Stephen Maaske
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stephenmaaske.bsky.social
Stephen Maaske
@stephenmaaske.bsky.social
170 followers 170 following 320 posts
Artist,cartoonist,musician,deadhead.
▪︎80s-90s KC art/underground music scene.🎨🎸 ▪︎Senior graphic design/director~retired/corp.burnout.🔥 ▪︎Making art & music,road tripping,up all night,need coffee,what day is it?✌️❤️☕️
"What a long strange trip it's been!"
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stephenmaaske.bsky.social
Today is October 25th, and my Lilac bushes which dropped all of their leaves in September have buds that are blooming full and beautiful Lilac flowers. I've lived here for 12 years and have never seen anything like this. 2 weeks ago, it was 80° in Nebraska. Our trees are still green. Global warming.
Full blooming Lilac buds... in October? Beautiful but not normal. October 25th. Lilac bushes dropped their leaves in September, but the flowers are blooming. Never seen this before. One of my two Lilac bushes. Dropped their leaves in September. Now budding and blooming in late October. Trees are still green as well. I've lived here 12 years. 2 weeks ago 80°. Global warming in Nebraska.
October 25, 2025 at 10:31 PM
stephenmaaske.bsky.social
Stupid people are in charge of every agency of our government, led by a stupid president and followed by stupid Americans. They are dismantling all evidence and scientific based structures that inform government decisions and policy. If they all drink bleach cocktails, there will be fewer of them.
GHS classification of Chlorine Dioxide. It's poison!
July 15, 2025 at 11:14 PM
stephenmaaske.bsky.social
Opening night. The audience sits in the dark main lobby of the snowed in Overlook hotel as incidents begin to escalate around them. Danny discovers room 217. His father Jack succumbs to insanity and his wife Wendy desperately tries to take her son and escape the Overlook.

#art #theater #stagedesign
Danny talks with his imaginary friend Tony on the balcony next to the infamous room 217. The previous caretaker and creepy friends gather to convince Jack that he should "discipline" his family. Jack smashes the bathroom door into splinters with an axe, grabbing for the handle so he can stop his wife Wendy from taking their son and leaving the Overlook. Wendy on the balcony hallway screaming and slashing at husband Jack with a kitchen knife in her final chance to grab her son and escape the horrors of the Overlook Hotel.
June 8, 2025 at 1:04 AM
stephenmaaske.bsky.social
Steven Kings "The Shining." At Sokol Theatre. Finally, the lion comes to life. From standing position to crouching, upper doors, and main stage done, sound system shakes the theatre. Two weeks of hard work... ready for opening night.

#art #theater #stagedesign
IT IS ALIVE!! The monstrosity that is the lion topiary, which mechanically starts to crouch as the horrors of the Torrance family at the Overlook Hotel begin to become dire in its standing position. Waiting to pounce. Christin standing next to our mechanical lion in full crouch position as lighting, sound, and final prep for opening night is wrapped up. Writer and Director Jason Levering and Co-writer and Assistant Director Aron Sailors watch final preparations. Two geniuses! Cast shot of the Torrance family at the Overlook bar. Christina Rohling “Wendy,” Marc Erickson “Jack” and Christopher Levering as “Danny.”
June 8, 2025 at 1:04 AM
stephenmaaske.bsky.social
2014 set work for Benson Theatre production of "The Shining." Mechanical topiary that stands and begins to crouch as play get creepier. Work with Kip Meyers and Christin Locke. Large format printing of upper doors turning the Sokol Auditorium into the Overlook Hotel.

#art #theater #stagedesign
Sokol Auditorim marquee for three performances of Steven Kings "The Shining." Proceeds going to rebuild old Benson Theatre. Room 217 and 8 other doors printed full sized on large format printer for the upper balcony of Sokol Auditorium turning it into upper halls of the Overlook Hotel. Kip and Christin beginning to attach chicken wire frame and paper mache to the mechanical lion topiary for left side of the stage set. Planning out constuction of main set, upper door placement, and progress on final touches and testing of mechanical lion topiary for left side of stage
June 8, 2025 at 1:04 AM
stephenmaaske.bsky.social
Still working on a cartoon book and haven't posted art in a while, so dipping into my "way back machine" to 2014 work as 2nd set designer for the Omaha Benson Theatre production of Steven Kings "The Shining" Thanks-Mark Longbreak Photography for great pics.

