# PINBALL ARTWORK EXHIBITION OPENS **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2016-09-12 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2016/09/12/pinball-artwork-exhibition-opens --- ## Analysis A pinball artwork exhibition titled 'Skillshot, The Collaborative Art of Pinball' opened at Glass Curtain Gallery in Columbia College, Chicago on September 6, 2016, running through November 5th. The exhibition features playfield and backglass artwork from renowned Stern Pinball artists including Greg Freres, Kevin O'Connor, Dirty Donny, Jeremy Packer, and George Gomez, with nine playable pinball machines (six modern Stern titles and three classic Bally/Williams games) available for free play. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] The exhibition features artwork development from Stern Pinball's notable artists including Greg Freres, Kevin O'Connor, Dirty Donny, Jeremy Packer, and George Gomez — _Article explicitly lists and displays artwork from these artists with photographic evidence_ - [HIGH] Nine pinball machines are available for free play: six recent Stern titles and three Bally/Williams classics — _Article provides specific game list with manufacturer attribution_ - [HIGH] Exhibition curator Mark Porter and his wife Kate are both big pinball fans who initiated the exhibition concept — _Direct quote from curator: 'the idea for a pinball-themed exhibition came from his personal enthusiasm for pinball machines'_ - [MEDIUM] Gary Stern has stated the pinball industry will eventually die unless machines are accessible for public play — _Article references interviews with Gary Stern but does not provide specific citation_ ### Notable Quotes > "Gary Stern in which he states that the pinball industry will eventually die unless the machines are out where people can play them" > — **Article author, referencing Gary Stern** > _Reflects industry philosophy on accessibility and public engagement as critical to market survival_ > "the idea for a pinball-themed exhibition came from his personal enthusiasm for pinball machines" > — **Mark Porter (Exhibition Curator)** > _Establishes curatorial motivation and passion-driven exhibition development_ > "It is very clever of Stern Pinball to support a pinball exhibition in a college building. There's a large number of young people that will be exposed to the exhibits and hopefully they will see how much fun they are" > — **Article author** > _Commentary on Stern's strategic support for market development through education and exposure_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Glass Curtain Gallery | organization | Exhibition venue at Columbia College, Chicago; location of 'Skillshot' exhibition | | Columbia College | organization | Host institution for Glass Curtain Gallery at 1104 S. Wabash, Chicago | | Stern Pinball | company | Primary manufacturer featured; supported exhibition with artwork and machines | | Greg Freres | person | Stern Pinball artist; Medieval Madness playfield development drawings featured prominently | | Kevin O'Connor | person | Stern Pinball artist; extensive Kiss artwork displayed in exhibition | | Dirty Donny | person | Stern Pinball artist; Beatniks and other artwork featured | | Jeremy Packer | person | Stern Pinball artist employed by manufacturer | | George Gomez | person | Stern Pinball artist and designer; Monster Bash artwork displayed | | Doug Watson | person | Artist; Barracuda artwork featured in exhibition | | Mark Porter | person | Exhibition curator at Glass Curtain Gallery; pinball enthusiast | | Gary Stern | person | Stern Pinball leadership; referenced for industry commentary on machine accessibility | | Medieval Madness | game | Williams pinball game; playfield development drawings by Greg Freres featured | | Spider-Man Vault Edition | game | Stern Pinball title available for play in exhibition | | The Walking Dead | game | Stern Pinball title available for play in exhibition | | Ghostbusters | game | Stern Pinball title with artwork development displayed | | Game of Thrones LE | game | Stern Pinball limited edition available for play in exhibition | | Metallica | game | Stern Pinball title available for play in exhibition | | Kiss | game | Both Stern and Bally versions available for play; Kevin O'Connor artwork featured | | Sorcerer | game | Williams classic available for play in exhibition | | Dolly Parton | game | Bally classic available for play in exhibition | ### Topics - **Primary:** Pinball artwork and design, Stern Pinball artist showcase, Exhibition and public engagement - **Secondary:** Industry accessibility and market development, Educational exhibition in academic setting, Pinball history and classics, Playfield and backglass design process - **Mentioned:** Interactive museum-style exhibition format ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.85) — Article author expresses enthusiastic appreciation for exhibition, art quality, and Stern's strategic support for industry accessibility. Language is celebratory and supportive throughout. ### Signals - **[community_signal]** Stern Pinball strategically supports educational exhibition in college setting to expose young audiences to pinball machines and art (confidence: high) — Article notes 'It is very clever of Stern Pinball to support a pinball exhibition in a college building' and references Gary Stern's philosophy that machines must be accessible for public play - **[market_signal]** Pinball artwork recognized as fine art worthy of gallery exhibition in academic institution (confidence: high) — Exhibition featured at Columbia College's Glass Curtain Gallery with extensive display of original playfield and backglass artwork development materials --- ## Transcript **Date:** 12th September, 2016 **Location:** Glass Curtain Gallery, Columbia College, 1104 S. Wabash., Chicago, Illinois, USA A new pinball exhibition, *Skillshot, The Collaborative Art of Pinball* opened in downtown Chicago on September 6th and runs through November 5th. The exhibition is at the Glass Curtain Gallery inside the Columbia College building at 1104 S. Wabash. It is open daily and admission is free. Check [their website](http://students.colum.edu/deps/glass-curtain-gallery/exhibitions/skillshot,-the-collaborative-art-of-pinball/index.php) for hours of operation. [![Entrance to the Glass Curtain Gallery](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/1.