All Photos By Gail
Lost in Space was a popular sci-fi television series (1965 to 1968) that used Johann David Weiss’s 19th century novel Swiss Family Robinson as a template. The series imagined an overcrowded earth in the year 1997, with humans sent to space to colonize other planets.
Photo By Gail
When I was a little girl creating fun adventures for my Barbie dolls, her career choices probably included Fashion Model, Lifeguard, Stewardess, Ken’s Girlfriend, and that’s about it. Now of course, Barbie can be whatever the fuck she wants to be, even a Robotics Engineer. Yes, I just typed that. Here’s what Mattel’s website has to say about 2018’s Career of The Year Barbie:
Dream big with the Barbie® Robotics Engineer doll! This Barbie® Career of the Year doll comes with a laptop and robot figure to play out all kinds of cool stories. Kids can explore exciting opportunities in the high-tech world and code their own futures!
I love how they specifically say ‘kids” and not “girls” in order to be gender inclusive. And hey, if this fashion-challenged, nerd Barbie (this one has deep-purple hair, excellent) encourages kids to learn to code, I’m all for it.
Photographed as Part of the Exhibit Countryside: The Future Exhibit at the Guggenheim Museum in NYC.
Photos By Gail
This tiny Pink Wooden Toy Robot, complete with articulated joints, was discovered by me in a box of stuff left for the taking on the top of the recycling bins in front of my apartment building. He was quickly rescued, given a good scrubbing with some soap and water, and placed in a new home here in the Chickpad, where all pink things are welcome.
Here he is, hanging out with his pink friends.
Update 12/29/20: I just discovered that he is called a Micro Cubebot and he folds up into the shape of a cube! Check him out here.
Photos By Gail
Street Artist Chris RWK (@RobotsWillKill) painted this version of his signature Robot character on the Eldridge Street side of The Ridge Hotel. The bright red heart he’s holding has a gift tag attached that says “From New York.” Sweet. This mural is part of what is officially called The Ridge Wall; a series individual mural vignettes by a variety of popular street artists that wraps the building’s facade from Houston Steet around the corner to Eldridge. Sponsored by the hotel and 212 Arts Gallery, which represents the participating artists, the Robot with a Heart went up in October of 2018.
Installation View
Photo By Gail
OK, I have spent several days scouring the Internet for any indication that this very Banksy-sque stencil mural — which depicts a Wall Street Banker-type panhandling for “Any Job” while a female Robot hands him what looks like a Burrito (but is probably a handful of cash)– is, in fact, a Banksy, but I can’t find any evidence to confrm that suspicion. My guess is that the piece is called Looking For Any Job, as the man’s sign suggests.
The mural is painted just inside a cinderblock wall corridor adjacent to a service door at 7 Pine Street, in the Financial District, where I’m guessing employees of the building lurk while taking their smoking breaks, judging by the cigarette butt evidence that can clearly be seen. I have no idea how long it’s been there, but I’ve worked in the neighborhood for well over ten years and I just noticed it for the first time a few months ago, which means nothing. Is it a Banksy? Sound off in the comments!
NOTE: As of January 10th, 2020, this artwork has been painted over!