Idiot Box: Artworks inspired by old TV shows

Earlier in 2009 (during April 2nd to April 23rd to be precise) Los Angeles-based art gallery Gallery 1988 hosted the Idiot Box Art Show. 100 artists contributed work inspired from various old (predominantly 80's-early 90's) TV shows that have become ingrained in the minds of many who grew up in that era, or were exposed to such shows later on in perpetual rerun hell.
There were some really cool artworks included in the exhibition.

Here is a link to where you can see a whole bunch of them. They range from the cute to the absurd to the sinister.

Unfortunately it appears a fairly substantial chunk of these pieces are no longer available to view on the site I just linked you. But there are still plenty of gems in there. The names of the pieces and the artists who created them are still listed under the pictures that are no longer there, so a bit of copy/pasting into google should sort you out if you're absolutely dying to see what a particular missing artwork looks like.
Vortex fave Jim Mahfood was one of the contributing artists. His piece isn't included in that link, but you can see it here.

I admit I don't watch all that much TV, and some of the shows referenced I'm not at all familiar with. But that's fine, I still enjoy the art as it is.
I find it interesting to see how a pop-culture force such as a successful television show inspires people who express themselves in other mediums such as pictorial images and sculpture. Even though the shows have finished their run they continue to live on in the hearts and minds of many. Sometimes this a good thing, sometimes not (I hate you Urkel).
However, I find it even more interesting how certain artists in this collective have filtered these shows through their own twisted psyches to end up with unique creative product which at times can be amusing, captivating, and in some instances... rather disturbing.

But also very entertaining. So go check it out won't you pleeeeease?



Chloé

Pictures used in this post:
"The Family" © Anthony Clarkson.
"We can Has A.L.F.?" © Casey Weldon.

The Hopetails Revolution

Hopetails. "WTF are Hopetails?" you may be asking yourself, though probably not in acronym form. Hence the handy picture I have provided to go with this block of text. But why call them Hopetails? Well, my dear wee friend Hope Avelina, someone who is quite well known for wearing her hair in bunches, recently had the notion that "pigtails" is a rather ungainly name for said bunches, so decided to rename them "Hopetails".
Personally, I think that's a way better name than pigtails. Pigtails doesn't even make any sense. At least Hopetails are named after someone who actually wears the hairstyle.
And I'm not the only one who thinks changing the name from pigtails to Hopetails is a mighty fine idea. The Hopetails revolution has begun people, and is gaining momentum at a sprightly rate. Below are a series of examples of people's growing support for the movement.

First up is a strip & a picture by Christopher J. Paulsen, featuring characters from his comic Precocious:




The Below The Fold Collective has also lent its support to the movement, with Hopetails themed pictures from 3 of its members.
First up, here's a picture from KayLoveMeow, featuring Kris & Max, characters from her webcomic Art School Sub Rosa:


And here's a lovely sepia-toned pic from Hopeless artist/co-writer Tom Brown:


And one from Maxwell Vex. Having this picture posted in this journal isn't breaking down any fourth walls at all:


Further examples of Hopetails support are springing up on places such as twitter too.

And people are doing things with their hair.

I thought it would be a good idea to collate these various divergent examples (or, examples that I am so far aware of at least) in this journal, as I am quite a fan of the hairstyle myself as you may have noticed.
What can you do to lend your support? Well, merely referring to the hairstyle as Hopetails instead of pigtails will suffice. If you get any strange looks from your friends for doing so, just point them in the direction of this journal post. Or kick them in the crotch. Doing so will help make the world a slightly better place I'm sure. And with that, I shall leave the final bit of this journal entry to the lady herself.



☠ Chloé