Donation for a Good Cause

I am woefully late with this post, but nonetheless, here it is. Back in October I donated a robot built for a charity event. The Nan Project is an organization dedicated to suicide prevention awareness, training and education. They are an amazing group doing absolutely life changing work. I am very close to the principals in the project, helped partner them with their first high-school and champion the work they do. Anyway Ellen Dalton, the project director, asked about me donating a sculpture to the annual charity auction, there was no hesitation in taking that on. The night was fun, they raised a bunch of money for a great cause, and Weston # 6 found a new home, a win all around. If you are not aware of what these people do please check them out - they really are saving lives.

Random Bot

Ray

Western Avenue Studios

This is not a robot post but a plug for a fantastic assemblage of artists. If you are in the Greater Boston Area and have not been to the Western Avenue Studios in Lowell MA you are missing out on something special. With great foresight an old Mill Building was turned into artists studios, and later Lofts, and is now home to over 300 tremendously creative people. Western Ave hosts open studios the first Saturday of every month and both Saturday and Sunday every weekend in December up till Christmas. The talent in that building is just wonderful and its worth an afternoon to wander around that beautiful old building checking out each studio. Go, go now, you wont regret it.

Another Sale.

Good News. I found out that I made another sale. Last weekend I went to the Mosesian Center to collect the 25 robots there for the members show. When I got there I learned "7 of the 5" had been bought! Yipee! I do not now who the purchaser is and hope to hear from them soon, but am thrilled they thought enough of my work to make the leap and buy one. Anyway here's the guy who has a new home.

Enjoy your new home "7 of the 5" 

24 Robots.

As previously blogged about I entered 1 piece in the members show at the Mosesian Center for the Arts in Watertown. A week before the show opened I was contacted by the center as asked if I was willing to bring in more robots for the lobby of the center. Of course I said "yes" then asked "How Many?" Aneleise, the Director of Exhibitions said "As many as you can bring." No Pressure! Anyway, that was Friday evening and Sunday, after lots of packing off we went. Aneleise met me there and we made short work of the unloading. She did the entire set up herself, and as you can see below, did an amazing job. I am so thankful for being asked to do this, it is quite an honor and looks incredible.

Ready for a car ride guys?

Creator and Creations

Members Show at The Mosesian Center

OK, so school started again, that means summer is over and I have been busy. Hopefully that explains the lack of blog posts. The Member's Show at The Mosesian Center for the Arts started on Sep 12. The opening Reception is Sep 19th. If your looking to see some really excellent art, shown in a cool venue, near some awesome places to eat, head on over! While you are there check out X-382 #3. He will be chilling there for the duration.

Another Show!

Well my luck streak is continuing. I just got into a show at The Art Center in Dover NH. The show, Unexpected, starts on the 9th of August. I entered five robots and three made the cut, Ray, FDR, and a yet to be named guy. The opening reception is Saturday August 10 from 6-8, come on by!

Ray

FDR

Patiently waiting for a name.

Inspiration Strikes

I have a few irons in the fire right now. One, the old slide projector robot I previously posted about, more on that later. Another is a piece I am creating to donate to a charity auction this October for The Nan Project. This is an organization near and ear to my heart. They do amazing work with schools and other organizations around suicide awareness and intervention. Here is that piece:

I am happy with how this is going, and even happier when I had one of those "Ah-Ha" moments while working on it. It was disassembled and in this state when I had my flash of inspiration:

My plan is to use another one of these old Weston Gauges, take out the meter face and seen here, and then build in different insides into it. I think using it this way will allow me more artistic exploration than just building with the meter as is. Stay tuned, I think this will be cool!

New Piece in the works.

So after finishing up the Tired and worn down robot I jumped right into a new project. This is what I am wrenching on:

The body is an old 35 mm slide projector. One of the ones where it could project on a wall, or show the slide on the screen in front. It was free (junk from work). The head is an oscilloscope camera (love those things). I am already feeling pretty good about the direction this is taking. One thing I am going to try and do is have the finished product actually show slides. The projector is kind of finicky, so that may not pan out, but it would be wicked cool! If it does work I am going to have to carefully consider what kind of slides to find - this could be epic!

Through the Surface Art Opening

The Through the Surface Show at the 6 Bridges Gallery in Maynard runs July 9 - August 13. Opening Reception is July 13th 7:00-9:00. Come on by and see this guy.

Tired and worn down Robot, Finished

I really cranked on this piece, especially after we got back from vacation. I am quite happy with how it came out. It projects a distinct personality, which is important to my work, but I don't think the pictures truly convey the worn down patina that it does in person. Anyway here it is:

Tired and worn down robot

I have been picking away and making a tired and worn down robot. Most of my work has a kind of used look to it, but I wanted to really push that image to the front with this piece. I am pretty happy with the progress thus far, here's a few shots of what I have.

I'll make updates as I move along with this project. I am finding this one much more satisfying than I thought and that's always a good thing. 

