This is a rough of a possible mechanism to power the undulating fins.

The movement is a crucial part of this work. I have decided for the “less is more” approach. The fins will be immobile about 80% of the time. When people first see her, the Silk Mermaid should simply be a large beautiful sculpture. Then, with glacial slowness, she will begin to move — a wide graceful flowing arc of silk and lace. She will flow briefly, and then with gentle care, slow to a stop. At some later point — five minutes, ten minutes — she will resume with a different fluttering motion, then again cease.

The point is to make the motion unpredictable. If her fins fluttered all the time, it would quickly become boring. If the same motion were performed repeatedly, again, pretty boring.

Another shot of the mechanism after the jump.

It will take motors and computers to generate the randomized action. For this I hope to contact people in the Seattle area with this skill. It is, after all, the reason I am building her.

First, though, I must build her up. If you want people to help you, you must prove you can actually finish such a project. Few things say “I’m serious” more effectively than 1,000 pounds of clay on an armature in your apartment.