When Globatron.org reached its 1000th post in order to celebrate we launched our most ambitious project to date, Globatron University (GU), a completely free online university that offers certificates to anyone who is seeking an education.

GU’s curriculum has attempted to compile all the knowledge needed in order to become a true global citizen.  There are three programs of study and free certificates are offered through points earned based on the honor system.  Most of the curriculum is now offered on GU through Google Books or through an extensive YouTube video library.
Visit Globatron University.

Globatron is an alter ego character that was developed in order to relate to issues in contemporary art and culture.  He is masked so he can speak the truth.  Globatron began as a personal art project but has developed into much more.  Globatron.org has sprung from the initial project.  Globatron.org is an art project exploring truth, art, culture and society. The content results from the contributors grappling with the underlying ideas that shape our world.   I am the founding member of Globatron.org and am proud to say that Globatron’s contributors are are all active contemporary artists, philosophers, journalists and academics.

However with all that said Globatron the initial alter ego is alive and well.   He has also begun a spoken word project called Choken Word and a new off shoot project, the alter alter ego character Polartron which is a combination of Globatron and imagery from the Polar Brokers series.  Sidekick and offspring Nugatron whom is pictured above sometimes makes her way into video projects. Visit Globatron or read the Globatron mission statement here.

Above are a few samples from the ongoing Globatron photoblog. Through this photoblog the alter-ego has been given a life as he is engaged daily and documents his life as it progresses. Visit www.globatron.tumblr.com.

Polar Brokers is a series of drawings where I took the bio pics of big oil executives and morphed images of polar bears into their silhouettes. With the Polar Brokers series I am attempting to try and make myself think of the issues of global warming and our oil consumption on a daily basis. Making these portraits I envision the big oil executives one day in the near future looking in the mirror and seeing themselves partially responsible for the extinction of an entire species.

Polar Brokers has a web site also which can be found by clicking here.

Polar Brokers inspired me to begin bike commuting. Below is video footage of my 12 mile commute that I do 2-3 three times a week depending on the circumstances.

Click To Play

TrophySoldiers.com is a web project made in 2007 that became a reaction to my own personal desensitization to the imagery from the war in Iraq. I feel that I and the majority of Americans have become numb to the war. I believe this country is currently more interested in who won American Idol or the game than staying educated on current events, and casualty reports from the war. I hope that some viewers will realize that their own perceptions of the war should be questioned.

The reason for the use of deer trophies for the heads of the soldiers was in reaction to seeing the deer being used in abundance in recent art and design trends. When asking several artists and designers why they decided to use the deer imagery there seemed to be no apparent reason. Using it associated with fallen soldiers is indeed powerful imagery and an attempt at starting a dialogue about why we are collectively using imagery in our culture without knowing why.

Why is it easier to look at a deer than to look at the faces of our fallen Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, and Sailors? The deer is used in an effort to provoke a serious dialogue about who these people were and what legacy they leave behind.

I believe that we as a people must wake up and really look at the portraits of our neighbors, loved ones, and friends who have lost their lives in this war. Make an effort to learn who they were and help support their families. In order to learn more about the ones who have lost their lives and read their real obituaries and view their real portraits go to www.legacy.com.

Below are opening photos of the Trophy Soldiers solo show at Joe Bar, Seattle, WA.

trophysoldiers

A public art project started by members of jaxcal.org, the predecessor to globatron.org. The project was installed one cold windy Saturday morning. Hemp string was the only material available to attach the targets to the trees in the weather. This was installed during a public art festival. 1-26-08.

Coming of age in the digital era I was extremely inspired by net art projects such as: superbad.com, potatoland.com and hoogerbrugge.com.

Also while working as a web designer for close to ten years I have come into the field through contemporary art vs. design.  I used my digital art projects to learn the tools of my trade while also tying them into my drawing/painting projects.  Click here to view a series of Net Art projects. Everything is clickable and leads to the next page.

Effective immediately we force our media to focus only on the GOOD.
We force them to turn away from the bloodbaths and bombings for ratings.
And realize that by covering the terror they are part of this cultural fading.
For you can not have terrorism without media coverage.

For you can not have fear if you are not forced to be fearful.
We need to focus on the good because that is what we need as a country.
And as a culture if this was to happen we would reprogram media consumers.
That in order to get media coverage you have to be great.

In order to be media worthy you have to go out and create
A culture of positive change for yourself and others.
If we were to do this it would immediately take away the terrorists’ power.
They know if they blow themselves up our media will blow up their story.

Killing innocents will lose its invisible glory and power
in this culture that uses violence and fear to make our people cower.
Is this naive, many will think, to focus on the good and ignore the bad?
I believe this is imperative for our culture to survive instead.

If this action is not taken the terror will continue as it is all linked.
For a moment we should all turn off our TVs and begin to think.
What type of culture do we want our children to inherit?
Do we wish our good deeds to go unnoticed and not gain merit?

So I present you this simple solution for many of our country’s problems.
I look to you for guidance as always to help me find clarity and prudence.
On how a step this small and yet significant we might make?
On how we can take the terror out of terrorism for our children’s sake?

The soldiers I knew would betray you at the drop of a hat.
If it became a choice between losing sleep or another guard duty
They would easily make up a story and throw your name out.
Or drink you under a table and take you out back.

The soldiers I served with were uneducated and scared.
Just trying to get by and make life as easy as can be.
When not playing cards or talking shit about each other
They would shirk their duties and call you a Blue Falcon for caring.

When not playing RPGs and talking about glory
They would smoke pot in the latrine and ask for off duty.
They would often fall asleep on guard duty from hangovers acquired
While drinking till the sun came up over their heads.

The age of the soldiers that I talk about is skewed.
From teenagers to middle aged men it all comes unglued.
When the civilians back home talk of patriotism and heroes
They forget that many of these soldiers are just humans

That couldn’t figure out how to make it on the outside.
That enlisted for the promise of the MGIB and bonus money inside.
Especially in tough economies these promises get greater
Now in a recession enlistment rates are at an all time high.

As folks raise their hand and make that most important of oaths.
They trade their lives for the security they can’t find as civilians.
On this veterans day I remember that today’s soldier is not always noble
For they all have traded their freedom for a paycheck a promise and a lie.

A family adopted a child, and gave her a new start and home.
A father was laid off, and was able to start his dream job instead
Where he teaches local teens the values he wishes we all had.
An Israeli and Palestinian family live side by side in peace.

Volunteering has become America’s favorite past time, over sports.
Bike commuting has turned into a movement all over the world.
Healthy fast food joints are being built to fight our junk food courts.
And not a word was reported about spree killings, rapists or pedophiles.

These random acts of kindness were broadcast for all to see.
A new school was built in a village in Africa for girls to get a degree.
Fresh clean water is now available in the countries we made free.
Cancer research is advancing with the use of nanotechnology.

Different religions all over the world are living in peace and harmony.
Hard to believe these examples I’ve shown, but indeed it’s a reality.
Global initiatives on climate change, policy united
from every land to every sea.

Random acts of kindness have begun to be reported today.
To seek out the love and turn away from the hate.
To seek out forgiveness and turn away from vengeance.
To not focus on the fear injected into our culture for ratings.

Random acts of kindness, happen everyday and go unreported.
News media began to focus on the love and forgiveness that we can achieve.
So we may remember the good in life that is happening everyday.
Of course this is a fantasy, but one I’d rather live in and believe.