#art #theater #stagedesign #setdesign
Carving a lions head out of glued together 3" foam for mechanical topiary for "The Shining" set. My cat Smudge looking on suspiciously. Front of lions head carving before sanding. Roaarrgh!!! Finish sanding lions head for mechanical topiary for production of "The Shining." Finished lions head ready to attach to mechanical raising, lowering structure for crouching topiary... "The Shining" production.
June 8, 2025 at 1:04 AM
stephenmaaske.bsky.social
Happy Birthday and many more!
happy solar birthday!
May 18, 2025 at 3:37 AM
stephenmaaske.bsky.social
Art style range train! Share your styles!!
Sunflower Shatter Eclipse/ original pen and ink finished digitally in Photoshop and Illustrator. Outside looking in/ Pen and ink cartoon illustration color added digitally. Cokes & Camels/ charcoal and colored pencil. Doodle unconfined/ created in Illustrator and Photoshop.
May 17, 2025 at 4:14 AM
stephenmaaske.bsky.social
Buddy!

My favorite rent-free resident woodchuck made his rounds during my morning coffee on the back patio this morning.

Apparently, we have a new family of raccoons this year, and our skunks will probably drop by as well... a bit apprehensive about those buggers.
May 11, 2025 at 4:29 AM
stephenmaaske.bsky.social
Happy Earth Day!

"Make Every Day Earth Day"
-Peter Max 1992

#earthday #petermax
Painting by Peter Max. Make Every Day Earth Day. Psychedelic bright colored flowers, man fishing, purple mountains sailboat in lower half curved atmosphere with sun, stars planets people flying.
April 22, 2025 at 10:56 PM
stephenmaaske.bsky.social
Thousands of Omahans gather to protest Trump administration at Memorial Park and 72 Street pedestrian bridge over Dodge Street.
Omahas 72 and Dodge bridge and sidewalks packed with protesters against Trump administration. Thousands of Omaha protesters fill most of Memorial Park. Protests on 72 Street with others heading up Memorial Park hill for speeches. A sea of people gather for speakers at the Veterans Memorial at the top of the hill.
April 6, 2025 at 1:43 AM
stephenmaaske.bsky.social
Is Caturday still a thing?
This is Boo, watching Nature on PBS, riveted in feline fascination at the beauty of the circular mating nest of the Japanese Puffer fish.
... or, more likely, she's scouting for a seafood dinner.

#caturday #photography #cat #nature
A four panel scene of the silhouette of a kitten watching a Japanese Puffer fish building a circular nest on the sea floor.
March 21, 2025 at 11:34 PM
stephenmaaske.bsky.social
▪︎ It must have been the roses

Collage with pencil drawing of Annie dancing, surrounded by roses done in pen and ink drawing/wash. Based on the song "It must have been the roses" by the Grateful Dead. May revisit this later with color.

#art #pencil #drawing #penandink #collage #illustration
Based on Grsteful Dead song "It must have been the roses." Annie the girl in the song is dancing, holding her long white dress in her fingers and surrounded by roses. Figure was done in pencil and roses were done in pen and ink wash.
March 13, 2025 at 1:28 AM
stephenmaaske.bsky.social
Work on reference material for a piece in my mind from a Grateful Dead song "It must have been the roses." About a beautiful love, the passage of time, and loss. this would be Annie who is the girl in the song and she is dancing, twirling her long white dress.

#art #pencil #penandink #drawing
Both pencil and pen and ink wash drawings of Annie, a girl dancing in a long white dress. Her hands out, one holding her dress in her fingertips. A pencil drawing of Annie, a girl dancing in a long white dress. Her hands out, one holding her dress in her fingertips. A pen and ink wash drawing of Annie, a girl dancing in a long white dress. Her hands out, one holding her dress in her fingertips.
March 13, 2025 at 1:13 AM
stephenmaaske.bsky.social
Mudheads lead singer "Mottly" was an extremely intense yet very kind, intelligent person. Our band played a couple of shows with them. They were the premiere band in the KC punk scene and a mainstay at the underground bar "The Epitaph."
Picture of Mottly, the lead singer of punk band Mudhead standing next to a large classical marble head.
March 3, 2025 at 1:08 AM
stephenmaaske.bsky.social
This was the Windwall that hit Omaha on July 31, 2024, with 80-100mph winds. It tore the city apart. Pulled up my 100 yr old tree and crashed it onto my house. I get very nervous in the spring.
Picture of giant wall cloud, towering over apartments, tore through Omaha July 31 2024.
March 2, 2025 at 10:13 PM
stephenmaaske.bsky.social
▪︎ Here we stand here we stay

In honor of the February 28th Economic Blackout, I thought I would put up some posters that I sent to Occupy/Design in NYC for the Occupy Wallstreet movement. They sent out packages with the logo and had to be 8.5x11 for b&w printers.