Another Show!

As luck would have it I got into my third show this year. The show is Through the Surface at the 6 Bridges Gallery in Maynard. The show opens July 9th and runs through August 16th. I am feeling quite energized and excited about these shows, but also humbled. It very validating to get into three in a row. Here is the robot that made the cut.

My goal moving forward will be to keep the momentum going in any way I can. I really want to try and build a following for my work. 

Malevolent Robot Head Post 3

So I finished up wiring the Malevolent Robot. Here is the piece in its nearly finished form. I am thrilled with the way this one came out. The finished product is exactly in keeping with the vision  had when I first saw the piece it is based on. May you never look at a Kirby Classic Vacuum cleaner the same way again.

CAA National Prize Show and My First Sale.

The Cambridge Art Associations National Prize Show opening was last night.There was some fantastic work on display and to be included with such talented people was quite an honor. I also made my first sale! Even before the official opening I was contacted  by Steve and Ann about my piece. They saw it as soon as the show went up and loved it. We met at the opening and they couldn't have been a lovelier couple. What I thought was really cool was the fact that they referred to this not as a purchase but an adoption. We all had a really good time and I am thrilled the robot is going to such a good home. 

The Display, I got a great Location

The Red Dot! Yippee!

Malevolent Robot Head - Post 2

I am happy with how the malevolent robot head is coming along. I have sorted out the electronics for the lighting and am working on the rest of the bits. First a video of the lighting effects.

And here are my current ideas on more of the fitting out. I am thinking of doing a blaster attached to the mounting hole for the bag. After staring at it for the better part of today I am convinced that this is what I want, I just haven't figured out the execution yet. I also think I will attached the vent thingy above the eye. 

   

More to follow...

Cambridge Art Association's National Prize Show

Well I got into another show. I submitted 3 pieces the the Cambridge Art Associations National Prize Show and they accepted 1. Not bad considering it was 390 artists and over 1000 pieces! They accepted X-382. Its another great location with lots of exposure. Hopefully he sells!

Way to go buddy!

The Malevolent Head - Post 1

So, about 2 or 3 years ago I was poking around the interweb looking for robot parts and I came across some pictures of Kirby vacuum cleaners. One look and I knew immediately that this was a robot part par excellence. I found a cheap one on E bay and ordered it. When I got it I took it apart and then left it to gather dust until inspiration struck, well strike it did. I hauled it out 2 weeks ago and started to get going on it. Unlike most of my projects this will just be a head and shoulders. I picture it being mounted on a wall (kind of like an animal trophy). This weekend I was working on fitting some Plexiglas for the holes in the motor housing. One of my thoughts is to have some LED's inside for lighting effects. Here is what it looks like - if this doesn't scream evil robot to you - nothing will, stay tuned.

How much is that robot in the window...

Well I am giving Etsy a shot again. I listed 4 GE light meter bots for sale. With an influencer's level of Instagram followers (22) they will probably sell like hot cakes. Or they will be collecting dust on the "day old" shelf from now until the universe grows cold. Anyway check them out right here. See the pic below for the models I listed. I'll let you know how this all goes, till then, Happy Spring!

School Vacation...

This has been a good week. As a teacher, like most jobs, there can be many things to complain about, but I almost never complain about my schedule. This week has been February break, my goal was to get the G.E. light meter bots done and I am just about there. I only have 2 left to wrap up. I am very happy with how they came out. I should be listing some on Etsy soon. I will post here, with a link, once the listing is live. For now though; behold the mighty army.

GE Light Meter Bots

I am cranking along on the GE light meter bots. I have 6 with heads, waiting for arms and the bases. There are 3 more waiting in the wings for me to get going on. My plan right now is to have all 9 done by the end of February break, which starts on the 15th. Once I am finished I am going to reboot my Etsy site and then list a few of them and see what happens. I love these meters, they really integrate well into my aesthetic. 

Awesome New Part

Sometimes while roaming around on E bay looking at parts I run across something that is impossible to ignore. That happened last week. I came across 4 old Westinghouse Microwave emitter tubes. They look to be surplus U.S. Navy parts from about the late 40's to late 50's (A prime time for robot parts).
They were a good deal (11.50 ea) so I ordered them right away. When they got here they looked even better than expected. I am not sure what they will end up in, half the fun of doing this is figuring it ll out, but I am positive they are heads.

Screams Robot Head to Me!

Third Place in the Analog/Digital show!

Fortune smiled on me on Friday when Angus was chosen for the third place award at the opening to the Analog/Digital Art Show at the Beacon Gallery. The opening was really fun and there was a fantastic selection of art. Christine O'Donnell, the gallery owner, did a great job setting the show up and could not be a better host, she really has a great eye for art and design. I love the way people respond to the robots. Its fun to watch someone notice them and then smile or laugh. The feedback I got was all very positive, but to have the event capped off by the third place award was particularly cool.

       

                           Angus and FDR                                    ME with the display