< this is where my arm should be

PROP DESIGNER  •  SCULPTOR  •  INSTALLATION ARTIST 

I am an Orlando based artist working primarily with recycled and surplus materials. I’ve designed and built everything from jellyfish to submarines, and from giant mobiles to paper forests. I am best known for my paper bag mushrooms which have been planted on every continent in the world, including Antarctica.

 

TANK
5 feet in length
Constructed entirely from discarded cardboard, and surplus items.

 

MINIBOTS
3 inches in height
Made from cardboard, surplus parts and wire.

 

VALENTINES DAY SQUID
6 feet in length
Constructed from cardboard and dozens of bottle caps.

client – Orlando Chiropractic

 

X-WING FIGHTER – IN PROGRESS
4.5 foot in length
Built from discarded and surplus items.

 

SUBMARINE
18 inches x 12 inches
Built from repurposed wooden chair and surplus parts for Orlando’s Red Chair Project.

client Orlando Science Center – 2013
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TARPLEY RESEARCH VEHICAL – 4.5′ x 9”
Constructed completely from garbage for OSC Space Junk exhibit.

client Orlando Science Center – 2015

 

RESEARCH PROBE – 7″ x 5″
Constructed completely from garbage for OSC Space Junk exhibit.

client Orlando Science Center – 2015

 

40MM PLUNGER CANNON – 6′ x 4.5′
Constructed entirely from surplus parts and dumpster finds.

Exhibited at Maker Faire Orlando – 2015

 

THE ARGYLE – 4′ x 9″
Constructed from reclaimed cardboard and detailed with discarded lids, bottle caps, mardi gras beads, towel tubes etc.

client Lisa Bates – 2015

 

THE QUEEN BEE – 7′ x 14″
Constructed from reclaimed cardboard and detailed with discarded lids, bottle caps, mardi gras beads, towel tubes etc.

client Honeycomb Salon – 2014

 

NIGHT OF A THOUSAND JELLYFISH
1,000 jellyfish constructed from a variety of discarded and surplus items – water bottles, plastic containers and other parts and pieces. the entire installation was illuminated with ultraviolet light.

exhibited at City Arts Factory – 2009
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MIGRATION  – 4011 matchstick camel-like animals arranged in a massive, miniature migration.

exhibited at CityArts Factory – 2007
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MIGRATION  – 4011 matchstick camel-like animals arranged in a massive, miniature migration.

exhibited at CityArts Factory – 2007
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MIGRATION  – 4011 matchstick camel-like animals arranged in a massive, miniature migration.

exhibited at CityArts Factory – 2007
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MINIATURE WIND TURBINES – 26″ tall
Constructed from card stock and foam board to blow in the wind.

client Parenting Magazine – 2011

 

UFO2  – 9′ x 7′
Built from sheet styrofoam and foam board and lit with dozens of glowsticks. The entire structure was powered by fans to spin in space.

exhibited at the China Glass Factory – 2007
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BAMBOO  – 11′ tall
14 bamboo trees were created from toilet tubes and paper towel tubes and fitted with soda straw branches adorned with tens of thousands of hand cut paper leaves.

exhibited at COMMA Gallery – 2005
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BAMBOO  – 11′ tall
14 bamboo trees were created from toilet tubes and paper towel tubes and fitted with soda straw branches adorned with tens of thousands of hand cut paper leaves.

exhibited at COMMA Gallery – 2005
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MIGRATION 2  – 2000 badger-like clay figurines made their way through the entire studio of SAY IT LOUD.

exhibited at SAY IT LOUD – 2008
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PAPER BAG MUSHROOMS
Tens of thousands of paper bag mushrooms planted by myself and hundreds of individuals, schools and organizations throughout the world.
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GLOWING PAPER BAG MUSHROOM  – 9″ tall
500 mushrooms made from white lunch bags fitted with glow sticks.

installed at the Orlando Fringe Festival – 2007
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MIGRATION 3 – Running of the lederhosen  – 10″ tall
41 painted steel german folk pants running somewhere.

exhibited at the Maitland Art Center – 2008
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DESICCATION – Dried leaves, twigs, seed pods reconstructed into dried octopi, fish, mollusks and other ocean dwelling sculptures.

exhibited at Twelve21 Gallery – 2011
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MARS PROBE – 14 inches x 12 inches
Built from repurposed wooden chair and surplus parts for Orlando’s Red Chair Project.

client Orlando Science Center – 2011
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SOAP HENGE – 6′ diameter
An exact representation of stonehenge made entirely of both family and personal sized soaps. Part of a group exhibition for the grand opening of bay two.

exhibited at Bay 2 Orlando – 2008
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ALIEN MOCKUP – 14″ tall
Constructed from sculpey, plastic and fabric.

client – Terror On Church Street – 1996

 

Creature sketch –
Concept drawing for alien based attraction.

client Pallard and LeGrand – 1996

 

DEEP BLUE – creepy, spooky, bitie and glowie. DEEP BLUE was loaded with many many many scary hand crafted fish of all sizes and shapes created completely from discarded cardboard. discardboard.

exhibited at Bold Hype – 2009
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20 FOOT MOBILE – 20′
Constructed from reclaimed cardboard and PVC tubing.

client Orlando Science Center – 2015
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If that wasn’t enough, here is everything I’ve ever done with a lot more information and photos! 

