Erik Lindbergh Offers New Art

In the past, we've featured some of the cool art of Erik Lindbergh. The multidimensional artist/pilot/philanthropist may be best known to our readers for flying a Columbia 350 across the Atlantic (below), joining the Rocket Racing League and serving on the board of the X Prize foundation.

But he also is an artist whose work frequently combines air and space themes with a fondness for recycled materials, exotic woods, and unusual finishes. Most of his work is in limited editions.

"Prices of bronze are increasing, but this offer will last for a month or two," Erik wrote in an email to friends and clients. "I know its not very sophisticated marketing, but I'm pretty busy changing the world in my other life...."

We'll let Erik describe the new pieces.

Twisted Lamp:  "This amazing lamp is made from figured maple, and a Bronze cast of a Juniper tree. It casts a rich, warm glow with the figured Madrone veneer lampshade." Signed limited edition of 25. $1,895

Escape from Grey Matter:  "One of a kind. Rocket made from Cedar and Dogwood, smoke trail from Pine Root, and the brain planet is made from Unobtainium." $2,350 (this one-off artwork has not hit the website yet, so you're probably seeing it here for the first time).

Lancair Columbia: This was new in September, but there's a new color finish. "Three Patinas available - Light blue/white marble, Dark blue/white marble and NEW Autumn Gold swirl." Bronze, Signed, Limited Edition of 75 $2,235

Socata TBM 700: "Three Patinas available -Light blue/white marble, Dark blue/white marble and NEW Autumn Gold swirl." Bronze, Signed, Limited Edition of 50. $2,235. It's hard to imagine anyone who flies or maintains TBMs not having an eye for art like this.

"The Sky is no longer the limit!" is Erik's new slogan, and he further promises -- real soon now -- a new website at www.eriklindbergh.com (which presently is mapped to the Lindbergh Gallery site). In practical terms, he tells us, the new site will probably be online sometime in mid-January. He can't wait, because right now he has to send changes to a webmaster, and he's now getting what every artist wants: direct control.

In addition to the new art, Erik has improved some older pieces.

Timecapsule Rocket: "Hollow, with 2" diameter removable plug at bottom to store artifacts or cremated remains. Six feet tall with red uplit exhaust cone, pedestal and vitrine." Bronze, Signed, Limited Edition of 25 $9,850

What you can easily skim over in Erik's description is the size of it. With the pedestal and all, it's just a couple inches short of six feet tall. That is a BIG bronze rocket. A pair of them would make great door guards for the armory in Hognose Manor, but what would I do with the suits of armour standing there now? So I'm afraid you'll have to buy them, dear readers.

By the way, vitrine: "A glass-paneled cabinet or case for displaying articles such as china, objects d'art, or fine merchandise." So says the American Heritage English Dictionary. We had to look it up, too....

Flash Gordon desktop Rocket keepsake urn: "For the space cadet that has moved on...Holds a small amount of cremated remains. Signed Limited Edition of 75 $1,925"

And finally, the famous little rockets, some of which flew in SpaceShipOne, are at the end of their edition. "I decided to break the mold on the Bronze Mini Rocket," Erik writes. "Six of these rockets flew on SpaceshipOne during the XPRIZE winning suborbital spaceflight! A NASA Historian assured me that these were the first Bronze Sculptures ever to fly into space. Congratulations to those who now own these rockets." He still has a small single-digit number of (non space-flown) mini rockets left - out of a grand total of 52 cast.(Update: as of the night of the 21st, he was down to two in inventory).

Bronze Mini Rocket: Initialed, dated, only 8 left!" $285

Planet base for mini rocket: Made from figured wood burl -- Erik does not put a price on this because of the sort of wood he uses and the handwork that's involved. As a result, he tells us, the price "varies (like lobster in a restaurant)."

Erik also advises us that he's temporarily out of the planet bases, but he will accept backorders for those Mini Rocket buyers who want the base, too. The prices don't include shipping (which could be beefy if you get the 70" bronze rocket... of course, if you can buy a $10,000 artwork -- or funeral urn -- I daresay you can pay to have it delivered).

Erik's art is not only available in the Lindbergh Gallery... selected pieces are in galleries around the world, although the bulk of his works are in the hands of private collectors.

FMI: www.lindberghgallery.com  www.eriklindbergh.com (it's the same gallery site now, but bookmark it for later!)