Big Lizards in our Back Yard

Kids love dinosaurs, and so do many of their parents. The majesty of these giant reptiles comes through in any format, whether in scientific drawings or those little plastic dinosaurs you can find at most toy stores. But for sheer overwhelming wow factor, it's gonna be hard to beat Dinosaurs in Motion, the new exhibition at the Saint Louis Science Center. Dinosaurs in Motion stars fourteen life-size dinosaur sculptures created by artist John Payne. They're more than just life-size, however; thanks to biomechanics and robotics, these sculptures can move -- and you're the one controlling the movement. Systems of levers and pulleys -- as well as some remote-control features -- give you the power to bring these creatures to life. Payne's skillful integration of art and science is evident in each dinosaur. Their "bones" are actually recycled materials, but Payne used the latest scientific information to craft his found objects into accurate representations of each piece of his skeletons. Dinosaurs in Motion is open daily at the Saint Louis Science Center (5050 Oakland Avenue; 314-289-4400 or www.slsc.org) through Monday, September 1. Admission is $5 to $12.
Mondays-Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Sundays, 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Starts: March 17. Continues through Sept. 1, 2014