James Robbins "Bob" Gardiner passed away April 21, 2005, in Grass Valley, California, where he resided from 1991 to 2005, reports THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE. He won an Oscar and other national and international awards in 1974, for the groundbreaking clay animated short film CLOSED MONDAYS, which he wrote, sculpted, directed and co-produced.
Gardiner's career included art and music shows at venues around the northwest, numerous clay animated commercials and public service announcements and other art projects in his adopted state of Oregon, where he lived for about 10 years. He worked as a comedy writer with his friend Mason Williams on two Smothers Brothers television specials and also on other writing and clay animation television projects. He created holograms and was a talented painter, cartoonist, songwriter, historian and storyteller.
Bob is survived by his daughters, Sarah Ann "Sierra" of New York City and Nicolle Gaia "Nikki" of Portland, Oregon; and their mother, Kara Evenson, also of Portland; and five siblings: Katharine Hale and Arthur Gardiner of Reno, Nevada, John Gardiner of Laguna Beach, California, Ann Gardiner of Berkeley, California, and Janet Gardiner Leland of San Francisco, California.
There will be a memorial on April 30, at 12:00 noon, at the Chapel of the Angels, 250 Race Street, Grass Valley, California. There will also be a celebration of his art and life in Portland, Oregon, at a date yet to be announced.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
