The Artisan Group is proud to announce this week’s Artist Spotlight feature is one of our very talented members, Gary Hirsch!
We caught up with Gary and asked him a few questions about his unique robot doodles, and his experiences so far working with TAG. Here’s what he said:
- Tell us a little bit about your shoppe. My shoppe is my public doodle pad. I am a doodler at heart, and I must doodle to survive. This got me into a lot of trouble as a kid, because teachers always thought I wasn’t paying attention when I was scribbling in the margins of my notebook. But I was…. I really was, Mrs. White! Years later I discovered scientific evidence that people actually listen better when they are doodling….yes! Vindicated!
These days I am obsessed with doodling robots… on dominos. These little guys are designed to interact with the viewer, to give you outrageous compliments (Joy Bot), tell you how much you are loved (Love Bot), Help you be brave (Brave Bot), etc. It’s all about the story they tell the viewer, they help you have a conversation with yourself. Of course the Bots don’t actually talk, but something about them allows people to imagine that they do, and somehow this helps them feel better, and that is what makes them so much fun for me to make.
- What is your favorite piece in your shoppe and why? Right now I think it would have to be the Brave Bot. I donate them to the children’s hospital here in Portland where they are given to kids who are having long-term hospital stays. The Brave Bots are designed to be fun to look at, but more importantly they come with operating instructions that read:
1. Allow your robot’s powers to get to know you by letting him hang out to face things with you in your room that feel uncertain and scary, on your windowsill, in your pocket, or wherever you like to spend time.
2. Listen carefully. When needed, your Brave Bot will use his robot super powers to give you a little bit of courage to face the things that feel uncertain and scary
3. Keep your Brave Bot with you at all times for a little bit of courage wherever you are.
I love the idea that they might be helping.
- When you’re not doodling robots on the backs of dominoes, what are your hobbies? Actually my art is my hobby. My full-time work/thrill is running a mini-multi-national, creative consultancy called On Your Feet (www.oyf.com). We use highly experiential methods from the world of improvisation, and elsewhere, to help organizations learn how to communicate, create and relate—all while having a ridiculously good time. I get to work with some of the world’s most successful organizations like Nike, Intel, and Disney, but I also get to work with smaller and equally exciting organizations like Northern Californian Buddhist monks, and a group of Washington State probation officers… it’s a crazy adventure!
- What do you like best about The Artisan Group? I am new to the group, but it has been a blast watching how helpful and tight your community is. My experience with being in the Emmy Award gift bags was so exciting. My goal is to get the Bots out into the world in the most fun and interesting ways possible, and working with TAG has been a ton of fun!
Congrats Gary! Great work, love your drawings!
Love your doodles!
Great Spotlight! Well done Gary!
Nice to get to know Gary!
Terrific work, great feature. Congrats!