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Show of Art Work by Tom Lohre and a Lego Robot Assistant
named “Artisto”
For Immediate Release
This press release in pdf form: http://tomlohre.com/pressrelease.pdf
Subject: Art Show
Title: Show of Art Work by Tom Lohre and a Lego Robot Assistant
Opening: Thursday January 3, 2008, 6 to 8 p.m.
Presenter information: Tom Lohre, 619 Evanswood Place, Cincinnati, Ohio
45220
Cell 513-236-1704, Home 513-861-4146, tom@tomlohre.com
Please publish web page: tomlohre.com
Venue information: Owner: Lisa Storie, Sitwell's Coffee House, 324 Ludlow
Ave., Cincinnati OH 45220, http://www.sitwells.net/
, 513-281-7487, please publish number, Clifton Neighborhood
Brief Description: Tom Lohre will show 10 16” x 20” portrait paintings
made with the assistance of a Lego Robot named “Artisto.”
Opening 6 to 8 p.m. January 3, 2008, Closing February 5, 2008
Event information: Name: Show of Art Work by Tom Lohre and a Lego Robot
Assistant
Public can call Tom Lohre at 513-236-1704 for more information
Free, No reservation needed. Children welcomed.
Opening: Thursday January 3, 2008, 6 to 8 p.m., light refreshments served.
Show on display until February 5, 2008
Open: Sunday thru Thursday 8:00am - 1:00am; Friday & Saturday &
Holidays 8:00am - 2:00am
Phone: 513-281-7487
E-Mail: sitwells@yahoo.com
Web Site: http://www.sitwells.net/
Image for publication http://tomlohre.com/presspix.jpg
Caption: This latest work by Tom Lohre was made with the assistance of
his Lego Robot “Artisto,” shown. The robot lays in the color in and Tom
refines the placement.
The Story:
In 1987 Tom started exploring the possibility of having a machine paint.
In 2003 he discovered Lego's MindStorm Robotic system and spent four years
learning the software. On January 5th, 2007 at 9PM Tom finally cracked
the code to write a program that took information from an image in the
computer and fed it to a robot.
In the past year, Tom has learned that “Artisto”, the name Tom has given
to the robot, is like a classical assistant. Artisto lays one of eight
colors in generally the correct spot and Tom manipulates it to refine
it’s placement. Tom initially creates an image in the computer that Artisto
follows. The painting process takes 18 hours for a 16” x 20” having 4163
dots. Tom can turn “Artisto” off while working on a painting so the painting
does not have to be done all at one time. All the paintings in the show
are close ups of faces because the resolution is so low that he has to
rely on the viewer to fill in the blanks.
In the future, Tom sees “Artisto” having 16 colors to select from with
Tom working closely with Artisto continually adjusting the paint as it
is laid down.
Link to the paintings in the show: http://tomlohre.com/newart.htm
2006 Show
Subject: Art Show
Title: Portraits, Clifton Scenes and Ohio River Boats
by Tom Lohre
Opening: Thursday, September 7th,2006, 5-7:30 PM
Presenter information: Tom Lohre, 619 Evanswood Place,
Cincinnati, Ohio 45220, Cell 513-236-1704, Home 513-861-4146, tom@tomlohre.com
Please publish web page: http://tomlohre.com
Venue information: Owner: Lisa Storie at Sitwell’s
Coffee House, 404 Ludlow Ave, Cincinnati OH 45220, 513-281-7487, please
publish number, Clifton Neighborhood
Brief Description: Portraits, Clifton
Scenes and Ohio River Boats by Tom Lohre, Opening 5-7:30PM 9/7/06
until 10/09
Event information: Portraits, Clifton
Scenes and Ohio River Boats by Tom Lohre
Public can call Tom Lohre at 513-236-1704 for more
information
Free, No reservation needed.
Opening: Thursday September 7th from 5 to 7:30, light
refreshments served.
Show on display until October 9th, 2006
Sitwell’s Coffee House is a restaurant with full bar
Open Sunday thru Thursday 8:00AM - 1:00AM,
Friday & Saturday & Holidays 8:00AM - 2:00AM
Photos:
Click on thumbnail for 200dpi, 6" x 8" .jpg
Caption:
Sydney as an "Ice Fairy" in the Nutcracker
Ballet. Tom painted the tutu from life from the Cinderella tutu used by
the Cincinnati Ballet Company.
Click on thumbnail for 200dpi, 6.5" x 8" .jpg
Caption:
The Mistress of Destruction, an allegory of the nuclear
threat depicting a high priestess with her tiger biting a snake that encircles
the globe. The work was created during the cold war but now has special
significance because of al Qaeda. 48" X 52", oil on canvas,
1978
The Story:
Tom Lohre will be showing portraits, Clifton Scenes
and Tall Stacks paintings through the month of September at Sitwell’s
Coffee House on Ludlow Avenue next to the Esquire Theatre. The opening
will be September 7th, 2006 from 5 to 7:30PM.
