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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, JULY 14, 2014
PAGE 6
DOWNTOWN
Grads re-create iconic displays in Game Nut window
TOM DEHART
news@kansan.com
The characters who have inhabited the window at Game Nut, 844 Massachusetts St., are the same characters that gamers, science-fiction and fantasy fans have familiarized themselves with over the course of their lives: Mario, Link, Batman, Master Chief, Luke and Leia Skywalker and Adventure Time's Finn and Jake.
On July 3, The Great Hall from HBO's Game of Thrones moved into Game Nut's store window. This time there are no characters in the store window—just the iconic Iron Throne. The display was made by Smash-otron Industries, a local startup created by University graduates Scott Burr and Tyler Snell.
Burr, who graduated in 2011, and Snell, who graduated in 2007, aren't
responsible for all of the store's window displays, but they've been responsible for five of them since Burr graduated in 2011, including a 3-D 8-bit of rendition of Young Link battling two octa-rocks and four displays after that: Batman, Adventure Time, Mario and the Iron Throne.
"I started out as a painter, too, and I kind of got into sculpting too because it was different." Burr said. "I didn't really enjoy creating illusion with
Each was made mostly from styrofoam, an approach to sculpting that Burr learned during his time in the University's art and design program, and one that came in handy during a 2011 scholarship show when one of his most important molds broke a week before the show. He then made six sculptures and a backdrop with scenery in less than a week using styrofoam.
color—it wasn't really my thing—so I moved towards the more literal [art form]. If I wanted something round, I just made something round."
Burr said he started doing the displays at Game Nut when he was looking for something to do after graduation. When Burr was finishing his first display, he needed a pair of extra hands to help him with some finishing touches and setting the display up in the store window. He asked Snell for help.
The two currently work together at Blue Collar Press, a screen printing company and have performed in two bands together: Rader Defender and Burr's band from high school, Aqua Symphonics. Burr played guitar and sang while Snell played bass.
Taking their efforts into sculpting and painting together was a natural step to take after working together in
music.
"We work together fine, mostly because we're both laid back," Burr said. "I think that I'm a little sloppier than him. That's the most frustrating thing probably for him is that I goop [the paint] on."
Snell said he doesn't see it as a frustration, but appreciates the dynamic
"We know how each other work," Snell said.
They both agree their favorite Sci-fi authors are Kurt Vonnegut, Philip K. Dick and Isaac Asimov, and they both appreciate comic book artists like the Hellbov illustrator. Mike Mignola.
Gene Nutt, the owner of Game Nut, says the display does a good job of advertising the store, but filling the space is a difficult task to tackle.
“[Burr] does a good job for me,” Nutt said. “He gets how big the window is because—it being this size of window—you don't realize how hard it is to fill that window up until you
try to start doing something."
John Hachmeister, an associate professor of sculpture at the University, said he remembers Burr and Snell were serious about art—they weren't afraid to make bad art, which he said can lead young artists to create good art.
"They were good students," Hachmeister said. "They put in the time, because part of succeeding as an artist is about practice. You have to keep working at it, and they both did that. That's what I remember—they had the right kind of drive."
Burr said creating art for the store window has been an enjoyable experience.
Edited by Emma LeGault
"It's just kind of awesome to just kind of be a nerdy kid and then end up doing this," Burr said.
TOM DFHART/KANSAN
Scott Burr, a local sculptor, sits in his styrofoam recreation of the Iron Throne in the store window of Game Nut while Tyler Snell, a local painter, stands beside him.
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