Kaboooom!

We're here.  The Alaska Robotics Gallery is on the scene. 

A relatively new addition to downtown Juneau, we opened on May 4th and will be continuing year round as a source for comics, art, inspiration and general awesomeness.

Free Ride

Having trouble getting downtown?  During the month of October we'll cover your bus fair.  That's right, we're giving out free bus tokens with any purchase over $20.  Ride the luxourious Capital Transit, see the sights, hear the noises, smell the smells!

First Friday

Come downtown for First Friday on October 5th.  I'll have a few new pieces on the wall - Poseidon comics, squids, mermaids - a bit of a sea themed show. 

There are also a bunch of other great artists exhibiting this month, pick up a flyer any of the participating galleries and be sure to swing by the Arts Council to see the latest work by Annie Welder.

Whatever you do, don't miss the Playboy Spaceman EP Release Party at the Treadwell Room in the Baranof Hotel from 9pm - 11pm.  George and Bridget Kuhar are amazing local musicians who were recently featured on NPR Music.  This is a celebration of the first release by Playboy Spaceman on Shadow Island Records and will feature a live performance, video projection, art, cocktails, and "Tokyo" EP stickers.  Yep.  Sounds good to me!

Drawing Night

Come join us for Drawing Night at the gallery, we have models lined up for Wednesday, October 3rd and Wednesday, October 10th from 6-8pm. 

We usually concentrate on short poses and gesture sketches during these Wednesday night sessions.  Our models wear street clothes or costumes and it only costs $5 but please bring your own art supplies.

All ages are welcome and all skill levels!

Some Films We Made

As part of the Goldtown Nickelodeon's Alaska in Film Week, we'll be screening a collection of our short films.  Aaron, Lou and I will be onhand to talk about our work and try to answer whatever wierd questions people ask.

Monday, October 15th at the Goldtown Nickelodeon and admission will be $7 at the door.

What We're Reading

Bridget - In the land of graphic novels, I've been devouring Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez's "Locke & Key" four volume series with a supernatural quickness. The story is more bloody and violent than I usually care for, but it is so psychologically scary and engrossing I can't help but dig these books. "Locke & Key" delves into human relationships with evil and death and the invisible forces by which we are all consciously or unconsciously melded. The art is beautiful and creepy and seriously disturbing at times. Word on the street is that Joe Hill is Stephen King's son. If you're into that lineage I think you will enjoy this series.

Also of note for me is Lynda Barry's, "100 Demons." Inspired by a painting exercise of the same name, Barry's "autobiofictionalography," is so awesome it made me cry and laugh, sometimes simultaneously. Anyone who can write and draw about awful boyfriends, mean moms, kickball, lice, exploitative hippies and acid is so golden I'm crying just remembering the twenty demonic stories in this book. Different types of demons from Locke & Key, but nonetheless demonic. If you like memoirs and complicated emotions, check out "100 Demons."



Pat - I’ve been reading “Ex Machina” and “Invincible.”  These two series are both what I’d call superhero comics for people who aren’t twelve.. and who are.  The stories come from authors who know and love the hero genre but aren’t afraid to reinvent the rules.

“Ex Machina,” by Brian K. Vaughan, is the story of Mitchell Hundred, a former costumed vigilante who unmasks himself and runs for mayor of New York City.   His power, he can talk to machines.  The story is set against a myriad of hot-button political issues as Mayor Hundred balances his life as a former hero with the massive responsibilities of running New York City.

“Invincible” is a series by Robert Kirkman, creator of “The Walking Dead.”  “Invincible,” starts out as a typical teen superhero story but very quickly takes a shocking turn when Mark’s father, this universe’s equivalent of Superman, is revealed to be not such a good dude.  You’ll be surprised at how true to the superhero genre this book can remain while simultaneously flipping in on it’s head.  The art is outstanding, the story twists and turns at all the right times and I think it’s just the most fun I’ve had reading anything in a long time.



Aaron - Years ago, when I first discovered "Kingdom Come," the level of detail and realism that Alex Ross put into each page floored me.  He made the heroes seem more possible; less of a fantasy, though no less fantastic.  That same quality is on display in his most recent epic, "Justice."  After "Kingdom Come," he did a series with Paul Dini featuring several members of the Justice League tackling larger world problems like hunger, oppression, and war.  The theme is in "Justice" also, but now villains are teaming up to solve the world's problems that the "heroes" have been neglecting.  The story is solid enough, but the art is what carries the book, and I suspect some of the story was massaged in order to include some really great sequences.  Definitely worth picking up.

Inspiration

I've been listening to this Bob Ross video on repeat while drawing squids. - Bob Ross Remixed

Goodbyes

Ok, that's it.  First newsletter out the door.  If you have any suggestions for the gallery or this newsletter, feel free to get in touch.

Until next time, have a great couple weeks!!
-Pat