Calling all artists: FLY your ship for Enterprise in Space

I've already sounded off about our amazing, inspiring Enterprise in Space project—the homage to our sci-fi heritage sending the experiments of future thinkers aloft...the grassroots chance to be a "virtual crewmember"...but here's the first thing, right now:

WE NEED A SHIP DESIGN, and ANYONE CAN SUBMIT THEIR IDEA.


The worldwide competition to create the NSS Enterprise orbiter is detailed here at the EIS site, but you don't have to be an space engineer or a CGI artist or sci-fi illustrator to enter. Anyone can do it—and don't worry about real-world concerns: we'll have folks who will adapt it for orbit and re-entry.

I mean, why just doodle, or publish, or get your design on camera.. .when you could create an eight-foot ship that actually flies in space? With 100+ science experiments aboard?

But you do need to know the entry deadline is Monday, Dec. 8!

You don't even have to join the "virtual crew" with your grassroots tax-deductible $20 in order to enter—but every bit helps, of course.

Once the design is accepted, after getting down to a round of finalists, we'll share the winner and the design with the world—and get on with translating the design to workable fabrication for its launch in late 2018 or 2019 aboard an orbital booster rocket, per the Enterprise in Space plan. We'll even share the works of our finalists.

But you gotta get crackin'!

NO April Fools—this actually existed...

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Okay, who wants to guess the approximate timing and occasion?
(I mean, there's no prize or anything, but ...)

It's FEDERATION DAY—exclusive art from the new non-fiction Trek book, on sale today

Well, this is exciting.

All joshing aside, as when we "opened our box" to unwrap the incredible FEDERATION: The First 150 Years:  I've known author David Goodman mainly from his day job—from when he signed aboard ENTERPRISE for its two middle seasons off the strength of his comedy writing for the classic "Where No Fan Has Gone Before" Trek homage on Futurama. Since then, of course, he's gone on to the Seth McFarlane Hit Factory and worked on both Family Guy and now American Dad.  

And just TODAY came news David's pilot for another animation comedy MURDER POLICE has just sold to series by Fox—so congrats, busy man.


But for today's EXCLUSIVE bit here: This original artwork of the founding UFP ambassadors and Charter signers—a full-page piece* by Mark McHaley, and just one of those to be found in FEDERATION amid a slew of original art concepts and graphic documents (click it open for it's full glory!).

To explain: That "unwrapping" vidpost is also where I told the improbable and personal story of all those various names that David uses here surrounding the Federation Charter ... and a refresher on its origins. And it's why FEDERATION's publishers and promoters allowed us the honor at Trekland of unveiling it for you. Suffice to say, I WISH I could tell my dad he had such a hand in Federation history ... and that my son really does not argue quite as much as a Tellarite.  And to think I owe it all to the TNG Companion and Penny Juday, the art department coordinator for Generations who said, "Hey, we can use some cool filler for the Picard scrapbook! Everyone is pitching in!" See how these goofy life stories snowball?

So to sum up: a must-have book with a cool concept (an anniversary exhibit on Memory Alpha), plus great artwork and removable goodies ... including this one, with an unexpected bonus personal "1994" touch for me. Just one more chink in the millions of stories that make up the Trek City. (And this one comes in time for gift-giving, of course, via Amazon.com).

And if this awesome art and our "unwrapping" tease are not enough—tomorrow follows with  another Trekland surprise: our EXCLUSIVE vidchat with David Goodman, in two parts. Stay tuned...




*The caption for McHaley's Page 90 chapter-opening artwork reads:  
Jonathan Archer speaking at the signing of the Federation Charter. Behind him, left to right, are Ambassadors T’Jan of Vulcan, Gort Sarahd of Andoria, Admiral Douglas, and Ambassador Natha Kell of Tellar

Bye Bye Robot adds new artist, high-flyin' new retro art

A while back we told you about the smashing style of new stylized Star Trek high-end fine art posters offered by our artist friend Charity Wood and her new officially licensed company Bye Bye Robot—and while we were on vacation she broke out with exclusive offerings from an additional artist and his own cool retro style.

No need to elaborate—the "Enterprise Shuttle Service" poster by Steve Thomas says it all. If you are a TOS fan at all, though, you will not only get that obvious Class F model, but also the Cestus III and nearby landmark reference on the poster (where, coincidentally, where my head has been lately).

Take a gander here at Steve's fun design (which also comes as vinyl stickers) and its modest pricetag—and all the details at Bye Bye Robot:

Incredible must-read: The '92 Vegas Star Trek that almost was

You HAVE to see this. And kudos to Gary Goddard for sharing the story—a bitterly ironic one.