 

 

 

what’s new… updated september 11, 2015
quite simply, this is what I’ve been up to…

DOUG BUILDS STAR WARS!! – in progress
After a few years of prepping, measuring, praying, kicking and screaming… I’m about to begin on the most difficult, challenging and adventurous project in my life as an artist….

 SPORE Project  – ongoing
for the past several years, individuals, classrooms and organizations around the world, have constructed and planted thousands and thousands and thousands of paper bag mushrooms in support of creativity and art education! help us out this spring as we continue to spread the project even further!

 the SPORE Project goes to Ukraine
This summer, the SPORE Project is going to Ukraine to participate in summer camps for orphaned children.

 50,000th paper bag mushroom – apr 28th, 2013
since 1999, I have been making and installing  mushrooms made from paper lunch lunch bags. on march 28, 2013 i created my 50,000th paper bag mushroom LIVE on stage.

 thedailycity.com cardboard art festival – jan 25th – 27th, 2013
7 artists create a weekend of cardboard creations, food, music, entertainment and complete mayhem!

 return of frankenshow – oct 5th, 2012
after 11 years in storage, the award winning frankenshow is back with all your frankenfavorites: frankencork, frankenpants, and the lovable, grotesque frankenpuppet!

 the brood – apr 5th, 2012
an installation at inyo pools headquarters of 100 or so large, fish made from discarded parts and pieces. i rented the tallest ladder in the world to do the job.

 20′ mobile for osc – feb 29th, 2012
one extra large mobile built completely from discarded cardboard on permanent display of the orlando science center.

 an infestation – feb 17th, 2012
doug rhodehamel and les jarvela create a peep show showcasing floating glowing mess of ghost-like entities for rob reedy’s birthday.

 blump – jan 13,  2012
maitland art center’s ‘culture & cocktails featured my latest installation, BLUMP… part jellyfish, part blimp, part glowing, part large, completely wonderful.

 peace fish series
18 years of fish ornaments!

 BACON! The Experience – oct 15th, 2012
a celebration of the most magical food ever invented! BACON! The Experience will tickle, tantalize and overload every one of your bacon sensory organs!

 AQUAPODICA – Summer 2011
 immerse yourself in a pool of glowing jellyfish. this installation is created entirely of recycled materials. i have saved the environment again.

 MUSHROOMS ACROSS AMERICA – June 2011
50 states in america, you might live in one of them. do your part as an american and plant a nice crop of paper bag mushrooms all in support of art education and creativity! 

DESICCATION – Feb 25th, 2011
an entire collection of deep sea creatures is created using dried exotic plant matter gathered from Leu Gardens over a four year period.

MAGNIFIQUE – nov 20th, 2010
following the success of LUMINEUX, MAGNIFIQUE was created with even more magical movements, mushrooms and illuminations

sea of green – nov 5th, 2010
using little more than painted, discarded cardboard, the lake eustis museum of art is transformed into a virtual aquarium.

artist in residence – june 16th, 2010 – oct 23rd, 2011
doug rhodehamel tours central florida one resident at a time while living in a very modified cardboard box.

LUMINEUX – may 29th and 30th, 2010
a living, breathing, art installation and performance featuring magical movements, mushrooms & illuminations. performed at the 2010 orlando FRINGE festival.

surrounded 2 – nov 14th, 2009
i exhibit 4 bathyspheres along side a whole bunch of great work from about 30 or so local artists.  it’s also my birthday. i turn 41.

DEEP BLUE – july 31th, 2009
creepy, spooky, bitie and glowie. DEEP BLUE was loaded with many many many scary hand crafted fish of all sizes and shapes created completely from discarded cardboard (discardboard?).

migration 4 – june 4th, 2009
cows and cows and cows and cows and beans and wieners and music and stuff.

fostercows – 1986 to present
the ever so clever and funny to laugh at fostercows! designed by doug rhodehamel and dan lantz in 1986 while bored in mrs. foster’s geometry class.

