POWER ON FOREVERMOR!
December 25, 2021 4:26 PM Subscribe
Dr. Evermor, the persona of artist Tom Every, envisioned that one day the massive sculpture would move beyond its static state, “power on” and whisk travelers to alternate universes. “To begin with, the Forevertron’s purpose is to perpetuate me into heaven in a glass ball inside a copper egg on a magnetic lightning force beam.” Imagination is the heart of Dr. Evermor’s Sculpture Park [...] this fantastical place of scrap metal shapes and its 300-ton centerpiece, the Foreverton, have come closer to realizing the hope of its late creator [...] a newly installed colorful light display is helping illustrate Every’s dream. previously-er-er-er-er
“This helps satisfy the sadness,” Lady Eleanor said of the loss of two family members 18 months apart. “(Dr. Evermor) would be so honored you would not believe it. He always wanted to (light the Forevertron) and he never did. It’s been so difficult, and that’s why it was so important to have this party.”
Tya Kottler, Every’s daughter, is trying to develop a family drama television show about orphaned teenage twins who discover the Forevertron that allows them to journey through the multiverse. Kottler wore her father’s signature black fedora as she took in last weekend’s event.
But for those who missed the inaugural lighting, there are plans in the works to continue lighting the Forevertron, possibly over the holidays. So far no dates have been set, but the display adds a new dimension to the park, located just south of the Baraboo Hills. (check in on their official website or facebook page)
“I looked at it as being working areas so they could have as an individual thing and say, ‘I am doing it!’” Evermor said. “All we have is hope for the future generations. All I can leave anybody is not any big bank account or anything else. I say unto you or anybody else, ‘You can do it! POWER ON!’”
The World of Dr. Evermor has been featured on Atlas Obscura, The Folk Art Society of America, The Rake, Trip Advisor, Only in Your State, Silly America, State Trunk Tour, Recycle Nation, Neatorama, Roadside America, Love & Adventure, Paper and Clay, The Milwaukee Record, and of course wikipedia.
It's in Baraboo, err, the Town of Sumpter, err, North Freedom; maybe it really is transtemporal, but it's almost certainly in Wisconsin.
He was featured in the film Scrap and there's a planned (currently delayed) Steampunk TV series called Evermor in development by fan-owned production company Legion M.
There's some great pictures on Philip L. Block's website. There is also a book about him.
Bonus videos!
The Making of Dr. Evermor's Love Birds
The Forevertron Part 1 Part 2
Scraps of Fantasy: an interview with Dr. Evermor and Lady Eleanor
Scoop Perlman's Guide to Art, Episode 1: Dr. Evermor
One day trip to Dr. EVERMOR'S SCULPTURE PARK!!
Joe & Dick Adventure Dr. Evermor's Art Park Part 1 Part 2
SOMETHING FROM NOTHING is a video snapshot of Tom Every
Playing in The Dragons' Lair ~ World of Dr. Evermor
Long-form videos!
I Built The Largest Scrap Metal Sculpture In The World | Forevertron | HomeMade S1 E3 | Abode
Wisconsin Greg visits Dr. Evermor's Scrap Metal Art Park, Baraboo, WI
Also featured on American Pickers Season 5 Episode 9
FOR EVERMOR
Audio!
The Two Gay Geeks have an interview with Tom Every aka Dr. Evermor, who created the Forevertron and has been referred to as the Godfather of Steampunk.
Remembering Doctor Evermor
“This helps satisfy the sadness,” Lady Eleanor said of the loss of two family members 18 months apart. “(Dr. Evermor) would be so honored you would not believe it. He always wanted to (light the Forevertron) and he never did. It’s been so difficult, and that’s why it was so important to have this party.”
Tya Kottler, Every’s daughter, is trying to develop a family drama television show about orphaned teenage twins who discover the Forevertron that allows them to journey through the multiverse. Kottler wore her father’s signature black fedora as she took in last weekend’s event.
But for those who missed the inaugural lighting, there are plans in the works to continue lighting the Forevertron, possibly over the holidays. So far no dates have been set, but the display adds a new dimension to the park, located just south of the Baraboo Hills. (check in on their official website or facebook page)
“I looked at it as being working areas so they could have as an individual thing and say, ‘I am doing it!’” Evermor said. “All we have is hope for the future generations. All I can leave anybody is not any big bank account or anything else. I say unto you or anybody else, ‘You can do it! POWER ON!’”
