Rocky Dobey

Trailer Prison, hand-inscribed copper sheet, black ink

2012

CHECKMATE by Rocky Dobey is a hand-inscribed copper sheet with black ink, acrylic paint, and asphaltum. It is framed in aluminum and measures 108 x 48”. It features some of the artist’s notable motifs – the number 13-1/2 (refers to 12 jurors, 1 judge, half a chance), a monstrous tower of brick with crenelated towers, inlaid with eyes, hooked daggers and barred windows, clouds with lightening bolts, tongues of flame drifting down... Though the swirl of black cloud near the top of the tower also rewards our attention – the engraving here suggesting floral as well as cosmic patterns, biological patterns. Checkmate also contains more subtle mark-making and ritualized ornamentation, such as the wheat sheafs across the expanse of copper, names of people are inscribed in the borders of the tower, vertical hash marks counting off months or years in bundles of five. For over 40 years, outsider artist Rocky Dobey has been producing intaglio prints, etched metal plaques, engraved copper sheets and site-specific public sculptures. Working anonymously for the first two decades, his work has drawn attention to social and political issues like prison and justice reform, neighborhood gentrification, globalization, indigenous sovereignty, drug rehabilitation and homelessness. With striking imagery of demonic towers toppled in flames, horrific machines and cryptic symbols of oppression, Rocky's work soon became a recognized and sought-after stamp of organized resistance. Several of his prints are held in collections, particularly the “Carnival Against Capitalism” poster he produced for the 2001 Quebec City protests against the Free Trade Area of the Americas. Rocky’s poster...

MEDUSA by Rocky Dobey is a hand-inscribed copper sheet with cut diamonds, blue machinist ink and fired porcelain paint. It measures 36 x 48", and framed in aluminum it measures 37 x 49”. It features some of the artist’s notable motifs – a monstrous brick wall with crenelated and flaming towers, inlaid with sparkles of diamond and glass, sword-like flames. New for the artist are the twisting, turning bodies of which there are at least eight. The deep blue background of machinist ink coating the copper provides a momentous, mythological night sky. For over 40 years, outsider artist Rocky Dobey has been producing intaglio prints, etched metal plaques, engraved copper sheets and site-specific public sculptures. Working anonymously for the first two decades, his work has drawn attention to social and political issues like prison and justice reform, neighborhood gentrification, globalization, indigenous sovereignty, drug rehabilitation and homelessness. With striking imagery of demonic towers toppled in flames, horrific machines and cryptic symbols of oppression, Rocky's work soon became a recognized and sought-after stamp of organized resistance. Several of his prints are held in collections, particularly the “Carnival Against Capitalism” poster he produced for the 2001 Quebec City protests against the Free Trade Area of the Americas. Rocky’s poster...

GOD MACHINE by Rocky Dobey is a hand-inscribed, engraved copper sheet with black ink. It measures 26x18” and carries many of the familiar marks of the art...

DOES IT LOOK EXPENSIVE by Rocky Dobey is a hand-inscribed copper sheet with cut glass, asphaltum and fired porcelain paint. It measures 24 x 36" and is fr...

WELCOME HOME by Rocky Dobey is a hand-inscribed copper sheet with cut diamonds, black asphaltum and fired porcelain paint. It measures 36 x 32" and is fra...

HOME SWEET HOME by Rocky Dobey is a hand-inscribed copper sheet with cut diamonds, black asphaltum and fired porcelain paint. It measures 36 x 24", and framed in bronze it measures 37 x 25”. Part of the "Home" series of recent works, Home Sweet Home features a darkly shimmering chandelier...

Atticus Adams is a sculptor whose work embodies the transformative power of art to create beauty, meaning, and emotional impact from industrial materials. Using mostly aluminum mesh—...

Atticus Adams is a sculptor whose work embodies the transformative power of art to create beauty, meaning, and emotional impact from industrial materials. Using mostly aluminum mesh—...

Atticus Adams is a sculptor whose work embodies the transformative power of art to create beauty, meaning, and emotional impact from industrial materials. Using mostly aluminum mesh—...

As an artist, I am a storyteller wielding visual art as my medium. My creative journey is fueled by a relentless thirst for knowledge acquired through both hands-on experience and ke...

A piece capturing the movement we all know from working with hammers. This piece is created with found objects and blown glass to capture this moment in time. The hammers and nails vary from piece to piece but the movement is always the same. Robert Burch began working with glass in Atlanta, Georgia while still in high school. After graduating, he worked for the Japanese glassblower, Tadashi Torii for two years. Shortly after, he attended Pilchuck Glass School before deciding to make the jump to the mecca of glass working, Seattle, Washington. It was there that Burch had the honor of working with the renown American glass artist, Martin Blank. In the span of five years, Burch learned many aspects of glass artistry as he worked for Blank. Subsequently, the team collaborated on color design teams for the glass empire company Chihuly Inc. During all these glass adventures, he never stopped shooting photos...

This piece weaves climbing rope in with glass knots. Each piece is unique and slightly different. The cord is retired climbing rope, given another use by shining in this piece. Rob...