To celebrate 80 years of Mattel’s beloved toys and fandoms, over 80 artists from the New Contemporary art scene were invited to create original works for Art Honoring 80. Magic Seek Again was conceived for this occasion as an interactive prototype that reimagines the classic Magic 8-Ball,  transforming it into a direct, living dialogue with artist Shantell Martin.

To begin, the participant must say, “Magic Seek Again,” then pose a question to the sculpture. The device responds immediately in a fusion of Martin’s signature line-based language and playful technology. Each answer appears on screen in her bespoke typeface, Shantell Sans, and is spoken aloud in her own voice, creating an intimate connection between the artist and participant.

The work merges nostalgic divination with Martin’s ongoing exploration of communication, accessibility, and curiosity, turning a simple question into a shared moment of wonder.

Design, programming, and assembly support: David Bleisch.

Technical details: The exterior of Magic Seek Again was modeled in FreeCAD and 3D printed on a Prusa MK4S using PLA and Woodfill filaments. The base houses a Raspberry Pi 4 running a Python program connected to a display, microphone, and speaker. It uses Picovoice Porcupine and Cobra for wake-word and voice detection. When idle, the display shows the “8” logo, which transforms into an infinity symbol when activated. The system then animates color ripples and plays back one of twenty pre-recorded responses — each typed and voiced in perfect synchronization.