Bradley Hoffer use to own the Asbury Art gallery on Cookman Ave in Asbury Park, when there was nothing else on that road, except for boarded up windows.  The street looked like it had somehow survived the shelling of a war that had scared away every living soul.  But when Bradley opened up, along with neighbors Be Gallery, you could see a little bit of life returning to that street.  Eventually Cookman Ave became the symbol of Asbury Park’s resurgence.  
Happy wasn’t born yet, in fact he wasn’t even a thought at the time.  But there hanging in Brad’s storefront was the first painting that I’d hang on Happy’s wall.  And there it’s hung, along with a giant Ren and Stimpy promotional clock, and a framed uncut sheet of Wacky Packs, ever since.

  
GlubDub:
Why robots?

Bradley Hoffer:
Now – Robots are the best.  Its what we strive to be and also what we’re afraid of.  On a weekly basis I feel like one, going through the motions, building, renovating, constructing.  I’m good at it, and I get slightly better as time goes on.  I upgrade and reprogram.  That’s the logic of it.  On a lighter and more emotional note, it comes from popular culture.  Look around and all you see are robots, whether it’s real robots or images in fiction.  Also, robots an be both friends and/or enemies, so they will always be a curiosity.



In the 1980s (my most vulnerable and impressionable stage) – Knight Rider was a Firebird robot, what 10 year old didn’t fall in love with that?  On the other end of the spectrum was Small Wonder, she sucked, but I still watched every week.

I’m watching Blade Runner as I write so I got to go.

P.S. I've been working on Birds lately to help clear my mind and think about robots more. I love birds!

LOOK OUT FOR: Modern Anthropology of the BIRD Plates 1-12
@ CRYBABY Gallery April 19th