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/1.jpg) The entrance to the Glass Curtain Gallery [![Graphics for the exhibition](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/2.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/2.jpg) Graphics for the exhibition The exhibition’s main focus is on the artwork created for pinball machines. Various playfield and backglass artworks are on display at the gallery. [![A row of various playfields](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/4.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/4.jpg) A row of various playfields [![A collection of backbox art](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/6.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/6.jpg) A collection of backbox art The development of the artwork for some recent Stern Pinball titles is featured. Quite a bit of the artwork on display is by the venerable artists and designers Stern Pinball employs, such as Greg Freres, Kevin O’Connor, Donny Gillies (Dirty Donny), Jeremy Packer (Zombie Yeti) and George Gomez. [![Lots of Kevin O’Connor’s Kiss artwork is on display](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/12.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/12.jpg) Lots of Kevin O’Connor’s Kiss artwork is on display [![Pinball artwork from Donny Gillies (Dirty Donny)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/7.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/7.jpg) Pinball artwork from Donny Gillies (Dirty Donny) [![A close up Donny Gillies (Dirty Donny)’s Beatniks backglass](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/8.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/8.jpg) A close-up Donny Gillies (Dirty Donny)’s Beatniks backglass [![Artwork development for Ghostbusters](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/15.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/15.jpg) Artwork development for Ghostbusters [![Add-on interior cabinet art and body armor on Ghostbusters](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/16.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/16.jpg) Add-on interior cabinet art and body armor on Ghostbusters [![A drawing from George Gomez for the Monster Bash game](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/14.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/14.jpg) A drawing from George Gomez for the Monster Bash game [![Prototype sculptures for some newer Stern pinballs](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/13.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/13.jpg) Prototype sculptures for some newer Stern pinballs The exhibit curator Mark Porter and his wife Kate are both big pinball fans. Mark told me that the idea for a pinball-themed exhibition came from his personal enthusiasm for pinball machines. [![Artwork from Doug Watson for Barracuda before it became Barracora](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/11.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/11.jpg) Artwork from Doug Watson for Barracuda before it became Barracora Since this an interactive art exhibition, there are nine pinball machine exhibits available on free play. Six are recent Stern titles and three are Bally/Williams classics. Game list: | | | | --- | --- | | *Spider-Man Vault Edition* (Stern) *The Walking Dead* (Stern) *Ghostbusters* (Stern) *Game of Thrones LE* (Stern) *Metallica* (Stern) | *Kiss* (Stern) *Kiss* (Bally) *Sorcerer* (Williams) *Dolly Parton* (Bally) | [![A row of recent Stern pinballs to play](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/9.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/9.jpg) A row of recent Stern pinballs to play: Spider-Man, The Walking Dead, Ghostbusters, Game of Thrones & Metallica [![More of the pinballs in the exhibit](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/5.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/5.jpg) More of the pinballs in the exhibition: Kiss, Kiss, Sorcerer and Dolly Parton I have seen interviews with Gary Stern in which he states that the pinball industry will eventually die unless the machines are out where people can play them. It is very clever of Stern Pinball to support a pinball exhibition in a college building. There’s a large number of young people that will be exposed to the exhibits and hopefully they will see how much fun they are, and then will play pins in the future. [![A wall with pinball machine diagrams and a video from the movie Tommy](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/3.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/3.jpg) A wall with pinball machine diagrams and a video from the movie ‘Tommy’ The highlight of the exhibition for me was seeing the playfield development drawings of *Medieval Madness* by Greg Freres. It was fascinating to see the details progress in the multiple drawings. [![Medieval Madness playfield drawings from Greg Freres](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/10.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/skillshot-exhibition/10.jpg) Medieval Madness playfield drawings from Greg Freres I was very happy to see that the home of pinball machines has such a nice exhibition showcasing the art of pinball. _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 00d196d2-7fd2-4174-83e5-ba71e5439840*