Inspiration Spotlight #24: Dave DeVries and the Monster Engine...and a visit to NYC

I've got a special Spotlight post today! Yesterday I dragged my friend Anthony Briglia with me to New York City to see the opening for Dave DeVries's Monster Engine gallery show. But I'll get to that in a minute.

Before the opening we spent some time visiting different places like Forbidden Planet Comics, and The Evolution Store. In addition to those places we decided to hunt down the Comedy Cellar and Ben's Pizzeria, two locations (on the same block) featured in the FX show Louie, created by Louis CK. It was a lot of fun seeing the places in person, and we even got some slices at Ben's. We only got to see the outside of the Comedy Cellar, but I would really love to be able to go in and see a performance sometime in the future.

After we were done sight-seeing, we headed over to Sacred Gallery at 424 Broadway (2nd Floor) for Dave's opening. Here's an excerpt from the Engine's website where Dave describes what exactly the Monster Engine is:

The Monster Engine is a book, a demonstration, lecture and a gallery exhibition. The premise for all three came from one single question: What would a child’s drawing look like if it were painted realistically?


Below are some of the pieces that were at the exhibit, both the children's original drawings and Dave's paintings based on them.

Getting to see the pieces in person was a real treat; Dave has done some really great work. It'd been a while since I worked with Dave back on Blue Shift so it was nice seeing him again and saying hello. I got a signed copy of the printed Monster Engine book, full of interviews Dave conducts with the kids about the process.

If you're in the area you should stop by and check out the work yourself. The exhibit will be up until the 31st. Also check out his book and the news report on the Monster Engine on CBS (note:this doesn't cover the exhibit, only the Monster Engine itself).