by Ione Citrin

Artwork Description

Rudy the Robot

0.0 x 0.0

29" high x 24 1/2" wide x 36" deep mixed media sculpture "Rudy The Robot" - New inventions were constantly appearing on the consumer market. Esther was a "gadget freak" Her house was filled with the latest appliances, all very expensive, and all very wonderful. Then, one day when fidgeting around on the internet, Esther saw a website for "home robots". A robot that would do simple tasks upon command. "What a joy!" Esther thought. "How fun!" Immediately she sent away for the top of the line, "Rudy the Robot". When the huge crate arrived and was opened, she was surprised. She didn't realize how big the robot would be. He filled her small living room. His presence was "magnetic". Esther immediately began fiddling with the controls, making the robot do little simple things; like, open the front door, shut the window, pull the drapes. Everything he did made her squeal with joy. He was so simple to operate. He did everything so perfectly! Eventually she had him doing chores around the house, like washing the dishes, making the bed, vacuuming. She couldn't believe it. When she first got him and told her friends about her "find", they thought she was nuts, so as time went on and the robot began doing more and more things for her, she stopped talking about him. She loved making new demands on him. He never failed to do as he was ordered. Esther got to the point where she started talking to him. He would just stand there, his lights blinking, waiting for a command from the control panel. Then one lonely night she approached him and gave him a kiss on his cold metal dial. Even though he didn't and couldn't respond, she was in love with him. He was the perfect roommate, the perfect companion, never demanding and doing all her bidding without hesitation. She began to scour the internet to see if there was an "advanced" version of Rudy, something not quite "so mechanical". She faithfully searched on a monthly basis knowing that technology would advance to the creation of a more "human-like" robot. As they came out on the market she kept getting updated versions of "Rudy the Robot". With each new "Rudy", she discovered he was able to do more and more "stuff" around the house. One time much to her delight he made her an egg. "Sunnyside up and perfect." That night she directed him to stand by her bed. His presence was comforting. As she drifted off to sleep she thought, "Maybe something softer; with hair and muscles".

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