As someone who worked on the final weeks' detail layer of Star Trek: The Experience—that's only the later, topmost layer, on top of a lot of planning and wrangling by many, many others—I'm familiar with Gary's former Landmark resort/theme park development company in the mid-late 90s. But I had no clue to even dig about this ....

Gary now has his Goddard Group, and it's from that podium that he shares the incredible story of how we almost have an even more awesome Vegas landmark in 1992—FIVE YEARS before the Experience opened in January 1998. The ENTERPRISE '92 project at least led the way and got a lot of wheels turning as to possibilities.

It also points to the glaring OMISSION of any current "destination Trek" landmark in Vegas' makeup, since the Experience's premature closing in 2008, its replacement with nothing since at the dying former Hilton, and the collapse of Rohit Joshi's hoped-for "Experience revival" downtown at the Neonopolis center.

And yes, Gary's  recollection revelations come complete with concept art and the whole shebang—just READ:

Now It Can Be Told: The Las Vegas "STAR TREK" Attraction That Almost Came To Life in 1992

The real winner of the 1992 downtown Las Vegas redevelopment competition was NOT the FREMONT EXPERIENCE – it was the STARSHIP ENTERPRISE from STAR TREK.  But no one knows this – until now. ...

'Bye Bye Robot': CBS turned my buds loose with a Trek art license!

It's not often that I get to watch the genesis of a Star Trek licensee from close up—but this week I'm feeling a little like a god-parent.

You know: having had nothing to to do with the conception or carriage, but honored to know the parents, be hit up for a little advice (very little) and be around at the delivery ... winding up with a title that's all glory and no responsibility!

So it is I'm thrilled to see the birth this week of a whole raft of LICENSED Star Trek limited-edition fine art prints as the debut offerings from Bye Bye Robot—otherwise known as Charity Wood, who with husband Chris is already well known as the Trek news blog and podcast Subspace Communiques. We've met and hung out several times on the con circuit the past couple years, and I'm really stoked for them as they launch this new endeavor. As Chris tells me: "We're devoted Trek fans and we're excited to be bringing an original take on iconic imagery." And with a license, they are fans actually empowered to do cool yet professional fine art by CBS/Paramount.

Charity also has some non-Trek, non-franchise original pieces as well in a series she calls AquaMARINE, with more variety on the way—but all her work is done in a technique she calls Pas de Lignes, which literally translated from French means “No Lines”; in effect, built up from a black rather than white foundation.

"It’s a modern style I’ve been working in for many years," she says on the site. "You can think of it as painting in reverse. I begin on a black canvas so the black “lines” you see are actually unpainted areas…not 'outlines.' Another way of thinking of it is that I paint everywhere except the 'lines'.” And they are available in a variety of sizes and options befitting fine art pieces designed to last, in Giclee, or museum-quality archival inks and acid-free cotton.

Charity just told me another news flash that's not up yet: "Along with bringing additional artists' work to the site, we're in the process of offering a line of original stickers."

I hope you have seen the launch news all over, like trekmovie.com and startrek.com, but here's my take from a front-row seat with both Charity and Chris. The first Trek topics are great choices to harness Charity's textured, color-splashed process to the max—but it is a business, and she artfully scores there as well.

Thinking for as broad a market audience as possible, the 1960s Enterprise is iconic and cool, of course—a familiar form to all, no matter what token Planet Hell cave set you may have been hiding away in. In a different way, I think the Gorn offers a surprise, even for those whose world orbits in a universe of mundanes; the reptiloid guy is eye-catching even if you've never even heard of Cestus III  or Bobby Clark. These are both on canvas, including the two views of the Big E.


But the unusual vertical "triptych" format for the tribbles panel on paper, is, I think, doubly perfect for the legit fan with an professional day-job office full of walls or halls to brighten up—and wants to do it both subtly and playfully. I can so see those furrballs in a Treklander engineer's office or doctor's waiting room. Who can argue with the perky hues? it will be fun to watch which visitors and patrons catch on to not only the tribbles joke, but the main Starfleet tri-palette behind them—and how long it takes...

So, good luck, Charity, Chris and Bye Bye Robot (no relation to that other Star Trek robot guy, as she shares the story behind the name on their site.) Everybody go take a look! Aside from online sales, they intend to be at a number of conventions this year, including Vegas Khhaaann in August, of course—as well as Comipalooza in Houston May 25-27, and Austin Wizardworld Comic-Con Oct. 26-28... and more to come.

Meanwhile, I'll be waiting patiently on my Tellarite Gav (or Grolst?) print in the next batch!

A Quark/Worf dinner? Castle, Buffy? Big Bang visit? Bid NOW in Antaeus Theatre auction through Oct. 7

UPDATE 10/7/11: Prizes changed, date corrected: BIDDING ENDS TODAY!

