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Mike Rende

@mikerende.bsky.social

Artist | dangerousbrains.com Director | oddballartlabs.org Designer & Code Monkey | sitebymike.com KaneDems.org | ElginDems.org

205 Followers  |  375 Following  |  73 Posts  |  Joined: 22.07.2023
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Posts by Mike Rende (@mikerende.bsky.social)

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Just finished a new sculpture. Same character as the Ice Cream Drop sculpture, but I haven't named him yet. He's having a much better day this time!

31.01.2026 20:23 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Mini Monsters in a cardboard box waiting to be adopted

Mini Monsters in a cardboard box waiting to be adopted

Adopt a Monster Display

Adopt a Monster Display

I just dropped off an "Adopt a Monster" display at Side Street Studio Arts. When MADE reopen again on January 31 for the Winter Mini-Fringe you'll be able to grab one of these cute mini-monster, polymer clay, sculptures for just $20 each in the co-op section of the gallery!

18.01.2026 15:48 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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A quiet few days, so I finally had time to get this new monster out of my brain. I think it will simply be titled "Ooops!"

#monster
#sculpture
#cosclay

25.12.2025 18:26 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Oddball Art Labs is teaming up with Side Street for a fundraiser coming up in April for their new building!

Don't miss this gallery exhibit filled with over twenty "three-artist collaborations" called "Exquisite Corpses". Take one home to help raise funds for their new location on Grove Ave!

19.12.2025 21:54 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Oddball Art Labs presents: Reduce. Reuse. ReCREATE! An art show that is all about saving items from the trash and turning them into amazing creations.

The next Oddball Art Labs group show is this Friday! So thrilled about the work submitted!

Friday, November 7, 2025
Hours: 6pm-9pm

The Robin and Mark Seigle Gallery
at Elgin ArtSpace Lofts
51 S. Spring St.
Elgin, IL 60120

www.oddballartlabs.org/exhibitions/...

04.11.2025 19:04 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Banned Books Week seems a bit more important this year!
bannedbooksweek.org

05.10.2025 14:46 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Finished up my new sculpture for Side Street's Something Wicked show. The body was originally made for a different sculpture, but they had different plans.

05.09.2025 02:05 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
I Can Spot AI Art Instantly - 5 Ways You Can Too
YouTube video by Brad Colbow I Can Spot AI Art Instantly - 5 Ways You Can Too

Good info to help spot AI Slop! While it focuses on art, it's also helpful when encountering other AI garbage online.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eyrl...

04.09.2025 16:35 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Before photo and glow

23.08.2025 15:02 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Oddball Art Labs is doing a show in November about re-imagining art. This is the first of my submissions. (It glows in the dark too.)
#sculpture #art #monsters #cosclay #alteredmoments #oddballartlabs

23.08.2025 12:49 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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What our shelves of unread books teach us about ourselves Many readers buy books with every intention of reading them, only to let them linger on the shelf. The Japanese call this practice tsudoku.

This article makes me feel a bit better about all the of unread books scattered throughout the bookshelves in our home.

bigthink.com/neuropsych/d...

15.08.2025 12:40 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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do people post videos on here...... (reposting a reel ! )

design I did for a stamp rally at Morris Arboretum! The theme was native plants & pollinators! : )

music is Howler Monkey by Louie Zong !

21.07.2025 21:24 β€” πŸ‘ 144    πŸ” 27    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 0

Feeling helpless? Me too... but we need to stick together and fight this madness everyday! Efforts by millions of people can (and will) make a difference.

07.08.2025 19:39 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Sec. Robert Reich: A New Progressive Era Will Follow This Second Gilded Age
YouTube video by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Sec. Robert Reich: A New Progressive Era Will Follow This Second Gilded Age

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkJs...

06.08.2025 18:31 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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How to survive the broligarchy: 20 lessons for the post-truth world | Carole Cadwalladr In the wake of Trump’s unnerving appointees, the investigative journalist and veteran of the libel court offers pointers on coping in an age of surveillance

Lessons worth remembering!
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

01.08.2025 21:47 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Corporation for Public Broadcasting says it's shutting down The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funnels federal money to public media stations, says it's winding down operations after President Trump signed a law rescinding all funding.

