Tinkerer creates adorable miniature models of San Francisco

Thomas Beutel creates kinetic sculptures that celebrate The Sunset District, where he has lived all of his life. Thomas Beutel creates kinetic sculptures that celebrate The Sunset District, where he has lived all of his life. Photo: Thomas Beutel Photo: Thomas Beutel Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Tinkerer creates adorable miniature models of San Francisco 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

Karl the Fog usually obscures things rather than illuminates them, but thanks to electrical tinkerer Thomas Beutel, San Francisco’s patron weather saint can now answer just about any question.

Beutel is a lifelong Sunset resident who uses his training as an electrical engineer to bring the sights and sounds of his neighborhood to life. His miniature sculptures of San Francisco feature a combination of old-school wood and wire automation and computer know-how that will be on display through Feb. 29 at the Art Container at Playland on 43rd Avenue.

RELATED: ‘The Last Black Man in San Francisco’ director creates map of the city featuring things he loves

His ode to San Francisco’s cloudy forecasts, “Ask Karl the Fog,” is modeled after the type of vintage penny arcade fortune teller games you can find at Musée Mécanique. To truly randomize the six Magic Eightball-style responses, Beutel wrote computer code that he displays on a poster next to the machine.

“One of the things that I wanted to do in my art show is to show that it’s not magic,” he says. “Unlike the Victorian era, you don’t attempt to hide the mechanism anymore. It’s part of the fun and what makes it interesting.”

“Magical Murphy’s Windmill” spins on a simple crank system, whereas the titular piece, “Sunset in Motion,” features a street scene with oversized arcade buttons that move streetcars back and forth, as well as play sound effects ranging from warning sirens to car alarms.

RELATED: Meet the second generation owner behind San Francisco's Musée Mécanique

They’re sounds he knows well, given he’s lived in Sunset since he was 1 and never plans to move -- partly because he couldn’t part from his dear friend Karl.

“I like it because of the people. There’s a really big art scene out here. I love the colors out here, I love the fog, too; it’s hard not to when you grow up in the fog, you just appreciate it too much.”

"Sunset in Motion" runs through Feb. 29 at Playland on 43rd Avenue, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The artist will be on-hand for the following special events:

Sat, Feb 8 from 11-3 p.m., Open Studio. 1 p.m., Creative Process Talk

Sun, Feb 16 from 1-3 p.m., Craft Stick and Wire Automata Workshop

Sun, Feb 23 from 11-3 p.m., Open Studio

Sat, Feb 29 from 1-3 p.m., Closing Reception

Dan Gentile is a digital editor at SFGATE. Email: Dan.Gentile@sfgate.com | Twitter: @Dannosphere