STOCKBRIDGE, MA.- Norman Rockwell Museum announced the winning entries for its new outdoor sculpture exhibition, Robot Nation: An Outdoor Installation for the 21st Century. The juried show opened at the Museum on Saturday, July 16, and commendations for outstanding work were awarded by a panel of art professionals.
SuperBot: Best in Show is awarded to Matt Evald Johnson for his imaginative sculpture David. Greeting visitors at the Museums main entrance, the immense construction is a creative retelling of the story of David and Goliath in fabricated, reclaimed steel. The SteamPunkBot award, referencing the popular sub-genre that melds science fiction and Victorian history, goes to The Inquisitive Nomad by Vincent Villafranca. A smaller piece made out of cast bronze, the golden sculpture incorporates both sci-fi and fantasy elements. The Modbot award goes to Angelo J. Sinisis Regal Robot, which lives up to its name in sculpted steel, brass, and copper. ArtBot is awarded to Hobbs Claw-Robotic Mining Sawblade Prototype C7218A1-6, created by artist Stephen Klema. Constructed out of wood and metal, the futuristic sculpture is intended to look as if it was created during the atomic age of the early 1950s. Continuing on this theme, the awards Classic Bot and WowBot Viewers Choice go to Steve Heller for his humorous Mr. Fahrenheit figure, made out of chrome, stainless steel, aluminum and thermometer. Finally, the KidBot Childrens Choice goes to The Shaman by artist John Catalano. Created out of fabricated, reclaimed steel, and seeming to channel both the Muppets and robotics, Catalanos sculpture adds another fun visual element to the Museums grounds this summer. Other work is also on view from artists Wayne Donelon; Walter and Mary Jo Engels; Stephen Gerberich; James Gurney and Lawrence Elig; and Chris Spollen.
Inspired by Blue Sky Studios 2005 movie Robots, the exhibition will be on view through October 31, 2011, and run concurrently with the Museums other new exhibition Ice Age to the Digital Age: The 3D Animation Art of Blue Sky Studios.