LARVA – may 26th, 2009
one giant 30 foot inflated larva with of music of A sissor

a.thunderstorm – may 1st, 2009
installation featuring a large thundercloud made from miles of discarded cassette tape.

cocktails & cosmos – mar 21st, 2009
a collaboration with voci modern dance featuring jellyfish made from discarded items and large umbrellas as well as an installation of large paper fish.

night of a thousand jellyfish – feb 27th, 2009
1,000 jellyfish constructed from a variety of discarded and surplus items – water bottles, plastic containers and other parts and pieces.

mobiles by doug
the following is a collection of some of my favorite mobiles.

migration 3 – dec 8th, 2008
an installation of 41 found objects resembling running german folk pants. made from painted steel.

migration 2 – sep 5, 2008
the second in the migration series, this installation featured a collection of 2000 badger-like clay figurines and was sponsored by united arts of central florida.

anemone – aug 22, 2008
an inflatable landscape of undulating illuminated latex tendrils.

 red chair project – july 22, 2008
to help promote the red chair project, i transform a simple wooden chair into a mars rover

soap henge – apr 9, 2008
a representation of stonehenge made entirely of both family and personal sized soaps. part of a group exhibition for the grand opening of bay two.

ufo2 – oct 19th, 2007
one really big spinning ufo.

ufo1 – sep 6th, 2007
one big spinning ufo

migration – july 27th, 2007
4011 matchbook camels arranged in a massive miniature migration.

the unfortunate guppy – may 17th, 2007
a suspension of fish featuring one unfortunate guppy.

10,000 paper bag mushrooms- may 11th, 2007
10,000 paper bag mushrooms installed across the lawn of loch haven park to promote awareness for the support of art education. a giant thank you to everyone who helped plant them!

fungus of the stars – may 17th, 2007
a benefit featuring over 60 paper bag mushrooms creatively modified by orlando’s finest artists, musicians, politicians, writers and other noteworthy peeps.

40440 – sept 21st, 2006
40 mobiles for 40 bucks. and cheese…lots and lots of cheese

doug’s 25,000 mushroom – july 12th, 2006
one night – one doug – one very big mushroom

SWARM – apr 17th, 2006
a suspension of hundreds of greasy hand cut scary biting fish

beasties – dec 2nd, 2005
evil illustrations by doug rhodehamel followed by pickle juice people and their pets.

junque – sep 30th, 2005
a miniature sculpture garden featuring the works of frank gady, kim jones, rachel lloyd, megan paquette and doug rhodehamel.

BAMBOO – aug 9th, 2005
a entire bamboo forest constructed from paper towel and toilet paper tubes, coffee stirrers and 4,410 hand cut paper leaves.

octopus – june 7th, 2005
a collection of drawings featuring a large number of ink squirters. the prints were painted with wine and beet juice and coated in polyurethane.

cucumbers in bloom – apr 2nd, 2005
large drawings ranging from a couple ghost to a migration of turtles… painted with a wash of coffee and coated with polyurethane.

war pickles – mar 11th, 2005
large drawings ranging from a squid with glasses to a cluster of abe lincolns… painted with a wash of coffee and coated with polyurethane.

art for asia – feb 4th, 2005
a reflief effort for tsunami victims presented by brett bennett and doug rhodehamel.

design night – jan 16th, 2005
wine, cheese, art, furniture and a handful of artists displaying their work. i made mobiles.

colostomus – sept 27th, 2004
18 feet of styrofoam goodness! the entire structure was illuminated with 50 glowstick giving it a slight ghosty appearance.

a multitude of miniature mobiles – aug 16th, 2004
21 miniature mobiles were hung in the main room just days after hurricane charlie turned orlando into a massive salad. As most people were still without power during the first reception, a second one was held a couple weeks later… this time with working AC and beer coolers.

egg. – june 25, 2004
invented by kim jimenez – directed by doug rhodehamel – presented by babaghanoush. A collaborative effort by many many many local artists featuring all that is egg . Below are my egg sculptures and mobile from the show.

ting – july 18, 2004
mobiles, tintinbabulation, books and booze. a nice collection of chiming mobiles built from painted plastic and aluminum tubing.

mobiles 2 – july 25th, 2003
a nice bright collection of mobiles made from painted sheet plastic. dad bought a bunch of pizza and fed everyone.

local papers – jan 6th, 2003
handmade paper constructed with bits and pieces or what makes orlando…orlando.

mobiles 1 – sep 27th, 2002
a variety of mobiles from fishies to ufos. many became permanent fixtures of the store… for awhile.

deep sea 3D – july 1st, 2001
colorful paintings of spooky deep sea dwellers in fabulous 3D.

dangermobiles! – dec 3rd, 2001
art that hurts! mobiles that maim! killer kinetics and koffee. mobiles with a dangerous twist.

frankenshow – oct 4th, 2001
you will scream…you will laugh…you will drink coffee… gaze in horror at a collection of 13 of the most frankensteinist things ever assembled!

coat hanger stories – aug 10th, 2001
coat hanger stories consisted of a collection of mounted coat hangers found in parking lots, presumably once used to unlock cars. stories based on the experiences of the unknown coat hanger users were written by local writers jim crescitelli, liz langley, charles martin, steve schneider and vivien thorp.