Okay, kids, you have ONE WEEK left for some truly unique goodies:

Whether you live in SoCal or not, there's 86 items large and small now up for bid for an online fund-raiser auction through Oct. 7 for the Antaeus Company, L.A.'s classical theatre troupe that includes the likes of oh, say, Armin Shimerman and Kitty Swink, and a host of others you'll know.


You can bid on a dinner with DS9'ers Armin, Kitty, and Michael Dorn ... or similar dinners those from Buffy or 24 (below) ... a lunch with Castle's Seamus Deaver and show goodies ... original art from Rene "Odo" Auberjonois  ... much less a cast-hosted set visit to The Big Bang Theory (left) or Body of Proof (Jeffrey "Tahnna Los" Nordling). Or further afield: a cooking lesson with Top Chef fan-fave Fabio Viviani or an in-home fondue party with Emily Bergl of Desperate Housewives ... And many more: There's cool photos, scripts and signed items, rare cast gifts (like a DS9 Season 6 jacket), and even more live services, in-home dinners and gift certificates.

Kitty points out The Antaeus includes a slew of other actors with Trek and sci-fi connections, with but a few being Joe "Galt" Ruskin, Kurtwood "Annorax/President" Smith, Chelsea Field (Scott Bakula's partner), Richard "Admiral Paris" Herd, Gregory Itzin, JD "Toral" Cullum, Adrian LaTourelle (Rene's son-in-law), Bob Pine (Chris "Kirk '09" Pine's dad), Lawrence "Tekeny Ghemor" Pressman, Rhonda "Dixon Hill's Madeline" Aldrich, and Josh "Lt. Carey" Clark. Not to mention Tony Amendola (Stargate), Harry Groener (Buffy—and Tam Elbrun/ Nathan Samuels), Paul Eiding (voices for dozens of sci-fi games), Arye Gross (Minority Report), and Joel Swetow (Charmed).

The trustable website biddingforgood.com is handling the online auction, so you know it's in reliable hands. Check it all out today and find all kinds of genre and actor goodies up for bids to help The Antaeus—some of them on the real "up close and personal" side.

Set to open at The Antaeus Oct. 20 is the rare 1947 Noel Coward xomedy-drama "Peace in Our Time," the American debut of Coward's what-if look at his beloved England under Nazis occupation —with 22 roles, all double-cast. It is slated to run through Dec. 11.

Don't miss! Saturday's online Trek auction—with “visual technobabble”?

After all the big pioneering Trek auctions of recent years, let’s hope new bid-fests have not become passé.

Especially one THIS Saturday—tomorrow—that may have somehow flown low under your radar! It deserves better, because there’s a whole class of cool collectible that’s never really been out in public before. And if you are new to Trek auctions, you have to check this out.

Propworx, partnering now with LiveAuctioneers.com for the online mechanics, is offering a huge new catalog of 257 various Trek goodies in an online-only, 21-hour auction opening at 1 pm ET/10 am PT (links below). My buddy Alec Peters, collectors’ guru blogger and founder of Propworx, points out there’s a raft of reasonable items in the $100-$200 range—all the way up to, amazingly, an actual original Star Trek series matte painting—on glass!—of Starbase 11 from “The Menagerie.”

But what caught my eye are a few bid items that should appeal to both art lovers as well as the graphics techheads—we know who we are!—and anyone who appreciates true Trek history.

Most of all— I bet you’ve never seen anything quite like them in a major auction before! Don't let them get away.

I’m talking about the original artboard paste-ups for what we lovingly call “Okudagrams,” after Mike O. himself—not just sketches, and not the final colorful translight controls and readouts as used on-set, but the ROOT of what made them: original paper black-and-white paste-ups on heavy stock, used to shoot film that was then gelled with cut-to-fit colored plastic sheet.

Eventually, about midway through DS9, tech finally evolved to allow a direct output from the art department’s Macs to a large, continuous-sheet renderer—ending the time-consuming paper paste-up, film shoot, and then cookie-cutter gelling of clear film. As with fully-formed filming miniatures, it was yet another hands-on analog process made outmoded by the CGI and digital tech evolution revolution.

But those artboard paste-ups—with a lot of fine type and in-jokes galore, for you eagle-eyed out there—actually are original works of art, too, when you think about it, and deserve to be framed and treated as such. Some of them are truly iconic and one-timers—like the Kirk and Spock personal log and daily schedules text panels from their quarters in Star Trek VI (above—apologies for the low-res image), or the animation board for the Klingon's sighting in to shoot Voyager 1. Others are like the oft-seen DS9 station cutaway chart with IDs, used everywhere—but this is the original! … or even the periodic table of the "elements" from TNG and DS9, or the DS9 Replimat menu and greeting signs, chock-full of a zillion small-type in-jokes.

