Do a Google Image search for “stop sign” and you’ll be blambasted with countless signs displaying a wide array of fonts used for the word, “STOP”. The FHWA MUTCD has the final say. What’s the FHWA MUTCD? It’s the United States of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Now, doesn’t that […]
Author Archive | Erik Maldre

foam noodle art
foam noodles. They seem to be popping up more and more in art nowadays. I remember my first encounter with foam noodles years ago because they’re such an insanely, funny object. They adapt themselves well to art. Though I can see why many artists nowadays don’t repurpose objects from culture, but rather take their efforts […]

Cubs baseball
It’s September 21, 2015 and the three best teams in all baseball are in the NL Central with the Cubbies among the trio. So really you could look at the NL Wild Card game as the NL Championship and the NLDS with the Cards as the World Series. The three best teams gun it out […]

the greatest fielding play of all time
August 12, 2015. High pop fly drifting towards the stands. Cubs firstbaseman, Anthony Rizzo, tracks the ball. Jumps atop the tarp, which by the way, is wrapped around a ROUND cylinder. Still tracking the ball. Instinctively steps atop the brick wall (without looking down). Reaches over amid the raised hands of fans. He JUMPS, not […]

going to book sales with a book seller
Look hard enough and you’ll find community book sales whether they’re at the library or hosted by a not-for-profit. Incredible finds are easily at hand. Usually the first night requires a $5 or $10 admission fee (depending on the size of the sale) and the following days offer free admission. For years I just went […]

okay, i’m gonna have to buy an X-Carve now
This video shows how to cut various shapes with a CNC machine and keep them in the original position. But what I really like is the very quick, yet detailed look at the intuitive software.

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tallin tin
Tallinn tin Tallinn tin Tallinn tin Tallinn tin Tallinn tin Tallinn tin Tallinn tin Tallinn tin Tallinn tin Tallinn tin Tallinn tin Tallinn tin.That was fun.This Tallinn tin is awesome. The thin, jagged lines of the text match incredibly well with the thin, sharp scratches on the tin. And the dark blue color is awesome.

photographers when photography was photography
Harry Callahan, Chicago, 1960 The Estate of Harry Callahan Film. Photography was a different medium then. Oh the majesty of great film photographer’s work process. Here’s a line on Harry Callahan wikipedia: His technical photographic method was to go out almost every morning, walk through the city he lived in and take numerous pictures. He […]

more Rauschenberg at the Tute? Yes, thank you
Thank you, Stefan T. Edlis! Last month Mr. Edlis donated 42 pieces of art to the Art Institute of Chicago. Chicagomag.com mentions: Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstien, and Robert Rauschenberg. Here’s the official press release. There’s more details on some pieces, but says, “A full list of the works of art and select images […]