Cuckoo for cuckoos

German artist Stephan Strumbel morphs the traditional icon into neon pop art. He's received praise, as well as hate mail, for his creations. Regardless of the eyebrows he's raised, in 2011 Strumbel was the first German artist to design a piece exclusively for the cover of New York Times magazine - a cuckoo clock, of course.

Not to be confused with the world's current largest cuckoo clock in Triberg, the world's original largest cuckoo clock is found in neighboring Schonach, pictured here. Its builder, Josef Dold, admits that his version may be just a bit smaller than his neighbor's, but he manufactured the clock by hand in three years. And lest we forget: He finished first.

In an exhibition called "Kuckucksuhr - mon amour," the German Clock Museum in Furtwangen is hosting a special exhibition dedicated to all things cuckoo until November 3, 2013. The museum opened in 1852 and is home to Germany's largest collection of clocks.

As a 14th generation descendant of Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora, Ludwiga Zerbs (left) inherited sole rights to her family's legendary beer recipes. Until she passed away in 2012, Zerbs oversaw the production process and even named one of the ales "Kuckucks Bier," after the beloved bird.

The birds made famous by the clock are threatened. After wintering in Africa, the feathered parasites migrate back to Europe to lay their eggs in other birds' nests, entrusting their young to these "step-parents." Climate change has caused hatching season to start and end earlier in Europe, so there are fewer active nests to hijack by the time the cuckoos return.

No, it's not the latest runway style, but a dress fashioned for a new production of Leon Jessel's 1917 operetta, "Black Forest Girl." Actress Mariel Ann Keitel played the role of a cuckoo clock.

Franz Richardt, an engineer at the University of Freiburg, holds a body heat powered clock designed for the World's Fair in Shanghai. When the clock is held, an internal thermo-generator converts hand warmth into electricity, which powers the cuckoo's call.

A feathered carcass with an embedded digital clock challenged visitors' conventional perceptions of everyday items at the Baden State Museum's DESIGN + EMOTION exhibition. This interpretation by Michael Sans was one of 200 pieces featured.

Black Forest clock makers report that the majority of their customers are from the United States, but even in Germany Carnival revellers have a soft spot for the chirpy icon. Got a crazy or traditional cuckoo clock of your own? Send us a photo at [email protected]