The World of Dr. Evermor has been featured on Atlas Obscura, The Folk Art Society of America, The Rake, Trip Advisor, Only in Your State, Silly America, State Trunk Tour, Recycle Nation, Neatorama, Roadside America, Love & Adventure, Paper and Clay, The Milwaukee Record, and of course wikipedia.
It's in Baraboo, err, the Town of Sumpter, err, North Freedom; maybe it really is transtemporal, but it's almost certainly in Wisconsin.
He was featured in the film Scrap and there's a planned (currently delayed) Steampunk TV series called Evermor in development by fan-owned production company Legion M.
There's some great pictures on Philip L. Block's website. There is also a book about him.
Bonus videos!
The Making of Dr. Evermor's Love Birds
The Forevertron Part 1 Part 2
Scraps of Fantasy: an interview with Dr. Evermor and Lady Eleanor
Scoop Perlman's Guide to Art, Episode 1: Dr. Evermor
One day trip to Dr. EVERMOR'S SCULPTURE PARK!!
Joe & Dick Adventure Dr. Evermor's Art Park Part 1 Part 2
SOMETHING FROM NOTHING is a video snapshot of Tom Every
Playing in The Dragons' Lair ~ World of Dr. Evermor
Long-form videos!
I Built The Largest Scrap Metal Sculpture In The World | Forevertron | HomeMade S1 E3 | Abode
Wisconsin Greg visits Dr. Evermor's Scrap Metal Art Park, Baraboo, WI
Also featured on American Pickers Season 5 Episode 9
FOR EVERMOR
Audio!
The Two Gay Geeks have an interview with Tom Every aka Dr. Evermor, who created the Forevertron and has been referred to as the Godfather of Steampunk.
Remembering Doctor Evermor
You can only read the left half of pages on mobile, which seems weirdly appropriate.
posted by GenjiandProust at 5:26 PM on December 25, 2021
posted by GenjiandProust at 5:26 PM on December 25, 2021
When I lived in Wisconsin I made annual trips to opening day at House on the Rock, and on the way back I'd stop at the Forevertron. One year we were there and ran into the Doctor himself, who gave us a tour. He was a Character, of the very best type, and the Forevertron is a wonderful monument to his imagination. I'm glad its influence continues to grow.
posted by Inkslinger at 8:23 PM on December 25, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by Inkslinger at 8:23 PM on December 25, 2021 [2 favorites]
When I lived in Wisconsin I made annual trips to opening day at House on the Rock
Tom Every worked for as a senior designer at the House on the Rock in the 1970s and was instrumental in the design of the Organ Room, which is easily HOTR creator Alex Jordan's masterpiece AND the most impressive space in the entire attraction.
Naturally, at some point the two men had a falling out (Jordan was not easy to get along with and hated to share credit) and Every was expunged from the HOTR story. But walking around the Forevertron and sculpture park you can see just how much Every's style impacted Jordan and how much of the Organ Room is obviously directly his design (or blatantly stolen from him.)
I would even describe the Forevertron to be a satellite location to House on the Rock, though that of course downplays the bad blood between the two men responsible for each creation. If you're heading out to visit one of them you absolutely should try to see both in the same day.
posted by Hey Dean Yeager! at 11:26 AM on December 26, 2021 [1 favorite]
Tom Every worked for as a senior designer at the House on the Rock in the 1970s and was instrumental in the design of the Organ Room, which is easily HOTR creator Alex Jordan's masterpiece AND the most impressive space in the entire attraction.
Naturally, at some point the two men had a falling out (Jordan was not easy to get along with and hated to share credit) and Every was expunged from the HOTR story. But walking around the Forevertron and sculpture park you can see just how much Every's style impacted Jordan and how much of the Organ Room is obviously directly his design (or blatantly stolen from him.)
I would even describe the Forevertron to be a satellite location to House on the Rock, though that of course downplays the bad blood between the two men responsible for each creation. If you're heading out to visit one of them you absolutely should try to see both in the same day.
posted by Hey Dean Yeager! at 11:26 AM on December 26, 2021 [1 favorite]
Spent some time on a few different occasions chatting with the Dr. in his trailer. Interesting character. He had many words to say about House on the Rock. His son, early teens at the time, was also making these really cool little robots out of scrap.
posted by misterpatrick at 5:30 PM on December 26, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by misterpatrick at 5:30 PM on December 26, 2021 [1 favorite]
Thank you for this excellent round-up of Evermore resources!
posted by Jesse the K at 1:59 PM on January 1, 2022
posted by Jesse the K at 1:59 PM on January 1, 2022
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posted by brook horse at 4:30 PM on December 25, 2021