Shutting down the Corporation for Public Broadcasting! This just makes me angry! If you aren't already donating to NPR or PBS, now is the time!

www.npr.org/2025/08/01/n...

01.08.2025 20:11 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Tom Lehrer, influential musical satirist, dies at 97 The songwriter and math professor found a following with his satirical political songs.

The songwriter and math professor found a following with his satirical political songs.

28.07.2025 12:44 β€” πŸ‘ 352    πŸ” 67    πŸ’¬ 9    πŸ“Œ 18

Life has just become one endless Onion article. WTF!

04.07.2025 23:06 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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President Trump says he wants to stage UFC fight on White House grounds President Trump has announced that an Ultimate Fighting Championship bout will be held on the grounds of the White House next year, one of many events to be held to celebrate America's 250th birthday.

President Trump announced a UFC fight will be held on the White House grounds next year β€”Β one of many events to be held to celebrate America's 250th birthday.

04.07.2025 19:55 β€” πŸ‘ 186    πŸ” 55    πŸ’¬ 297    πŸ“Œ 104
The Big Beautiful Bill, Explained
YouTube video by Leeja Miller The Big Beautiful Bill, Explained

Just seeing harm to millions of people in the "Big Bad Bill". :-(

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwyZ...

03.07.2025 14:20 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Oddballs have prepared a "Jam Piece" for Mythological Mayhem. Your donations help us fund these quirky events. Get one raffle ticket for each $5 donation made at the Opening Reception on Friday, June 27, 2025. (Drawing at 8:45pm.)

More info at:
www.oddballartlabs.org

23.06.2025 15:53 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Art drop-off and gallery hanging for Mythological Mayhem was this weekend!

The Oddball team worked hard on Sunday and the presentation is looking amazing!

Join us on Friday, June 27, 2025 from 6pm-9pm to see the amazing creations of our local art community!

More info at:
www.oddballartlabs.org

23.06.2025 15:41 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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It's great to read another Craig Thompson book after so many years. His style is still great and the narrative is solid.

07.06.2025 23:28 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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My second sculpture based on medieval manuscript margin illustrations. This is for the Oddball Art Labs Mythological Mayhem show on Friday, June 27.

Submissions are due by June 8. More info at OddballArtLabs.org

#monster #sculpture #cosclay #oddball

05.06.2025 14:20 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Starting to create my sculptures for the Oddball Art Labs Mythological Mayhem show this Summer. This first one is inspired by a dragon illustration found in a Medieval manuscript margin.

#art #sculpture #dragon #cosclay

22.05.2025 00:34 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Oddball Art Labs at the Elgin Public Museum!

This Friday!!

Don’t miss the gallery opening on Friday April 11, 2025 from 6-9pm. The gallery exhibit will be up all Summer long!

Elgin Public Museum
225 Grand Blvd., Elgin, IL 60120

More info @
www.oddballartlabs.org/exhibitions/...

08.04.2025 17:48 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Tariff That DESTROYED the American Economy in Just Weeks
YouTube video by The Infographics Show Tariff That DESTROYED the American Economy in Just Weeks

I'll just leave this here...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7i-...

02.04.2025 16:05 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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letter-to-our-students.pdf

Proud to join my colleagues in signing this letter to our students.

It is a time to say true things, clearly.

30.03.2025 01:41 β€” πŸ‘ 58    πŸ” 15    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 3
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Oddballs at the Elgin Public Museum 2025 Don't miss the gallery opening on Friday April 11, 2025 from 6-9pm. The gallery exhibit will be up all Summer long!

More info at: www.oddballartlabs.org/exhibitions/...

29.03.2025 15:07 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Oddballs at the Elgin Public Museum!

Don’t miss the gallery opening on Friday April 11, 2025 from 6-9pm. The gallery exhibit will be up all Summer long!

Elgin Public Museum
225 Grand Blvd., Elgin, IL 60120

29.03.2025 15:06 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0