You know, if I ever open that school, this is definitely going in there.

 

Thanks to all who have expressed enthusiasm about this exhibit so far. It's been a school project/labor of love that's consumed most of my life for the last 3 months, so I pray it shows when people actually see it.

As I mentioned in my initial post, the exhibit is technically unfinished: I still need to create a display case for the comics I've set aside, I need to create signs, and I need to do some minor tweaking. Hoping to have those things done (or at least started) between now and Wednesday.

Thank you very much for the kind words. I'm not going to lie: I think this exhibit is 10 times better than the last one. It's bigger, more focused, and has a LOT more than just random toys and merchandise. In hindsight, I think last year's exhibit was practice for this one.

The problem has nothing to do with Cullen personally, as far as any sort of ego problem getting in the way or anything negative like that. He's just very hard to get hold of. No Facebook, no Twitter, no personal website. I wrote to his agent, and it was more or less confirmed to me that they never passed the word along. I recently touched base with someone, who knows someone, who knows him. Hoping that word might reach him via that daisy chain. I truly believe that he'd be on board with something like this... if only he knew about it.

This was my sentiment with my last exhibit: bridge the generational gaps, bring young and old together, create a bonding experience. Young children growing up with the movies, Animated, and TF: Prime have no idea what G1 or BW or RID is. What a great way to introduce them to the full history of a character that they already know and love! Likewise, someone who hasn't followed TFs since the 80s or 90s might be surprised at how many Optimus toys are actually out there. I think it's safe to call this "something for everyone."

He's easily one of my top 5 favorite Optimus Prime toys... no way I was leaving him out!

 

Awesome - this is my Trans-fan buddy's alma-mater and I only live 45 minutes away. We'll be making a special trip to check it out!

 

Myself and a few friends will be dropping in to check it out sometime soon.

 

Kudos to you for making this happen, sounds like it's going to be great  

Any chance you can arrange some kind of virtual tour / online archive after the event has finished for those of us unable to attend in person?

Keep up the great work!

 

Awesome. Wish I lived nearby so I could come see!

Shame you couldn't get in contact with Cullen. From everything I've heard he'd love to take part in something like this.

 

I agree it would be cool to get a meet-up together. We haven't had one in a while. Unfortunately on the 9th and 10th I'm gonna be working on my mom's house to help her out.

I may try to go on the 16th.

 

I so want to see this.

 

Wooooow!!! As many as THREE floors! No one could pull out me from there, if I would be there!
It's great that you managed to make such an exhibition! And even to be recognized by such distinguished people (as Garry Chalk and others)!
Good luck to reach the same from Peter Cullen - his letter with the wise and kind words would adorn the exhibition!
It would be nice to travel with the exhibition around the world, when you become really stronger!
Come to Russia, at least in our St. Petersburg!  

 

My librarian mentor wants to collaborate with me on an online version of the exhibit that would be archived for future reference. Best case scenario will see it go live in 2-3 weeks, but that is tentative at best right now. If and when it goes up, I'll let everyone know.

 

Hope your efforts to get a response and letter from Peter come to fruition. His letter would be the crown jewel to an already wonderful sounding exhibit. Also kudos for including RID Optimus, he's my 2nd fave Optimus.
This sounds like it would be an interesting way to spend a couple of hours. Would love to see it myself.

 

I'd love to attend a meetup! But the weekend of the 9th & 10th is bad for me too, it's my wife's B-day and if I drag her to a TF exhibition that weekend..... well, I'll just stop there LOL!
Later

 

Hey it's not our fault the west coast of florida is mostly known for sleepy retiree towns like cape coral and fort myers. I didnt draw the map. Anything above lake Okeechobee is considered northern florida whether it's on the coast or the mainland. Most of the northerners hate our large influx of minorities and wish they could split the state in two. Im down with that. For the record, I mean no disrespect to you. I just want to clear up a misconception that the schools name would give others.

 

Just a heads-up that I have posted a few pics from the exhibit into my initial post on the first page of this thread. Enjoy, and thanks to everyone for the positive reception that this exhibit has garnered!

 

Oh wow, my uncle lives in Pasley, FL.

 

Awesome pics

 

Nice! More pics please!  

 

Letters from VAs adds value for sure. Nice pics! Hope to see more.

 

Hello. I hope it's okay to post this here.

I work for the NPR affiliate out of Tampa, WUSF, and last Tuesday, I interviewed Dharmacon, who organized this exhibit at the USF St Pete library (since we're stationed on the Tampa USF campus). We'll be broadcasting the story, with clips from the interview, Friday morning at 7 or 8 AM, and again at around 5 PM. Those not in the Tampa/St. Pete area can stream us online at http://www.wusf.usf.edu/

Along with the story, there is a web article, which is currently up on the site right now (http://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/post/transformers-exhibit-brings-optimus-prime-life). It expands upon the broadcasted story, but will include photos of the exhibit, as well as images and media from the Transformers franchise itself.

I want to thank Dharmacon for taking the time to talk to me last week, and for his wonderful contribution he's made for Transformers fans.

I was also wondering if it would be possible to have an update about this interview mentioned in a news article? It would be great publicity for our website. If not, that's fine.

-M. Seegz

 

Great article on the exhibit from the Tampa Bay Times

'Robots in disguise' on display at Poynter Library Transformers exhibit - Tampa Bay Times