Stranger Factory

Zombowie by Tim Lee

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1922656_10203100181084922_365401072_nTim Lee has taken title of his next show “Deadeyes” to another level with the Zombowie!

As you can tell, this is a play on the classic David Bowie album “Aladdin Sane” from 1973. Bowie might be a slight walking corpse these days(editor’s note: are you kidding, Brad? Bowie is still gorgeous and timeless and will never die.) but he most definitely doesn’t have the vibrance of color and grit as Tim’s depiction. I love the spinal column going down his throat and stitching of the lightning bolt. Well played Tim, well played!

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Joe Scarano’s GOON

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Goon_WIP2Time for another installment of one of our favorite things to bring you here on the CP blog, “Work in Progress” images. With work in progress shots, we get to see the development and thought processes that go into creating all the magnificent work for Stranger Factory, and this time we go inside the studio of Joe Scarano.

Up on the easel is Joe’s “Goon” for the upcoming Deadeyes show at Stranger Factory. A classic throwback to the golden days of animation when a toon’s eyes would pop out of their head at the sight of a gorgeous lady or delicious hot food! Topped with a sad party hat, this character screams mischief-maker from the start. We will show you the finished piece down the road once Joe works more of his magic, but for now you can stare at all the detail and shadows like I have been.
Goon_WIPDeadeyes runs March 7th – 30th, with an opening reception on Friday, March 7th from 6 – 9 PM.

A little peek into Robert Hoggard’s studio!

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I get pretty abnormally gleeful when artists send me pictures of their studio, and I was definitely quite happy when Robert Hoggard decided to oblige me!

His contributions to the show with Joe Scarano and Tim Lee, Deadeyes, at Stranger Factory in March, promises to be a delightful amalgamation of enthusiastically interactive robots. We first saw Robert’s work at Stranger Factory for Bewitching last year, where his Theremin Bot charmed the hell out of everyone present.

Robert agreed to ask some short questions, so here they are, interspersed with awesome pictures of his workspace. :)

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Circus Posterus: Where does the inspiration for your robots come from? 
Robert Hoggard: It actually varies. Sometimes, it’s an item I find that begs to be made into something. Take the pulse bot from the Bewitching show, I found a silkworm specimen encased in acrylic and knew it had to be in the chest of a robot. Or, I can find inspiration in a specific antique case or box that I come across.  Many things I do come to me when I’m trying to go to sleep and I think, “I wonder if I can make _____ and get it to work?”

CP: What sort of wonderful found things go into the making of a robot? 
RH: Well, my theremin bot was inspired by the “Halloween” theme of the show and the case I found for it. It was a vintage traveling preacher’s case. It just seemed like whatever I put in that case needed to be heard.

CP: What are your three favorite tools – the ones that you’ve come to rely on so much you feel like you wouldn’t be able to make anything if it didn’t exist in your shop?
RH: Soldering iron, Dremel tool, and magic sculpt!

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CP:  What’s your background? How were you first drawn to electronic fiddliness?
RH: I spent many years in the computer industry. In my spare time I worked on building elaborate Halloween display items for my house. With the help of my friends and family, we would completely decorate the house and yard after dark on October 30th with sophisticated electronic and mechanical displays.

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CP: Your Theremin-Bot was a highlight of the Bewitching show! Can we expect more wonderful interactive robots from you in March?
RH: Most definitely! There will be some with motion-activated lights, one that you connect to with a mobile device, and one in the works with a video screen.

Thanks, Robert!

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Deadeyes, by Robert Hoggard, Tim Lee and Joe Scarano, runs March 7th – 30th, with an opening reception on Friday, March 7th from 6 – 9 PM.

Tim Lee finally gets that pony he always wanted

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i-dig-a-ponyOur first preview of what is to come for the all-star packed bill for “Deadeyes” at Stranger Factory featuring Tim Lee, Joe Scarano, and Robert Hoggard!

Our first teaser is by the almighty Tim Lee titled “I Dig a Pony”, and this ride pops with color!

Tim has changed up his traditional color palette some, and it really is astounding from the blues, crisp white, and the rainbow roll of a nose! We will have more soon from Tim and all the artists from Deadeyes soon!

 

One last look

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The preview should come out sometime this evening for Phil Noto’s “Full Diclosure” and Jim Mahfood’s “Perfect Machine”, so we thought one last glimpse at some of the work was a proper thing to do.

