tombob2007's photostream

from Techno-Romantic to tombob
I’ve been making my living designing jewelry and sculpture for 37 years. Everyone who knows the contemporary craft scene knows Thomas Mann and Techno-Romantic® Jewelry Objects. I have been happily trapped in that identity to the benefit of my staff and myself since its development in the late 70s. But artists, if they are true to their artistic nature are constantly pushing the boundaries of their identities by exploring new techniques, materials and, most importantly,conceptual interests.

I have always described myself as an artist working in the medium of jewelry. I am NOT a jeweler. I see jewelry as sculpture that is wearable. I was extremely fortunate to have discovered and developed the Techno-Romantic® design vocabulary when I did. It has proven to be a concept that remains popular with the craft appreciative public and has, as a result, allowed me to continue to develop as an artist. So, while I continue to work on the Techno-Romantic® with my staff I also pursue many other interests and ideas.

My most recent sculptural interests involve natural materials and carved plastics. The found object remains a vital part of how I interact with the world so beach combing allows for relaxation combined with artistic explorations. The carved plastics allows for the interpretation of the natural environment in more traditional metalsmithing terms and has produced a body of work I refer to as the “Float Series”. This work will be translated from jewelry scale to sculptural scale in the fall during a artist in residency I have been offered at the Uroboros Glass factory in Portland, OR.

I am also working several large public art sculptures for the city of Chattanooga. I recently acquired a warehouse there and intend to setup a sculpture and jewelry studio there as well as maintaining my existing facilities, gallery and staff in New Orleans.

As a result of all of this I am experiencing an identity crisis. But a good one I think. You know the Chinese symbol for crises means danger and opportunity. So its all very scary and at the same time, very exciting to be pushing the boundaries. All of this has indicted the need to establish a knew identity for the work that clearly doesn’t fit the Techno-Romantic® profile.

Welcome to tombob country. A couple of years ago I attempted to redefine my artistic identity with an specially designed booth for the winter ACC Baltimore craft Show that had two distinct sections. One was the expected Thomas Mann Techno-romantic presentation and the other was a gallery like installation of one of a kind work which bore the title Thomas Robert Mann. Robert was my dad’s name and my middle name but I have never used it, My artist friends immediately dubbed this effort the “tom bob booth” and have been poking fun at me about it ever since.


But now, I am embracing this nickname and presenting, for the first time, a booth and a body of work distinctly different from what people know and expect with great hopes that it will be as successful, in every way, as Techno-Romantic always has been.