#art #digitalart #political
Poster for Occupy Wallstreet with a black and white image of a protester who was beaten throwing up his hand with a peace sign before being taken away in an ambulance. The background is red and made up of a pattern of police with batons and zip ties.
February 28, 2025 at 4:17 AM
stephenmaaske.bsky.social
▪︎ Kleptocratic gaslighting.

In honor of the February 28th Economic Blackout, I thought I would put up some posters that I sent to Occupy/Design in NYC for the Occupy Wallstreet movement. They sent out packages with the logo and had to be 8.5x11 for b&w printers.

#art #digitalart #political
Occupy Wallstreet poster from 2011 showing the Monopoly character "Rich Uncle Pennybags, kicking back in his chair, smile on his face, feet on the table smoking a ciggar while money falls down the poster. Tagline "Explain Trickle down economics to me... Now try it again, with a straight face.
February 28, 2025 at 3:58 AM
stephenmaaske.bsky.social
Bernie Sanders Fighting Oligarchy Protest/Organize. 2/21/25. Always good to have my daughter McKinsie with me. We're not standing by while this madman and his billionaire cronies destroy our county and strip away hard fought rights. Organize, resist.

#political #protest #rally #resistance
They had to get a bigger venue. 600 people with 300 in lobby for Fight Oligarchy Bernie Sanders rally. Main ballroom packed full of people. Hands up for the Senator taking stage. Closer picture of Senator Sanders speaking about the MLK March on Washington DC. He's fought for human rights his whole life. Yes, the typical Sandars raised finger pointing to Musk, Bezos, Zuckerberg, and the other billionaires who had front seats at Trumps inauguration. Crowd listening intently. A picture of my daughter and myself. My kiddo! No father wished this world for their children. She's 28 and knows what tear gas and rubber bullets feel like. She has her father's tenacity and her mother's good looks.
February 23, 2025 at 6:39 AM
stephenmaaske.bsky.social
▪︎Teach your children well

Pen and ink stipple illustration 18x24

Stipple drawing inspired from photographs found in old boxes, taken back in the summer of 1987-Regan Administration Iran/Contra Scandal political protest and event, Nelson-Atkins lawn, Kansas City, MO.

#art #penandink #illustration
Little girl sitting on the lawn with other protesters, holding her sign with both hsnds. "freepeople, freedom, freedom! Central AM." On the ground in front is a local Zine called "The Militant."
February 21, 2025 at 4:58 AM
stephenmaaske.bsky.social
▪︎Band Mudhead pure energy

Rummaging through old boxes for subject matter and found these four images taken back in the summer of 1987-Regan Administrations Iran/Contra Scandal political protest and event, Nelson-Atkins lawn, Kansas City,MO. Other photos lost to time.

#photography #political #photo
Mottlty, lead singer of Mudhead, a Kansas City punk band twisting body, arms swinging in the air, mimicked by a winged statue in the background.
February 21, 2025 at 4:34 AM
stephenmaaske.bsky.social
▪︎Teach your children well

Rummaging through old boxes for subject matter and found these four images taken back in the summer of 1987-Regan Administrations Iran/Contra Scandal political protest and event, Nelson-Atkins lawn, Kansas City,MO. Other photos lost to time.

#photography #political #photo
Young girl sitting on lawn at protest event with a sign scribbled "Freepeople! Freedom. Freedom Central A.M" The Militant a local Zine laying near her.
February 21, 2025 at 4:26 AM
stephenmaaske.bsky.social
▪︎Peace & love dance by

Rummaging through old boxes for subject matter and found these four images taken back in the summer of 1987-Regan Administrations Iran/Contra Scandal political protest and event, Nelson-Atkins lawn, Kansas City, MO. Other photos lost to time.

#photography #political #photo
Shirtless guy with his dog watching on that summer day as a happy hippie, arms open to welcome the scene, dances by.
February 21, 2025 at 4:16 AM
stephenmaaske.bsky.social
▪︎Seasoned veteran

Rummaging through old boxes for subject matter and found these four images taken back in the summer of 1987-Regan Administrations Iran/Contra Scandal political protest and event, Nelson-Atkins lawn, Kansas City, MO. Other photos lost to time.

#photography #political #photo
Black and white photo of aged man with deep frown in suit and fedora. Another protest ends. He gently holds his sign down at his side as he makes his way back home.
February 21, 2025 at 4:06 AM
stephenmaaske.bsky.social
▪︎ Sunflower shatter eclipse

Original pen and ink drawing moved, reworked and finished in Illustrator.

#art #digitalart #illustration #black&white
Black sun fills the horizon. Sunflower in the foreground, seeds, and petals shattered and exploding. Original pen and ink drawing reworked and finished in Illustrator.
February 15, 2025 at 5:19 AM