On display will be two of Tom’s impasto impressionist
oil paintings, one showing the historical side wheeler "Cincinnati"
docking just ahead of the Mike Fink's Restaurant, unloading passengers.
The work is predominantly gray and heavy impasto impressionism being painted
with a palette knife. Another impasto work shows Delta Queen Landing in
Cincinnati. Also on view will be two student works of the Mike Fink Restaurant
and the towboat "Clare E Beatty."
The Clifton paintings will include Ludlow Avenue paintings
of Telford Street in winter, Bulletin Board, Ludlow Garage, Sitwell Interior,
Balcony Apartment above Spiral Light and A Signature Getter on Telford.
You may have seen Tom working on the sidewalk on Ludlow Avenue in the
fall of 05 and the spring of 06. When the weather was cold this spring
Tom could be found painting in Dan’s Barber shop and Bender Optical.
Also featured are three portraits. One is of "The Mistress of Destruction,"
an allegory of the nuclear threat depicting a high priestess with her
tiger biting a snake that encircles the globe. The work was created during
the cold war but now has special significance because of al Qaeda. This
work was show at the SOS show at the Mockabee in the spring of 06.
The largest work on display is 5'x5' commission of entrepreneur George
Chandis. The portrait shows him seated on a couch surrounded by the things
he enjoyed, a Persia rug under his feet, a four corners tapestry on the
couch, a Maurice Clifford painting on the wall behind him and the city
of Atlanta out the window.
The most risqué work on view will be a double portrait of two men. The
composition is composed around their astral signs in the night sky. Both
men are riding an Arabian horse with one man holding o to the other as
he dangles off the side of the saddle.
Especially on view for the opening, Thursday, September 7th, 5 to 7:30
will be the just finished portrait of six-year-old Sydney painted as an
"Ice Fairy" in the Nutcracker Ballet. Even though the girl is
six-years-old Tom painted her as a Prima Donna Ballerina. The painting
took two years to complete. Tom painted the tutu from life from the Cinderella
tutu used by the Cincinnati Ballet Company. The portrait shows Sydney
in the line of the fairies with the Ice Palace in the background. You
may have seen Tom working on the portrait this last winter in the entrance
to the Ludlow Garage. Most portraits go straight to the client so the
display of Sydney is a one time chance to see the finished portrait before
it is delivered.
The
Clifton Paintings
These paintings were painted on
the street. Working from life guides the color and form to be the best
with the least. Sometimes it means sitting a few inches from speeding
cars. The optimal setting for life work is where the artist can best focus
on giving the art what it needs. Working from inside a quite shop looking
out the window produced the best results.
Click on thumbnail for larger image
The Balcony, Ludlow Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio, 8" x 10", Oil on
board, April 2006, $2,400
“The Balcony” shows the second floor apartment above
the shop “Spiral Light.” Tom was working on another painting when
he notices this woman planting flowers. The ornate railing was always
a favorite view and the greening of the balcony gives direction to the
painting. This painting was done just inches from speeding cars.
Ludlow Avenue Bulletin Board, 12" x 16", oil on board, April,
2006, $3,500
Tom considers this a pivotal painting in his “Urban
Landscape Series.” By chance he saw the two women just as they are clothed
and depicted. The scene is simplified of additional objects like bikes,
more planters, signs, etc. but the color and overall effect gave Tom a
euphoric feeling he had never experienced. It was as if the feeling a
great painting give the viewer was continually experienced by Tom as he
worked on the painting. He worked on this painting from Bender Optical.
The quite warm office was an excellent place to work.
Ludlow Garage in Snow, 12" x 16", oil on board, March, 2006,
$900
Tom worked from inside the barber shop to paint this
work. The woman was seen walking by. You can imagine the spring snow being
here on day and gone the next. You can still see the empty parking spaces
from the morning rush hour.
Telford Avenue with Snow, 16" x 12", oil on board, March, 2006,
$1,200
Sitwell's Coffee House Interior, 20" x 16", oil on board, March,
2006, $600
Esquire Theater, Ludlow Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio
20" x 16", Oil on plywood, November 2nd, 2003, $1,200
Painted from life. A palette knife was used to apply the oil paint.
Evanswood Linden Trees
24" x 30", oil on canvas, 1999, $900
The Portraits
Sometimes Tom receives his portraits back. When there are no heirs
and when Tom has kept in touch with them, his patron’s executor allows
the return of artwork. One such return is “The Mistress of Destruction”,
aka “Hiroshima mon Amore.” He painted many portraits of his patron, Birdie
and in this work she let him do what he wanted.