So here are the “Pantless Wonder” and “Starlet” as an appetizer for all the goodness coming tomorrow night at the opening!

PantslessWonder StarletBoth exhibits run February 7th – March 2nd, with an opening reception on Friday, February 7th from 6 – 9 PM.

Time to “Terrorize” with Jim Mahfood

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With the opening only three days away, it is time to “Terrorize” with another piece by Jim Mahfood for “Perfect Machine“!

“Terrorize” is yet another astounding work by Mahfood. The splashes of color, controlled chaos, street lettering, and sensuality, are one(well, four) of the many reasons we love Jim’s work.
We can’t wait to see it in person!

Terrorize

Jim Mahfood’s “Perfect Machine”  runs February 7th – March 2nd, with an opening reception on Friday, February 7th from 6 – 9 PM.

Noto’s Viper

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ViperA great way to start off a Monday is another progress image from Phil Noto’s “Full Disclosure”.

This is still a work in progress from Phil, but it already has his amazing style flowing through it. The beautiful female face is coupled with a haunting expression and longing gaze. For the time being, we know this is called “Viper”, but we shall see the finished work this Friday when “Full Disclosure” opens at Stranger Factory.

Phil Noto’s “Full Disclosure”  run February 7th – March 2nd, with an opening reception on Friday, February 7th from 6 – 9 PM. Phil be attending the opening.

Phil Noto’s elegant beauties

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ChargerWe have been anxiously waiting images from Phil Noto’s “Full Disclosure” coming to Stranger Factory next week, and we finally got our hands on some of his work in progress.

Once again, Phil blissfully creates masterful works. This comic book artist and painter is a true master at capturing expressions and form with minute details. The world he creates in the elegant expressions of his renowned female portraits open up an endless back story to what you are viewing. What is she thinking, why does she look sad, and what got her to this point in her life are all thought provoking questions that come to mind. And, this is just seeing his work unfinished! We will see more soon.

DetailPhil Noto’s “Full Disclosure”  run February 7th – March 2nd, with an opening reception on Friday, February 7th from 6 – 9 PM. Phil be attending the opening.

Everybody Loves Tank Girl.

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Look, I love Tank Girl. I love Tank Girl with the burning passion of an sexually confused alterna-punk high school obsessed over bad ass girls with too much personality and a penchant for comic violence.

TankGirlBoomStick(Also, I was Tank Girl last Halloween)

So, when I say things like “Holy shit, we get Jim Mahfood’s Tank Girl art in at Stranger Factory in February!” you can be rest assured that I am genuinely gleeful about it.

Jim collaborated with Alan Martin to produce the 3 issue miniseries Everybody Loves Tank Girl in 2012, and it is excellent.

For his show at Stranger Factory, Mahfood is exhibiting six Tank Girl related pieces of art, with the eponymous girl at the center(but also her friends Jet Girl and Sub Girl). I’ve gotten a peek at all of them, and let me tell you, they are perfectly sexy and messy and exuberantly Tank Girl.

Jim Mahfood will be present at his show’s opening, so if you’re a comic fan, be sure to stop by and have doughnuts with Jim and Phil Noto in gorgeous Albuquerque. We promise you a good time.

(I feel like I should mention that part of the 1995 Tank Girl movie was filmed 3 hrs outside of Albuquerque, at the White Sands National Monument in Alamogordo…but frankly it just looks like a desert.)

Jim Mahfood’s “Perfect Machine”  runs February 7th – March 2nd, with an opening reception on Friday, February 7th from 6 – 9 PM.

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Phil Noto and Jim Mahfood are coming to Stranger Factory

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7d2d6a20849311e3b79312eb07b1b393_8You read it correctly, true believers!

Phil Noto and Jim Mahfood are coming to Albuquerque!
Both of these amazingly talented artists will be present on opening night (February 7th) for their exhibits “Full Disclosure” and “Perfect Machine” at Stranger Factory.

As Jim has so perfectly stated “we’ll both be there that night to shake your hand, draw a shark on your forehead, high-5 the wizard, do shots of whiskey, and everything else”. That sounds like a perfect night, if you ask me.

See you February 7th for opening night at Stranger Factory from 6-9pm!