Dear Friends,

I need some help. It's embarrassing. For 40 years, I've been building things that move and (hopefully) making people smile. My New York studio has always been open to the public and is the hub of my artmaking.

Since the pandemic, much of the exhibitions I counted on have not transpired. I then stepped away for three years to care for my dear mother in Iowa and also gained full care of Rusty, her dog. When I returned to New York with Rusty, I was in the red. I'm asking for financial help to reduce that debt and help me through this drought of traveling exhibits/commissions/sales.

My art includes kinetic sculptures built from old machine parts, broken toys, kitchen utensils, carnival figurines, and whatever other beautiful junk I can get my hands on. Things that move. Things that make people stop on the sidewalk, stare, and grin. I've been doing this since 1985, when I approached the landlords at an abandoned SoHo New York factory window and began making motorized installations on the street. Since then, my work has traveled the world until recently. Despite all this, the moment I live for is still the same: watching someone see a piece move for the first time and light up.

I am still in search of a much smaller space here at Atlas studios, fingers crossed and am a recent member of the Silver Society, Medicare. I need to clear my current studio, while my mind and body are still fairly solid. I will continue to do on-location community workshops, assist with promoting local events, and be available for what my new chapter brings.

Sincerely,

Stephen Gerberich