Chris Combs
@chriscombs.net
570 followers 1.4K following 310 posts
Artist in Washington, DC and Mount Rainier, MD. My art both incorporates and questions technologies. https://chriscombs.net
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Reposted by Chris Combs
chriscombs.net
Here's my first permanent public artwork, "Periscopes." When you look through its bulbous lenses, you see scenes that might seem faraway, such as heron stalking their prey; but all of the footage was filmed (by me) within 10mi of its site at Buzzard Point in southwest Washington, D.C., USA.
In a brick-lined planter along a quiet breezeway, two periscope-like grey pipes erupt from the ground like brontosauruses. They each are painted industrial grey and are roughly person-sized. From this angle, the closer "Periscope" reveals a bulbous screen that is displaying a watery natural scene. From a few feet away, their setting is more apparent. They are at two different heights, pointed, as if curious creatures, in two different directions. A close-up view shows another natural scene, this time showing a swamp. There is a hood over the end of the artwork, akin to a traffic light or signal. It has big chunky bolts. A side view shows the artwork's proximity to a central square within its host development.
chriscombs.net
of course--children can step on the ledge to view the shorter one
chriscombs.net
Forever ever! Ish!
chriscombs.net
Here's a video view that gives you a sense of what it's like to peer in the screen. The scenes are fairly still, changing every 30-60 seconds; not dynamic enough to watch like a video per se, but more like an ever-changing picture frame.

Permalink with more videos: chriscombs.net/2025/09/24/p...
chriscombs.net
I worked with a team to install this artwork at "The Stacks" on Wednesday. Steelwork by Steven R. Jones.
chriscombs.net
Here's my first permanent public artwork, "Periscopes." When you look through its bulbous lenses, you see scenes that might seem faraway, such as heron stalking their prey; but all of the footage was filmed (by me) within 10mi of its site at Buzzard Point in southwest Washington, D.C., USA.
In a brick-lined planter along a quiet breezeway, two periscope-like grey pipes erupt from the ground like brontosauruses. They each are painted industrial grey and are roughly person-sized. From this angle, the closer "Periscope" reveals a bulbous screen that is displaying a watery natural scene. From a few feet away, their setting is more apparent. They are at two different heights, pointed, as if curious creatures, in two different directions. A close-up view shows another natural scene, this time showing a swamp. There is a hood over the end of the artwork, akin to a traffic light or signal. It has big chunky bolts. A side view shows the artwork's proximity to a central square within its host development.
chriscombs.net
dismayed by recent moderation decisions on this platform and will be cooling down my participation here for a while.

atproto/bsky is about as decentralized as my nervous system.

and there is clearly a right side of history and these mod calls are not on it

Find me on masto, mastodon.art/@combs
Reposted by Chris Combs
jankypants.bsky.social
Why is a U.S. park police helicopter doing circles over my house at 0315 @cmzparker5.bsky.social @freedcproject.bsky.social
Copter spotter screenshot of USPP helicopter doing very loud loop de loops over my neighborhood
chriscombs.net
Sharing with the #SciArt feed
martynwarren.bsky.social
Hey #portfolioday, I draw these little weirdos. For fun (apparently).
A selection of the bugs I've drawn, including a crimson winged grasshopper, blue weevil, green sawtooth stag beetle, yellow man-faced shield bug, orange stag beetle, a small shiny blue leaf beetle, a large cecropia moth, a big green leaf insect   an earwig with spread wings, a red shield bug and much more.
chriscombs.net
it's eel-ectric! boogawoogawooga
Reposted by Chris Combs
chriscombs.net
ahhh yes the printer is the perfect model and position for each page to fly overhead, operator giving chase like a cat with a feather
chriscombs.net
ahhh yes the printer is the perfect model and position for each page to fly overhead, operator giving chase like a cat with a feather
chriscombs.net
SO wonderful as a sole proprietor to be paying 55% tariffs on my own circuit board designs
SUMMARY:
Merchandise Total $320.20
Shipping Estimate $48.71
Customs duties & taxes $176.11
chriscombs.net
"Apps slated for deep sleep" is so annoying. When do I get to be slated for deep sleep
Reposted by Chris Combs
artd.bsky.social
Someone needs to update this
tomaashby.bsky.social
I recently became acquainted with "Osanaetoki Bankokubanashi" 童絵解万国噺, a Japanese illustrated history of America from 1861. The retelling of the revolutionary era is quite something. Here, for instance, is John Adams wielding a sword in mortal combat with a gigantic serpent.
An illustration of a figure in Western dress fighting a giant snake with a sword
Reposted by Chris Combs
Reposted by Chris Combs
51stdc.bsky.social
Here are the House Dems NOT cosponsoring the #DCStatehood bill:
Cuellar
Don Davis
Gillen
Gluesenkamp Perez
Golden
Goodlander
V. Gonzalez
Gray
Harder
Kaptur
Susie Lee
Liccardo
McDonald Rivet
Pappas
Pou
Riley
Sherrill
Titus
Vasquez
Whitesides
chriscombs.net
@cmzparker5.bsky.social Are you still going on "public safety" strolls with MPD?

Here's our biggest safety concern right now: MPD (and the random feds and guardsmen) assaulting our neighbors for no reason whatsoever
Eckington Public Safety Walk
We will continue our community walks and multi-agency coordination with neighbors on Monday, August 25 with a walk in Eckington along T St NE. Here are the details: 
Public Safety Walk - August 25 @ 6:30 p.m.
Meet at T St and Summit Pl NE
We will join MPD's Community Safety Walk to address quality-of-life concerns in the T St NE area of Eckington. This is a great chance to connect with neighbors and share any safety concerns you have.
chriscombs.net
is codemash in OH a fun time?
Reposted by Chris Combs
tombridge.com
The thing about the occupation of DC that you're probably not hearing about as much as the checkpoints and the troops on the streets: our evenings are full of helicopters circling. It's 10:25pm, and the police copter has been circling for half an hour. It's like this every night now. It sucks.
chriscombs.net
eagerly awaiting the inevitable demise of the share.google link shortener