The largest work on display is the 5'x5' portrait of entrepreneur George
Chandis. The portrait shows him seated on a couch surrounded by the things
he enjoyed, a Persia rug under his feet, a four corners tapestry on the
couch, a Maurice Clifford painting on the wall behind him and the city
of Atlanta out the window. At his premature death the painting went to
his father who thoroughly enjoyed the work as if his son was still with
him. At 90 he wanted to ship it back to Tom before he went into a nursing
home..
The most risqué work on view will be a double portrait
of two men. The composition is composed around their astral signs in the
night sky. Both men are riding an Arabian horse with one man holding on
to the other as he dangles off the side of the saddle.
Painted from life in New York City. Rhett commissioned
two such paintings one for each of his boyfriends. The style of the painting
closely emulates Tom's master, Ralph Wolfe Cowan. Tom had been living
and working with him in Palm Beach for a year. The horse is painted in
the manner of the Arabian stallions Ralph had been painting for the Sheiks
of Saudi Arabia. Rhett was one of the first to die of AIDS. This work
was never delivered and the other hangs in The Monster Bar on Grove Street
in Greenwich Village.
Click on thumbnail
for larger image
Rhett Fire & Todd
4' x 5', oil on canvas, November 1st, 1983, $20,000
Painted from life in New York City. Rhett commissioned two such paintings
one for each of his boyfriends. The style of the painting closely emulates
Tom's master, Ralph Wolfe Cowan. Tom had been living and working with
him in Palm Beach for a year. The composition is arranged around the sun
signs of Rhett and Todd. Tom spent a good amount of time studying bulls
at the Bronx Zoo but Rhett preferred a horse. The horse is painted in
the manner of the Arabian stallions Ralph had been painting for the Sheiks
of Saudi Arabia.
Hiroshima mon Amore
Mistress of Destruction
Oil on canvas, 39" x 49", 1979, $30,000
The oil painting shows a woman looking up at a floating earth. A snake
encircles the earth and is about to strike. Below the earth is a tiger
who is about to bite the snake. In the background is a nuclear explosion.
Behind the woman is a tall ornate enclosed chair.
Painted for Birdie Bloch, a great patron of Tom's. He painted her portrait
several times and in this painting she let Tom do what he wanted. He painted
an allegory about the benefits and dangers of Nuclear energy. Tom spent
a lot of time at the circus to study the tigers. The bench is from the
Metropolitan Museum of Art. The blast in the background was from a famous
nuclear cloud photo.
The painting is an allegory of threat. Painted in 1980 at the end of
the Cold War it was meant to show the nuclear treat of the Cold War. The
woman represents humanity and the tiger in front of her represents the
powers available to her. The chair behind her represents her authority.
The Earth represents herself and the snake represents the treat of a nuclear
holocaust. Today the treat is different but still there.
George Chandis
5' x 5', oil on canvas, April 2nd, 1981, $30,000
Panted from life in Atlanta. Tom lived with George for several months
while he completed the work. The rugs and painting were dear objects of
George. The painting is a Maurice Clifford's. Out the window you can see
the view from Moore's Mill road looking towards Atlanta. Tom was introduced
while George was visiting New York City and he commissioned his portrait.
Just before arriving Tom had spend several weeks in Titusville, Florida
painting the first space shuttle launch. George died suddenly of a heart
attach at the age of 45. The portrait went to his father who dearly loved
the portrait. The portrait being life size made it seem as though his
son had not left him. After many years his father was checked into a nursing
home and Tom worked with his close friend to have the painting shipped
back to him. George was a art dealer in Atlanta and Tom had a one man
show there in his gallery Nassau Visions in June of 1982.
The Ohio River Boats
Tom grew up on the Ohio River. His first job was working as a dock
boy for the Mike Fink Restaurant. He could have been a river pilot but
went into his father’s business of advertising and later fine art. The
first work he sold was “The Clare E. Beatty,” to his father. Tom
lived on the “Clare” while working for Captain Beatty. After graduation,
Tom moved to New York City to work on Madison Avenue and in his off time
he painted the Mike Fink Restaurant and sold it to Captain Beatty. At
his death Tom was able to trade his heirs for the painting. Years later
Tom was commissioned to paint Cincinnati Harbor and New York City Harbor.
“The Delta Queen Landing in Cincinnati” is a study for the classic smooth
surface finely wrought oil painting. Now Tom paints a work for each “Tall
Stacks Celebration” in Cincinnati. “The Cincinnati Landing in Covington”
was the work Tom completed at the 2003 celebration.
Mike Fink's Restaurant
Oil on canvas, 1978, 24" x 18", $2,700
Painted from a postcard from the restaurant while in New York City. Later
Tom sold the painting to the owner of the restaurant, Captain John Beatty.
After John's death Tom traded the estate for the painting.
Tom's first job was working on the Mike Fink's as a deck hand. Later
he was a rigger for Captain Beatty's salvage operation on the Ohio River.
 Push to see image suitable for screen saving
The
Cincinnati Landing in Covington
4' x 3', Impasto oil on canvas, 2003, $3,000
Painted with a palette knife from on the point where the Licking
and Ohio Rivers meet, October 15 & 16, 2003.
Every four years Tall Stacks comes to Cincinnati. 15 sternwheelers
line the banks and give cruises with music and reenactments. In this painting
the ghost ship "The City of Cincinnati" lands on the point down
river from the mouth of the Licking River. In the background you can see
the Robeling Suspension Bridge completed in 1864. Behind the bridge you
can see the new Paul Brown stadium. The steamboat later became the "President"
and was docked in St. Louis until abandoned. It now is laid up down river
from St. Louis.
Tom has painted many river paintings and this idea came from a Cincinnati
Individual Artists Grant Proposal. The idea entailed producing a very
detailed version of the composition where the people who live in the Over-the-Rhine
area of downtown around a popular bar and restaurant named Stenger's would
be painted into the painting. In addition all the major players in Cincinnati
government would be painted also with the residents picking which position
they would play. In the end the final painting would be blown up to billboard
size and placed on the building wall across the street from the bar.
The pallet knife was used for its rapid coating of the surface of the
canvas and its ability to scrape off poorly painted sections quickly and
remixing a better color. There is a cleanness to knife painting that does
not come from brushes. In the past I have used a brush like a knife by
scraping off the paint from the brush, remixing it and then working it
into the brush so as not to thin the paint with spirits.
Push to see image suitable for screen
saving
Delta Queen Impression
Oil on canvas, 40" x 30", October 10th,
1993, $4,000
Property of the artist
Tom used hundreds
of photographs and on site painting for the painting. He took many photographs
of the all three of the "Tall Stacks" celebrations in Cincinnati,
Ohio. During the year, while the Delta Queen was docked where it is now
in the painting, Tom would be there studying and recording all the details
that would be used for the painting. Tom obtained floor plans of the Delta
Queen so he could reproduce the boat to the point you could recognize
any part of the boat.
On shore, Tom
used people he knew to populate it. He hired a horse drawn carriage and
had his wife, his brother Steve and his wife Becky pose, riding in the
carriage. The carriage is owned by his high school classmate, John Meyer.
You can read the telephone number on the back of the carriage. For the
mounted horseman Tom used his friend, Chester Salisbury and his horse
Molly. On shore from left to right are a little girl Tom saw during one
of the Queen's many arrivals in Cincinnati. His sister Susan, the owner
of the painting and her son, Mikey Gabel. Far behind his sister are two
children along the water's edge. Then there is Doctor Larry Johnson, Edna
Rosenberg, Tom Umfrid and Chuck Jordan. Below Chuck Jordan is a baby carriage
and a small girl. Next in the far background is Ralph Wolf Cowan, Tom's
mentor and teacher of many years. Once again there is Mikey Gabel, Tom's
nephew and his Father, Dr. Michael Gabel. To the right of Dr. Gabel is
a backpacking girl Tom saw at one of the "Tall Stack" celebrations
and next to her is legendary river man, Captain John Beatty. Tom's first
job was working for Captain Beatty as a deckhand on his floating restaurant
the Mike Fink's. Later Tom would work with Captain Beatty during his salvage
operations. Captain Beatty had a tremendous impact on Tom and it is this
impact that has driven him to do this and other Ohio River paintings.
It is Tom's mission to preserve Captain Beatty's memory in a series of
paintings of him and his doings on the river.
After Captain
Beatty are two sophisticated women who represent the many clients of Tom's.
In the foreground are two of Tom's cousins and above them is another girl
Tom found in one of his many photographs of the view. Tom, himself comes
next as a large foreground figure and next to him is his identical twin
brother, Chuck. In between them are several of the employees of the Delta
Queen going over the details of the arrival. To finish off the view are
a few of the period dressed characters hired by the Queen for the passengers
and finally some of the crew members tending to the mooring.
On the gang
plank are the waiters of the Queen putting on a show for the tourists
in the manner of a Mari Gras Celebration. On the "Showboat Majestic's"
upper deck are two actresses and going to the right of them are the passengers
of the steamboat. On top of it all is the pilot surveying the docking.
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