Random Gallery Horse Confronting a Vortex, More about this →

This section contains some expanded writings on various subjects, ranging from cultural phenomena and topical issues, to aesthetic/artistic essays. There are some sample resume and CV materials, exhibition and event listings as well. My Artist Statement is also here. If you have questions, or would like to get in touch, feel free to contact me or sign up for my newsletter.

Writings/Essays

Coronavirus
Tom Estlack: Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Hospitals seem to be mixed, in terms of how well-prepared they are for COVID-19. If you want to donate to hospitals that are struggling, I've started to compile some resources here. (Skip to: New York City Hospitals, New Jersey Hospitals) Hopefully, you have seen this interactive map, developed b...
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Muffin Talk Observations
Tom Estlack: Thursday, September 27, 2018

People are married to their cell phones. If there was a way to have those things surgically implanted onto our faces, we'd do it. Imagine, the high you'd get if you could inject macro-doses of seratonin, endorphines and whatever else happens when you're staring at copies of your own self image non-s...
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Artist Bio
Tom Estlack: Monday, April 23, 2018

Tom Estlack is known for his interactive, kinetic and musical sculptures. Described as a “polymath” and “synesthete” he integrates video, electronics, simple machines, lighting, painting, music, animation and figurative sculpture into his studio practice. Tom’s art “connects directly to ...
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Investigations and Interactions
Tom Estlack: Sunday, August 20, 2017

You are invited to my exhibition at the College of Arts and Communication at West Liberty University. The show is called Investigations and Interactions. College of Arts and Communication West Liberty University West Liberty WV, 26074 Dates: August 30 to September 21, 2017 Reception: Wednes...
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transcript for Advice for Young Executives
Tom Estlack: Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Congratulations! You have an office in the sky. You have legions of worker bees, drones, who will execute your genius plans all day long. No need to read the important documents that are placed on your desk. Have the secretary summarize the important points for you in the form of bullets! Bullets ar...
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Great Music Together
Tom Estlack: Wednesday, January 18, 2017

I recently decided to leave Ishtar, a middle-eastern belly-dance band I had been working with for the past 3 or 4 years. This was a difficult decision, but one I needed to make. In August of 2017, I have a solo exhibition planned at Nutting Gallery at West Liberty University. The show would mark the...
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National Anthem 1 and More
Tom Estlack: Sunday, July 10, 2016

Mickey Mouse is a "blackface" caricature that has come to be accepted and loved by American society. This image was originally inspired by the Orlando mass shooting. However, these days, you could pick any mass shooting, and this would still apply. This image merges the Mickey Mouse caricature with ...
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About Baby Index 107 56
Tom Estlack: Wednesday, May 11, 2016

This work began as an exploration of photographic color relationships. It is a continuation of a painting process I have referred to as stealing color. I've made quite a few paintings incorporating this process. Basically, a photograph is taken of any subject. A GIF image is then made from it and th...
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Ishtar - Middle Eastern Bellydance Music
Tom Estlack: Saturday, March 19, 2016

Recently, much of my involvement as a guitarist has been in playing with a band called Ishtar, a middle-eastern bellydance band, based in Pittsburgh. We have been playing these traditional dance songs with a kind of Americanized heavy-rock sound. It's been called "Metal-Eastern" sometimes. I began w...
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About Codorus Creek Detritus
Tom Estlack: Friday, December 18, 2015

'Codorus Creek Detritus' is an example of interactive sculpture. Interactive sculpture engages the consciousness of a person in a way that is a bit different than works of art that exist in other formats. These works of art are very similar to toys. The dialectics that emerge between "viewer" and "a...
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Istanburgh
Tom Estlack: Wednesday, November 11, 2015

I have been busy with Ishtar, playing bellydance festivals and at other performances and venues. We also released a recording of many of these songs that we play. Melissa has been tirelessly promoting the music, directing new songs and getting us out there to play this great music. I hope you enjoy ...
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Muhammad Cartoons are Bad
Tom Estlack: Friday, January 16, 2015

