the moon revisited

‘‘There's a rocketship leaves here
each day at noon,
not too expensive,
it goes to the moon.
Where it's lovely to picnic,
on warm days, in June...
But In July and August
there are too many damn tourists.

There's a rocketship leaves here
each evening at nine
it goes to the moon,
There's great places to dine.
On pairings of cheese
and white lunar wine.
And its more fun with you...
so don't freak out”

Further to previous lunar exploration; this work represents the face of the moon, carved by my hand using diamonds and water, in a lovely piece of picture jasper. On the darkside you can see a cutaway exposing the tide controls, hinting at the solution to the exquisite mystery of the lunar connection to the tide; the local motion found in all water, including seas and lakes, ponds and rivers, even the water found in the cells of plants and the blood which moves through our veins. Little wonder the ancients established a link between the moon and our emotional state, that the study of the moon lead to the first attempts at understanding madness and romantic love. Currently I’m over the moon, but promise to show you the rabbit after my next visit.

photo credit: Peter Lattimer

collection : Jess Sarber

robertchaplin (at) lightspeed (dot) ca
-© Robert Chaplin admmix. copy cats are dirty rats

Robert Chaplin Vs Garry Kasparov

Once upon a time, not so very long ago, the world was a place where tall tales reigned supreme and great men walked upon the earth. These great men ascended by virtue of their gifts, focus, and dedication; lumberjacks, steel drivin’ men, and chess masters. Now I'm an ordinary man, I make things, and some of them turn out well. This chess set I’ve designed in Lego seems to fit that bill, and this is me getting my ass kicked by Garry Kasparov.
The really cool thing about playing Kasparov is that, you can have no expectation of victory, so there's no pressure. He started playing chess when he was a very little boy. Kasparov’s young mind wrapped itself around the secrets of the game, and this process formed the consciousness of the man sitting across the table from me. The thing about focus on a single activity at a young age, is that it creates people who can do things very well, and this experience can inform lateral thinking. Garry Kasparov has retired from professional chess and is now active in Russian politics, his understanding of situations is sublime.

I flew to Toronto to meet Kasparov and deliver his Lego chess set; this happened on Monday morning, it came about because my family loves me, and I’ve made some damn good friends. I taught Kasparov the secrets of Lego chess, how to take the set apart , put it away, and how to move the men using the piece picker. From Kasparov, I learned about the traditional board orientation, and that you can’t castle out of check. Getting a lesson, and high praise from a giant feels pretty good :) Nothing can replace the play of chess, in real time, on an actual set, with an actual human. Now you can play chess like Kasparov, anywhere, anytime.



Photo Credit 1: Taralea Cutler
Photo Credit 2: Peter Lattimer

articles
Globe and Mail
-Timothy Taylor
Globe and Mail
-Timothy Taylor
to: robertchaplin{at}lightspeed{dot}ca
$ 420.00 * price includes shipping


My suit: Modernize Tailors.
-Copy Cats are Dirty Rats

‘Real Wooden Robot’ ...Oh Canada

Oh Canada! I’m not political, and today I had to exercise my legal right to participate in an advanced democracy. I don’t support any political parties, and I have publicly admitted to ballot spoiling. I always make a drawing on my ballot, with the secret hope that one day a ballot counter will exercise some lateral thinking and “collect” some art. This election was no different than the last one, however... After reviewing the quality of this election’s candidates, I was struck by the notion that , Democracy is alright, but we really ought to use some softer paper for the ballots. I don’t understand why the whole process is not electronic.

Now everybody say, “ Real Wooden Robot ” five times fast, it's even harder than Chinese arithmetic.‘ The Real Wooden Robot ’ is contemporary treen, old timey, made from wood, ‘cause wood is good. Constructed with the finest tree fort craftsmanship; ‘ The Real Wooden Robot ’ is a working machine, it will open your beer. Fully articulated for freestanding domestic work, suitable for the tasteful decoration of any home or office; ‘ The Real Wooden Robot ’ doesn’t make boring speeches, or recommend Crown commissions. ‘ The Real Wooden Robot ’ does what it does, It opens beer, and validates the good feelings of all people everywhere. Finally, unlike elections, with paper ballots and cardboard booths,‘ The Real Wooden Robot ’ has a very small ecological footprint, simply owning one gets you valuable carbon credits. So you can feel less guilty about driving a gas sucking pig, pouring your old turpentine down the sink, or spoiling your ballot.

I got some help building my Robot from Val. Val knows how to use a saw to cut big wood, and manages the workshop across from the Chapel. Val likes the things I make and had a good laugh when she saw the The Real Wooden Robot ’ finished.

