DHM: "THE HATTER" and "CATERPILLAR" /EELUS "ALICE", by Dark Hall Mansion on Oct 23, 2012 2:58:30 GMT 1, “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 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, two select prints, numbering only 99 examples for "The Hatter" and 99 for "Caterpillar," with an additional 25 Variants for each respectively, all editions are 22" x 30" (56 cm x 76 cm), printed on English Coventry Rag Vellum and personally signed and numbered by the artist.

Building on our release of 'Alice' by artist Eelus in 2011, 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.

Artist Johnny Dombrowski on his Hatter:

"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."

Of Johnny's striking Caterpillar, 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.

All "The Hatter" and "Caterpillar" editions are individually hand-pulled screen prints in 8 and 9-color by 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 'Alice,' do know we will place a select number of DHM's remaining examples online (Alice-$160) 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 international buyers shipping is only $25 regardless the number of editions posting out.

*Edition Specifics:

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

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 on sale next Monday, Oct, 29, 2012 in our Store page at precisely 9:30 AM PST HERE: www.darkhallmansionstore.com/


Thanks very much,

DHM


“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
www.DarkHallMansion.com

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