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Dombrowski, Johnny More info
Edition Details
Year:2012
Class:Art Print
Status:Official
Released:10/29/12
Run:99
Technique:Screen Print
Paper:English Coventry Rag Vellum
Size:22 X 30
Markings:Signed & Numbered
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“But I don’t want to go among mad people," Alice remarked.
"Oh, you can’t help that," said the Cat: "we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad."
"How do you know I’m mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, or you wouldn’t have come here.”

Dark Hall Mansion, www.DarkHallMansion.com, is most pleased to release "The Hatter" and "Caterpillar," two inspired bits of madness by artist Johnny Dombrowski, with an eccentric visit by none other than a very outré Cheshire Cat.

On sale next Monday, Oct 29, 2012 at 9:30 AM PST, these two highly select editions, numbering only 99 examples for "The Hatter" and 99 for "Caterpillar," with an additional 25 Variants for each artwork respectively, are 22" x 30" (56 cm x 76 cm), beautifully printed on English Coventry Rag Vellum, and are all personally signed and numbered by the artist.

Alice and her excursions into Wonderland are an essential touchstone for DHM, as likely comes as no surprise to most, so building on our release of 'Alice,' by UK artist Eelus in 2011, was both natural and imperative for us, so this year New York's own Johnny Dombrowski goes further down the rabbit hole still with his elegant takes on both Hatter and Caterpillar, creating two companion pieces for 'Alice,' both printed in exactly the same size as 'Alice,'and making for a compelling threesome of eccentrics to date.

“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?”
-The Hatter

We do, and we agree, we think you will too, best to let Mr. Dombrowski elucidate:

"Wanting to show the Mad Hatter's insanity on a physical plane, the idea of him being an empty shell was an idea I was experimenting with during the sketch phase. He was at first split straight down the middle but that evolved into the spiral or helix, which I think shows the idea a bit more successfully. It was also really important for me to have the Cheshire Cat smiling and looking out as a nod to the viewer. His quote "We're all mad here" proves that he still had at least some of his sanity still intact. He's
aware of what's going on just like the viewer and Alice. That's why I think Wonderland is his world. He's a step above all of this lunacy."

"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?'
-Alice
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat.

As elusive a guide and signpost as one would ever hope to encounter, in Johnny's hands, Cheshire's intensity is as arresting as his ever present smile. Paired with Hatter in a topsy turvy world of visual inversion where teapots, cups and saucers seem to float away, surreal companions they prove to be.

Of Johnny's striking Caterpillar, both a fit foil and companion for Alice indeed, beautifully rendered with Johnny's meticulous attention to detail, his piece challenges not only Alice but the viewer with three little words whose challenge resonates with us all:

"Who are You?"
-Caterpillar

Johnny on Caterpillar:

Not interested in a thing we have to say. With nowhere else to go, the Caterpillar is forced to exhale his patronizing first words. While the Cheshire cat is my favorite in Wonderland, the Caterpillar is a very close second. The two of them still have, in some ways, an understanding of what's happening around them. Like the Mad Hatter illustration, I tried to have an unique approach to representing the characters. Something different from the movies or the Tenniel drawings. After a lot of brainstorming, making him this apathetic, judgmental creature was still definitely the strongest way to go. That and running with the body patterns of monarch caterpillars, I tried to incorporate a kind of Fu Manchu vibe to his antennae. A creature trapped in the thoughts of his own mind, not concerned with the worries of Alice and the Wonderland. Only flowers and his smoky apparitions to keep him company.

So join us in engaging these friends, acquaintances, if you prefer, but do so while you can as each edition is limited to only 99 examples, plus the select 25 color Variants for each of Johnny's pieces. All "The Hatter" and "Caterpillar" editions are individually hand-pulled screen prints in 8 and 9-color by the fine printers at DL Screenprinting. Every edition is individually signed and numbered by the artist, and so will well keep for those having previously acquired DHM's 'Alice' by Eelus.

On that, for those that have yet to acquire an 'Alice,' do know we will place a select number of DHM's remaining examples online as well and we will combine shipping at no extra charge for any "Alice," "The Hatter" or "Caterpillar" editions purchased.

Domestic shipping anywhere in the US is $13, and for our international buyers, do know shipping is only $25 regardless the number of editions combined and posting out.

*Edition Specifics:

All editions are 22" x 30" (56 cm x 76 cm) (same as 'Alice')
All editions are signed and numbered by the artist.
All editions are hand-pulled 8 and 9-color screen prints.

Standard: "The Hatter" (Edition of 99)
Variant: "The Hatter" (Edition 25)

Standard: "Caterpillar" (Edition of 99)
Variant: "Caterpillar" (Edition of 25)

Standard Editions: $75
Variant Editions: $100

All Editions go on sale next Monday, Oct, 29, 2012 at Dark Hall Mansion: www.DarkHallMansion.com
They'll go on sale in our dedicated Store page at precisely 9:30 AM PST HERE: http://www.darkhallmansionstore.com/

Thanks very much, and your eccentric friends await you next Monday!

“Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

“Do you think I've gone round the bend?"
"I'm afraid so. You're mad, bonkers, completely off your head. But I'll tell you a secret. All the best people are.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

The Mansion
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Sales History
Original Price$75.00
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