Photo Credit: Laurie MacMillan

-Copy Cats are Dirty Rats

HOT POTATO aka Old Four Eyes

The ‘Hot Potato’ has four eyes, and sees
through lies, and answers questions which arise...


What is Hematite ?
What is the Eye of Horus ?
What are the fashions in Potato Bug Country ?
What is the Hot Potato Game ?
What is the Illuminati ?
Who are the Freemasons ?
What is Mr Potato Feeling ?
Where can I find a good optometrist ?
Where can I study conspiracy theory ?
When is Now ?
Why is that freaky eye and pyramid on the backside of a greenback ?
How do I grow a potato ?
How do I build a spud gun ?

This objet d'art, in hematite, was carved by my hand using diamonds and water.
A mysterious process indeed.



photo credit: Peter Lattimer
-Copy Cats are Dirty Rats

Hello Ookpik, my old friend.

There was a time in this fair land when the arctic influences ran wild, as a child, it seemed that I couldn't turn around without spying Ookpik. Ookpiks everywhere, made from just about everything, once I even saw an Ookpik made from a taxidermied caribou rump. And then, one day when I wasn't looking, Ookpik disappeared. Whatever happened to Ookpik ? When I pulled this rock from the Bulkley River, in northern BC, I thought I saw my old friend Ookipik. Carved by my hand from felthispasic sandstone, this piece has a natural quartz ring separating the head from the body. It was glued together at creation, by mother nature, using the heat and the pressure which made the world. Notes: Ookpik is Inuktitut for Snowy Owl; to find out more about snowy owls, arctic art history, and arctic culture, simply follow the links.
Snowy Owls: hinterland who's who
Inuktitut syllabary ᑎᑎᕋᐅᓯᖅ ᓄᑕᐊᖅ
Jeannie Snowball ate an Ookpik
* footnote Douglas Coupland
Arctic Studies, Smithsonian
* Hobo Divine

photo credit: Peter Lattimer
-Copy Cats are Dirty Rats

The Double Dingle Jingle Plunger - For those with aural fixations: isbn 0-968818-30-7

Is there a plumber in the house ? Way back in the days of my great grandfather M. Duchamp put a toilet in a museum and called it art. Citing this precedent, I figured that I could possibly put a plunger, in the national library and call it a book...so I did. At the turn of the century, I published an actual toilet plunger, complete with jingle bells, an ISBN, and a piece of potty poetry bound to the handle with an elastic band. If you click on ‘The Double Dingle Jingle Plunger’ you can see the actual catalogue information at Library and archives Canada.

Behold, and witness the miracle of creation. Cast in solid bronze, complete with copper clapper; this is the 10th anniversary edition of, ‘The Double Dingle Jingle Plunger’. Not wanting to have my acheivement eclipsed by the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, I'm releasing this a year early. A perfectly pitched potty plunger for your perusal and quiet enjoyment.



Powered by : Salt
Copper Clapper Casting : Jesse Sarber
Photo Credit: Lara Hill


* newspaper article Edmonton Journal
Photograph by
Kirsten Reite

What is the difference ?

Between Craft and Art ? I know, and this is it. A craftsman works in one tradition, achieving perfection through skill and artifice. An artist works with whatever is available and does the best he can. I'm not a craftsman, although my work may be well crafted. I see equal value in form and content, and believe a work must have at least enough of each, to achieve the basic objective. To satisfy this premise, “a good work of art needs only to simultaneously stimulate and relax the mind” - Charles Murray Chaplin. And so, I present this piece, an organic exploration, carved by my hand using diamonds and water, in mushroom green adventurine quartz. This work represents the mythological synthesis of sexuality, an hermaphrodite*. Like some strange creature living beneath the sea, neither animal nor vegetable, but something like both. This work provides gentle humour and fascination to some who pick it up, while perplexing, and disturbing those inhibited or weak of mind. This sculpture was collected by my excellent friend Melanie Carlson, who uses it as litmus test, to gauge compatibility of humour.
*It seems the term “hermaphrodite”, when applied to people, is both inaccurate and offensive. For persons who live in the physiological spectrum between genders, the correct term is “intersex”. Although these persons would probably prefer to be called by their actual names.

photo credit: Peter Lattimer
-Copy Cats are Dirty Rats

Flying Bird... Saying Goodbye is Hard

In mythology, the Soul, or Atman is represented by a bird. And so I made this ring design, a bird in flight, in rose gold. I've posted it today, to honour the memory of Fenwick Lansdowne.

Fenwick Lansdowne was my colleague, a fellow rca, sadly now he is gone. Fenwick spent his childhood in a Japanese prison camp, he contracted polio, and lost the use of one side of his body. Fenwick raised a family and painted birds perfectly. Fenwick began painting birds while very young, and he finished at almost seventy-one. A life well lived indeed !

photo credit: Peter Lattimer
-Copy Cats are Dirty Rats

Testimonial Evidence

Happy Birthday Anne Ainsley ! my friend, whose simply mad about Romans. This piece which I've made in Basalt, Tourmaline, 18karat gold, and an actual Roman coin, has been commissioned, Thanks to our beloved Dodo.