What’s more, most of them even come with their own “certificate of authenticity” by way of scrawled handwritten notes to the camera operator, like “Please Shoot 150%."

Can you tell I love these things?  I have several, and they are a techheads' dream. Talk about touching the real thing... ! And being able to READ it, finally? C'mon, you text geeks—you know who you are.

All you need to do for bidding is to register on Live Auctioneers here—and you can also download the full color 158-page catalog for free at Propworx' site; it's as easy as Ebay to bid, and will stay open 21 hours. Alec's premiere Star Trek Prop, Costume & Auction blog has been going since the Christie's auction in 2006 at startrekprops.com.

Saturday’s auction has tons of high- (and low-) profile costumes, props and paper goods like scripts and call sheets, too—and this session even has “rainbow pages” final scripts with the companion first-draft versions, itself a rare offering for those who love script evolution (but not well illustrated in the photos).

But wow—just don’t let the simple, underrated descriptions of the “artboard” artwork pass you by.

It’s like owning your own real piece of visual technobabble—suitable for framing!

"I'm a Wall Decor, not a Doctor!": Lifesize Trek for you!

We may be breaking some kind of sneak-peek today, but who cares? This is cool—partly because it's so dang simple.

Or is it? Need a transporter in your bedroom? Or just a certain Vulcan science officer?

Walls360 is a start-up company already offering durable, re-"stickable" wall art posters from small to mural-size pieces ... and now just guess what their first franchise license is?

Well, take a good guess, Lieutenant, but clear that board.

Of COURSE it's Star Trek—beginning with the original series. The press release announcement is set to hit today...but their site is live NOW. They offer images from characters to ships to gadgets to, well, rooms...these are just three of dozens... and are "contour-cut from a single sheet of repositionable fabric paper for seamless installation."  They stick to almost any surface—from walls and windows to ceilings and around corners—and can be removed and re-hung 100 times without losing adhesion, leaving a mark, or damaging surfaces.

... But best of all, they offer these flat goodies in all sizes and prices from $15 (one-footer) to $155—the biggest at eight feet tall!

"It has been a LOT of fun going into the CBS archives and picking out images that will work for giant wall graphics," John Doffing, the Walls360, told me. "We are starting with TOS, and will be adding a LOT of new content.  We are a brand-new company, and this is our first big branded partner launch." And yes, they do utilize the new higher-res clarity of the Remastered TOS editions to deliver the large-scale sizes.


Stay tuned, and we'll be having our own TREKLAND giveaway of some TREK Walls360 items coming up real quick.

20 Years Ago This Week? TNG Came of Age

I'm talkin' bout the instant classic "Yesterday's Enterprise," of course.

And not just because my old bud Eric Stillwell was an instigator of that show, as the story co-writer. I still have his private mail-out reminder flier (above)—and I do mean mailed, as in "with a stamp on it."

Since TNG (and later DS9) were syndicated, they had no official single airdate—so they were listed as "Week of" beginning on Mondays. (Good ol' Channel 4 Oklahoma City, of course, insisted on runnng TNG at 10:30 pm on SUNdays, so we were the last in the country to see them week after week.)

But "The Week of Feb. 19" remains crystal-clear in my mind. For the first time on TNG, the tragic, mind-bending triumph of the little Enterprise-C and Captain Garret, Castillo and Tasha really made this long-patient fan sit up and take notice. I very clearly remember watching the show in early 1990 and thinking a corner had been turned: "It's happened—they finally hit on a par with the features. This is the potential. The series has finally found itself." Either this episode or the two-part "The Best of Both Worlds" that followed at season's end consistently poll in fan votes as the #1 TNG episode. (Hindsight, of course. tells us this is the legacy of Michael Piller's coming to the series and "saving" it.)

My "TNG" annual concordance zines had unwittingly opened some doors with the overtaxed TNG writers before I even comprehended what that meant. And Eric--first a PA, then script coordinator--was good enough to share a couple fact-filled letters with me (that, too, was via paper and typewriter ribbon ink, remember), and joined the process that eventually brought me to Hollywood.

I talk about the episode's storied and tortuous evolution in the TNG Companion, of course—like Casablanca, the rushed writers feared it would be a mish-mash of a dog, for one thing—and Eric offers even more detail in his self-published book about it, available here. But right now, thanks to him, I have my own memento of the week to celebrate, from a few years before this front-row seat to the Trekland show ...

UPDATE: And to bookend, from years later: here's the climactic scene of "YE" as the commissioned artwork from artist Javier Fernandez that graced the cover of our Communicator 127, a time-travel special issue: