iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

The "Trog" sculpture for Oddball Art Lab's upcoming "8 Bit Life" video game inspired open-call gallery show is now painted! #oddballartlabs #cosclay #caveman

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

Does anyone remember a videogame called Trog? Oddball Art Labs is doing a video game gallery show in June, and this little guy is my first sculpture for the show.

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Last year I donated four sculptures of ancient prehistoric aquatic creatures to the Elgin Public Museum. This January they entered the permanent collection in a new display along with their historical info and actual fossils.

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

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!

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

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!

Mini Monsters in a cardboard box waiting to be adopted

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

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

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

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!

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

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/...

oddballartlabs.org

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.

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

Banned Books Week seems a bit more important this year! bannedbooksweek.org

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

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.

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

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...

youtube.com

I Can Spot AI Art Instantly - 5 Ways You Can Too

YouTube video by Brad Colbow

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 23/08/2025

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

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Jean Wei.... @weisanboo.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

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 !

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

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.

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 05/07/2025

Life has just become one endless Onion article. WTF!

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

Just seeing harm to millions of people in the "Big Bad Bill". :-( www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwyZ...

youtube.com

The Big Beautiful Bill, Explained

YouTube video by Leeja Miller

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

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

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

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

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 08/06/2025

It's great to read another Craig Thompson book after so many years. His style is still great and the narrative is solid.

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

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

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

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

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

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/...

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Lawrence Lessig @lessig.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

Proud to join my colleagues in signing this letter to our students. It is a time to say true things, clearly.

drive.google.com

letter-to-our-students.pdf

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

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

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Unite Against Book Bans @uabookbans.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

✨ #RightToReadDay is April 7! This year, we’re #DrawnToFreedom: the freedom to read, access information, and find community—all of the opportunities our libraries provide. But these freedoms are under attack. Take action to defend them this Right to Read Day: uniteagainstbookbans.org/right-to-rea...

Right to Read Day: Drawn to Freedom. April 7, 2025. #RightToReadDay #DrawnToFreedom. Unite Against Book Bans. bit.ly/RightToReadDay. Accompanying the text is artwork by Nate Powell of a library and the many things library users can do there.

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

The Trilobite sculpture is finished! It will be on display at the Elgin Public Museum starting on April 11, 2025. #art #sciart #trilobite #sculpture #prehistoric #cosclay

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

WIP: One last sculpture for the Oddball Art Labs show at the Elgin Public Museum...a Trilobite! #art #sciart #sculpture #cosclay

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Side Street Studio Arts @sidestreet.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

As part of our Anniversary Celebration, we're giving away discounts in MADE! Join us today during our art opening at 6pm, or swing by this weekend. Some exceptions will apply. #shophandmade #shopsmall #shoplocal #uniquegifts #handmadegifts #buyelginart #anniversarysale #artsale #storesale

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NPR @npr.org · 05/03/2025

After a firehose of a first six weeks back in the White House, President Trump delivered a boastful and partisan address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night. Here are six takeaways:

npr.org

6 takeaways from Trump's pointedly partisan address to Congress

After a firehose of a first six weeks back in the White House, President Trump delivered a boastful and partisan address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night. Here are six takeaways from the s...

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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Donald Trump is not fit to be President of the United States of America. His presence in the Oval Office is a stain on the legacy of this country.

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Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 28/02/2025

Those who voted for Donald Trump didn't know that they would lose their health care. He promised time and time again he wouldn't touch Medicaid — now he's blessed the House Republicans' plan to take it all away. He lies over and over again. It's time we wake up.

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Stephen R Bissette @stephenrbissette.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

THEY LIVE—and rule.

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

The Ammonite sculpture is complete and ready for the art exhibit at the Elgin Public Museum in April. #art #sculpture #sciart #cosclay #prehistoric #fossil

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

The Ammonite sculpture is getting closer to completion. Next step, finish the seaweed and base. #art #sculpture #sciart #cosclay

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

I'm trying to read some more uplifting political books. We're all in this fight together and I've been giving as much time as I can for the last eight years. I keep reminding myself of all the good I've done (and will do), as I continue the fight to protect democracy!

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

The ammonite sculpture is getting closer. The next step is to hide the supports with some seaweed. #art #ammonite #sculpture #cosclay

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

Ammonite sculpture WIP for an upcoming show at the Elgin Public Museum. #art #sculpture #ammonite #cosclay

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Stephen Harrison @stephenharrison.com · 05/02/2025

I wrote for Slate about how a conservative think tank plans to "identify and target" Wikipedia editors who it claims are abusing their position—a dangerous escalation that shifts the fight from debating edits to going after the editors themselves. slate.com/technology/2...

slate.com

A Powerful Conservative Think Tank Is Targeting One of the Last Good Things on the Internet

The Heritage Foundation plans to “identify and target” Wikipedia editors it accuses of antisemitism.

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

The open artist call for Oddball Art Labs 2025 Summer show is now live! Submit your work before June 8, 2025 to be a part of this show. Submit Your Work: www.oddballartlabs.org/call-artists/

oddballartlabs.org

Call for Artists | Mythological Mayhem | Oddball Art Labs

Oddball Art Labs Summer 2025 show will be all about mythological tales that have been passed down through the ages. This is an open artist call.

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Mike Rende @mikerende.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

Stop by the Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg during the month of February 2025 to see an amazing collection of Oddball Art! www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEhl...

youtube.com

Artist of the Month - Oddball Art Labs

YouTube video by Village of Schaumburg

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Erin Rehberg @erinrehberg.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

Applications are open from FEBRUARY 1 to MARCH 1, so don't miss your chance to be part of this one-of-a-kind event! The Elgin Fringe Festival is seeking bold, creative artists to showcase their work at this year's festival! www.elginfringefestival.com/artists

elginfringefestival.com

FOR ARTISTS | ElginFringeFestival

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