The coin was minted under Philip the Arab, the pagan warrior,
who ruled Rome from 244-249 AD. The Basalt carving was done by my hand; it represents ‘The Black Sun’, wonder of the ancients, the solar eclipse. In concert, these two items form a unique pendant, and provide testimonial evidence that ancient Romans enjoyed holidays in British Columbia. It is a well understood fact that Roman Emperors and high ranking citizens used to work in AD and vacation in BC. Coincidentally, the basalt on which this design is carved, was formed in BC and found in beautiful British Columbia.

In order to produce this work I had help from, my friend and colleague, Karen Morrow . I provided her with my basalt carving, tourmalines, the roman coin, and a working sketch. After some time, consideration, and effort, the resulting work of art shines in perfect existence, the evidence is right before your eyes.

photo credit: Peter Lattimer
-Copy Cats are Dirty Rats

Danish Modern Travel Chess

Lego is a toy, a wonderful, whimsical, readymade way to create things. And so, I've designed this actual sized travel chess, in Lego. It's contemporary art, built from recycled Lego, each set is unique and made to be permanent. The Lego has been welded together to form a board table and independent chess pieces. The game pieces are all stored inside the board table. The pieces use Lego technology to defy gravity, sticking them to the board. Play chess like Kasparov. Play on trains and in automobiles, space shuttle cruises and trips to the moon. Anytime, anywhere, the game is yours.

-Copy Cats are Dirty Rats

photo credit: Peter Lattimer

Globe and Mail
-Timothy Taylor

The Kinder Gentler Knuckle Duster

I'm no Angel and sometimes I find myself impecunious.

It usually seems though, that someone requires my services at these times, and once my friend Idar commissioned me to carve this bad ass skull ring. After I completed the master; Idar made a mould and finished one for his client in white gold, using black stones for the eyes. Afterwards Idar sent the mould to me and I made this one in rose gold. I've sold a few of these to really excellent people, I cast each ring on an individual basis and then carve and finish them by my hand. In this manner I can maintain the highest standards of quality, while providing original and beautiful work.

-Copy Cats are Dirty Rats

Photo Credit: Femke Van Delft

Spirit Bear aka Kid in a Bearsuit

Carved this in Hematite aka Alaskan Black diamond.
Used diamonds and water. It turned out rather good and so I posted it for you to look at.
This piece was inspired by two of my favorite artists.
Hobo Divine, for the whimsy of his dream journals.
Andrea Tucker, for her kid in animal suit paintings.

photo credit: Peter Lattimer
-Copy Cats are Dirty Rats

SUNSHiNE

‘ SUNSHiNE ! ’ ‘Cause it’s springtime, There’s Cherry blossoms, and spring fever. and sunshine. So check out this 18 k gold pendant. It is made with two colors of gold, yellow and white, it is set with 4 lovely 5 point diamonds. The face was sculpted by me and then made using the lost wax method of casting. After I finished the metal face, I did design sketches and then gave the face, and the diamonds, to my friend Karen Morrow. Karen has a laser welder and was kind enough to help me assemble this project. A little ray of sunshine, the harbinger of spring .

photo credit: Peter Lattimer
-Copy Cats are Dirty Rats

Full Moon Cocoon

I'm sensitive to the things people tell me, and this piece speaks to the power of that. On a lighter note, There's a lot that can be said about Yellow Submarines, and 18 karat
eggs, the work of Carl Faberge, Russian Imperialism, Manifest Destiny, Chairman Mao, and the Man in the Moon. There's a lot that has been written concerning the Moon, lunacy, romance, and wonderful journeys.
If you can take his word as a gentleman, Baron Munchausen travelled to the Moon and enjoyed the hospitality of both it's crowned heads. Over one hundred years before Neil Armstong planted an American flag on Lunar soil, Edgar Allen Poe wrote a lovely story regarding 'The Unparalleled Adventures of Hans Pfall', a tale concerning the ingenuity of travelling to lunar destinations by way of hot air balloon. The renowned physicist, Dr Hayden, has assured me that If you ignore friction, it is possible to skip a fast moving automobile off of the horizon and drive to the Moon. Lunar mythology pre-dates civilization, and by the light of the moon we mark time, hunt, and make love... And so I carved this stone, 'the Full Moon Cocoon'.

This magical egg was made in 18 karat gold, the body of the work is yellow gold, with white gold accent porthole cover. My friend Karen Morrow made this egg, complete with hinges. The egg acts as nest and frame to this carving, which I've made, in the hard stone known as jasper. I produced this carving by my hand using diamonds and water, it represents the chrysalis from which the full moon emerges.

photo credit: Peter Lattimer
-Copy Cats are Dirty Rats

A Book Review...In Scrimshaw

Scrimshaw is an ancient art, an artist who makes scrimshaw is called a scrimshander. A scrimshaw is made by "scrimming" a design into bone or ivory, and then staining the scrim with pigment. In this way, neolithic artists decorated their bone implements, and jewelry.

Scrimshaw is most celebrated, by the contemporary world, as an archaic craft of sailors and whalers. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, scrimshaw was produced by sea faring men, to decorate ivory trade goods. Scrimshaw is widely collected in the United States of America, where it is claimed as the first "American" art form. Nowadays, whaling is largely obsolete and, scrimshaw has become something of a lost art.


I made this scrimshaw in whale ivory, which I'd acquired
at a pow wow . This piece records my review of
' Treasure Island ' by Robert Louis Stevenson...one of my favorite sea faring stories.

photo credit: Peter Lattimer
-Copy Cats are Dirty Rats

UCKFA * OLiTEPA * OCiETYSA

If I had a Hammer, I'd hammer all the folk song singers...just kidding. Who'd want to do that :) I carved this little hammer for a society I belong to, The New Vulgarians Society. We like to pick edulicious mushrooms, cook yummy food, and drink good whiskey. Unlike the Malleus Maleficarum, this hammer will be used for cheerful ceremonial purposes, as a gavel, scotch opener, garlic smasher, picture hanger, and last spike driver. While carving this commission, James Barber passed away. For those too young to remember, James Barber taught an entire generation of Canadians to cook. James liked cooking and eating, and had the scar on his chest to prove it. I met James at his home office a few years ago, we talked, about food, art, publishing and life. These things were on my mind while I carved, and maybe that is why James Barber appeared in my work. Somehow, I don't think James would mind sticking his tongue out at polite society, and officiating at the commencement of our feasts; on wild mushrooms, fine spirits, and all of the bounty, that which, only nature and ingenuity, can provide.

photo credit: Peter Lattimer
-Copy Cats are Dirty Rats

I've Been Working on The Railroad

What can I say... I have the best land lord in the whole world, Bernie! He set the whole thing up, so that I could make an appointment to speak with the chairman of the Canadian National Railway. I showed a piece of art that I'd made, entitled, 'King of The Railroad'. The Chairman liked my work, and ordered three of my carved Railway Spikes. With regard to semiology, I hand engraved actual railway spikes, with the CN logo, the owners name, and actual hobo signs. Railway spikes are made from high carbon steel. I engraved them using diamonds and water.

photo credit: Peter Lattimer

The Snow Flakes of Canada

It's the snow really, the dread and deadly beauty of it. Each snowflake is unique, and even more ephemeral than the ones we cut from paper, as children in kindergarten. These snowflakes I've carved, using the graal technique, working with hot glass master Jeff Burnette, at Joe Blow Glassworks. I worked the glass cold, carving the snowflakes using diamonds and water. Jeff worked the glass hot, using a furnace, and molten glass. Together, we made these snowflakes to last forever. In Canada, special members of the canadian establishment are honoured, and given the Order of Canada. This honour is represented by the snowflake. All Canadians are eligable, except politicians and dead people. Nominate someone you know for an Order of Canada, It dosen't cost anything and makes a thoughtful Christmas present. This work in glass would also make a great Christmas gift, or a perfect addition to any serious collection of art glass.

photo credit: Peter Lattimer

King of the Railroad

By my calculations, If the Roman Empire had railroads, people would have landed on the Moon by 1820. This is an actual railway spike. These things are made from carbon steel, and used to fasten the train tracks to the wooden railway ties. I carved the end of this one using diamonds and water. The design is classical, and incorporates latin scripture. “ Ferrum Via Rex Rgis”, the English translation is, "King of the Railroad".

photo credit: Peter Lattimer

“ What's In a Name ? ”

Flowers have no expectations and are indifferent to admiration; their future is for certain, and in the moment of blossom, we celebrate the beauty, inhale the nectar, breathing in and out in harmony with these short and uncomplicated lives...
Can flowers last forever ? would Diamonds made From Roses smell as sweet ? Sweeter in fact. I carved this rose, on which my friend, John Nels Hatleberg, is displaying these fantastic coloured diamonds. These diamonds are real, and made by a miraculous process, guaranteed to be the most romantic, ethical, and beautiful of stones. If a diamond is forever; these rocks speak to the endurance of the human spirit, and its capacity for invention, goodness, and true love, throughout the universe, and in perpetuity.