If it wasn't for a person's willingness to speak up and offer alternative points of view about anything, we would still be looking for dragons at the edge of the earth, swatting at the images in our minds with a sword. I really don't want to live in a world where we have to walk on eggshells and wat...
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Some Notes on a Painting Process
Tom Estlack: Thursday, December 11, 2014

If you're an artist, perhaps you're as obsessive about color as I am. Maybe you're even more obsessive! What follows is a description of some of the decision-making processes that led me to develop a free online application that helps artists analyse colors, so they can be methodically mixed. It inv...
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Long Lost Friend
Tom Estlack: Tuesday, October 7, 2014

My new recording is called “Long Lost Friend.” It's a collection of music from different artworks that were included in various exhibitions over the past few years. My work is centered around bringing a person who is a participant or a listener or a viewer into the mindset of connectivity. I mak...
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Tom Estlack: Friday, August 22, 2014

This is my obligatory Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis post. Maybe you're like me and you're growing weary of the recent cultural obsession with pouring cold water over one's head. I'm glad that it's raising awareness of a need to fund research in treating this debilitating and fatal illness. This ...
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Aspects of Late Postmodernism
Tom Estlack: Wednesday, December 2, 2009

There have been many attempts to describe or categorize a seemingly evident paradigm shift in Arts, Culture, and Society, which has moved beyond the category of "postmodern." Some authors have described early postmodern works of Art (for example), as being indecipherable for different reasons (Susan...
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Billy is Tested in DC
Tom Estlack: Friday, October 16, 2009

Recently, I participated in an Exhibition called "In the Flesh II" at the Torpedo Factory's “Target Gallery.” As I understood it, the curatorial position was to highlight the various ways contemporary artists were exploring the implications of figurative art. This exhibition was reviewed by S...
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Hitting the G20 Spot
Tom Estlack: Friday, September 4, 2009

In September 2009, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania hosts the G-20 summit. Fe Gallery in the district of Lawrenceville stages an exhibition at this time called "G-Spot". The artists involved were part of the Visionary Arts Festival, which, was organized by Alberto Almarza. My contribution to the show is ...
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Brain of the City
Tom Estlack: Thursday, July 9, 2009

I have been working on this idea of developing “construction systems” for the assembly of works using the same parts. The work, currently on display, is a recent incarnation of this concept. Throughout the year, I make castings of joints, which have been molded from a pattern. I also cut pieces ...
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About Populace Fragments
Tom Estlack: Wednesday, July 8, 2009

At the time of this writing, "Populace Fragments", a sculpture comprised of aluminum, resin, wood and some paper assemblage is on view at the Carnegie Museum of Art. The work is included as part of the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh 99th Annual Exhibition. The show was curated by Doryun Chong. ...
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Yes Thank You - Curatorial Statement
Tom Estlack: Thursday, January 1, 2009

"Yes. Thank You." is from a series of breathing meditations by Zen Master, Thich Nhat Hanh. "Yes. Thank You" is the first in the series of breathing meditations, where the practitioner will inhale and say "Yes," to what life has to offer. Upon breathing out, the practitioner says "Thank You," affir...
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Tom Estlack

About

Writings/Essays

Coronavirus

Muffin Talk Observations

Artist Bio

Investigations and Interactions

transcript for Advice for Young Executives

Great Music Together

National Anthem 1 and More

About Baby Index 107 56

Ishtar - Middle Eastern Bellydance Music

About Codorus Creek Detritus

Istanburgh

Muhammad Cartoons are Bad

Some Notes on a Painting Process

Long Lost Friend

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Aspects of Late Postmodernism

Billy is Tested in DC

Hitting the G20 Spot

Brain of the City

About Populace Fragments

Yes Thank You - Curatorial Statement

Search - About

Documentation

Writings / Essays