Pancakes and Robots

I’m continuing to have a wonderful vacation. It just so happens that all of my closest friends had the week off too. Deede mentioned going to an exhibit at the Crocker Art Museum to celebrate a personal achievement of hers, so we jumped at the chance.

We started off with breakfast at the Pancake Circus.

All 6 of us ventured into the place.

Just as I remember… greeted by scary ass clowns – everywhere.

I so badly wanted to offer my design services on their horribly low res clown clip art – but I’m too scared of clowns to make one into a project.

I looked over the menu and couldn’t help but be distracted by yet another “odd” clown…

Perhaps he just had his eyes dilated…

I went with the “Circus Big Top” – 2 eggs, hashbrowns, bacon…

and 2 giant pancakes that later multiplied…

First they joined Dan’s leftover stack…

Then Josh and Deede’s leftover stacks… and yes, we are 12.

You know you are now craving pancakes…

With stuffed bellies, we made our way to the Crocker Art Museum.

Check out the museum’s history and learn about the architecture if you are interested. The Crocker Art Museum was s a 45,000 square-foot complex made up of the historic Crocker Art Gallery, family mansion and various later additions.

In 2002 they began a huge expansion project that lasted 8 years. The expansion had it’s grand opening in October 2010 and this was my first time seeing it.

Deede has been many times, including some private tours for special events.

The reason we went was to see Clayton Bailey’s “World of Wonders” special exhibition.

Clayton Bailey is a ceramist, sculptor and self-proclaimed “mad scientist”. His life sized robot sculptures and ray guns were sort of mind blowing. They made me want to hit every flea market, garage sale and antique store looking for robot parts to create my own.

Kohler Robot – 1978 (Porcelain with Electric Illumination)

Flying Saucer Lamp – 1992 (Aluminum with Electric Illumination)

Giant Robug – 1980 (Aluminum)

Marilyn Monrobot  – 1995 (Aluminum and Mixed Media with Electric Illumination)

Tipsy The Wine-Loving Robot – 2003 (Aluminum and Chrome)

Wrestlebots – 2002 (Aluminum and Found Objects w/Electric Illumination)

Buns Robot – 2003 (Aluminum and Chrome w/Electric Illumination)

Fresnel Robot – 2005 (Aluminum and Chrome w/Electric Illumination)

Bender Robot – 1999 (Aluminum w/Electric Illumination)

Lava Robot – 2000 (Aluminum, Chrome, and Neon Tubing)

Bubbling Lady Robot – 2000 (Aluminum and Bubble Tube w/Electric Illumination)

Pitcherbot Chasing Cups – 2006 (Aluminum and Found Kitchen Wares)

The exhibit included more than robots, we got to step into Dr. George Gladstone’s (Clayton Bailey’s scientific alter-ego) laboratory and office – where we were able to view his experiments, alien specimens, giant bones and proof of Bigfoot. The level of detail was just incredible. While that part of the exhibit was cool, I just was really drawn to the robots.

There was also an area for kids – they could submit robot names, build their own robots on the big magnetic wall and out of plastic cups, tape and bins full of beads, pipe cleaners and other fun objects.

Loved the above robot… the use of cassette tapes was pretty cool. They had a bunch of kid creations on display… oh to be 5 again.

This was the magnetic wall that kids could create their own robots on…

I can’t lie… I did stand at the magnetic wall for a bit and placed a few items 😉 – what? It was for adults too…

We had such a fun time at the exhibit. The Crocker Museum expansion is gorgeous and I can’t think of a better afternoon – food, amazing art, and good friends… Yes please, sign me up!