybernetic organisms, combined with my admiration of relics from the past. Cybermechanical sculpture is perhaps one way to describe it."

Next up for Conte: He's building four insectoid creatures out of recycled watch parts for a print and television ad campaign for London retailer Harrods.

The biomechanical mike stand in all its glory.

Photos: Dennis Blachut

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