Gallery: Donut Logic Is Full of Sweet Robot Love
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Also included in Joyner's Donut Logic exhibition is the oil-on-panel painting "Maria" above. It's a hybrid homage to Japanese geishas and Fritz Lang's silent 1927 [sci-fi classic Metropolis](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis_%28film%29). There's not a doughnut in sight, but still plenty of creepy sweetness. “Though the scene is lush, Maria makes the scene a bit unsettling,” Joyner said.
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__Wired.com:__ Worst robot ever? Best robot ever? Please compute. __Joyner:__ The worst would be the [Dalek](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalek) from [Doctor Who](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Who). It was pure evil. The best would be [Robby the Robot](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robby_the_Robot) from [Forbidden Planet](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_Planet). The best cartoon robot ever is [The Iron Giant](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2009/08/a-decade-later-the-iron-giants-weaponized-soul-still-stirs). But the best toy robot, for me, is the [High Wheel](http://www.amazon.com/High-Wheel-Robot-by-Schylling/dp/B0017GZOWK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1282006515&sr=1-2).
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__Wired.com:__ You've tracked the evolution of robots in culture, in this exhibition and its predecessors. What are we all going to learn about robots, whether we like it or not? __Joyner:__ I think we will finally learn that, with the power of doughnuts and other assorted pastries, we control our destiny. And that religion and fate play no part.
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__Wired.com:__ The robots seem like happy humans, except for all that metal. __Joyner:__ I use the robots \[to\] reflect human nature or situations. I breathe some life into them and show how they might react in a given situation. __Wired.com:__ Like how our robot overlords are going to force us to have terrible teeth? __Joyner:__ Ha! Well I think our overlords will be awesome. We will get free dental care.
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__Wired.com:__ Let's start with an obvious question. What's with all the robots and doughnuts? __Eric Joyner:__ I made a rule to only paint things I like. Why should I paint things I don't like? I already did that for years, as an illustrator. I like cupcakes, too, as well as Indian motorcycles, scooters, trees and a few other things.
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Like most of us, San Francisco artist and illustrator Eric Joyner has a thing for both doughnuts and robots. Joyner combined the two into his toothsome solo exhibition [Donut Logic](http://www.ericjoyner.com), viewing now through Sept. 1 at Los Angeles' [Corey Helford Gallery](http://www.coreyhelfordgallery.com). Comprised of 20 works, it is the one-time commercial artist's third solo show at the Helford plotting the weird merge of humanoids and their beloved fried pastries. This time, the imagery leans toward cupcakes, with a creepy nod to Metropolis. We picked Joyner's sweet brain via e-mail about all the artificial intelligence enjoying all the non-artificial sweetener.
