The Lonely Robot

Everything Old is New Again

"Our challenges may be new, the instruments with which we meet them may be new, but those values upon which our success depends, honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old."

- Barack Obama, January 20, 2009

I am moved, of course, by these words and the tug of history, but even more so by this simple fact: There is a person in the Oval Office who shares my values, ethics, and world view at a time in my life when these things mean the world to me.  And the world is watching. 

And as I was settling into this new awareness, I was working today in the studio, wondering how it was all going to work out, and I got this email and image:

This was the tableau for my Inauguration Day brunch.  Thanks for being

part of it--it was nice to have brunch with Barack.
-Stephanie in Seattle

I do think we're going to be alright.  Be true to yourself.  Your world.  Stay honest.  Work hard.  Be tolerant, curious, and creative.  If this is the message that our world is getting about our collective American psyche, then HELL YES,  let's do this. Let's make it right. 

PREZ: Inaugural Edition

It started with making a new plate to commerorate the date of Obama's inauguration.

Working with linoleum over the weekend really helped me with keeping control when carving out these small lines.

I cut out the figure from my last PREZ series, then inked both it and the new PREZ moniker with a small brayer.

I made a template out of tympan paper, so I can pull an edition with everything in the same place.

Result!  I really enjoy the magic of seeing what the image looks like after the first run through.

Here it is, first pull of an edition of 500.  Still only $25.00.  Get yours here.

Squid and Whale Linocut Print

A few years ago, before the movie, I finally made it to New York City's Natural History Museum to see that huge room that promised a full-size replica of a blue whale suspended from the ceiling.  The room delivered - the blue whale was spectacular, yet what really got my interest what the diarama of the scene above - a giant squid in a kerfuffle with whale.  I took this shot then, not knowing what I would do with it.

Until today.  I had two people over to the studio today for a linocut workshop, so I decided that while they carved their owls and cows, I would carve my squid and whale.

It took about 5 steady hours of carving.  Here is the plate when I was finished.

Here is the first pull.  I like taking shots like this - it hints at my process.

I took another print and added some watercolor to it.  I'm pleased with the result.  

Let's Do This

I couldn't frame the big one....

....but managed to get 25 of the other ones ready for the show opening tonight, at 9pm, at Andalu.  I'm stoked!

The Lonely Robot Show at Andalu

My first show in a commercial space in a long time, and what a great way to start out 2009. The show opens Monday night, and there is a reception starting at 9pm, at this cool restaurant that I have been to many times - Andalu.  

The show came about as a result of Annie showing at Hotel Biron last year.  The curator for that show, Heather Bernard, also curates for Andalu.  Heather reached out in November to see if I wanted to show in January, and of course I said yes.  My robots have been getting a great response, so I suggested that since I can digitize them, I should enlarge the images so they could hold their own on Andalu's huge walls.  She gave me the green light.

My good friend Chip Norton output the files from his house in Louisville, KY.  He took extra care in making sure that the integrity of the files was not compromised by enlarging them 1000%.  They look great - thanks to fractals.

How big are they?  Take a look at this photo:  there an original and my foot in there for scale:

I've been working all weekend on getting them ready to hang.  It is a 2 person job - and Annie has been a great help.  I am really looking forward to seeing these hanging up.  If you are in San Francisco, I'd love to see you Monday night!