Grotesque Deck (United Cardists 2014 Annual Deck) Now Live on KS!

[Sher143]

Link was posted on the Design/Dev page but I thought I'd start a new topic here, since it's now live

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/unitedcardistsdotcom/grotesque-deck-of-playing-cards-unitedcardists2014

[badpete69]

Thanks Sher.  I have to leave and run errands just as the project went live. Was able to be first in and got one of those 5 pledges early bird 4 deck.  Good looking deck

[Yashi]

Thanks Sher.  I have to leave abd rub errands just as the project went live. Was able to be first in and got one of those 5 pledges early bird 4 deck.  Good looking deck

Teach me your ways. I've been refreshing and clicking like mad and I still missed it. 

[Mike Ratledge]

It's 200%+ funded at this point, and still almost 10 days left on the clock.  An interesting add on was posted yesterday afternoon for all of us that lived through the 80's: a custom Rubik's cube.

Those Signature Edition decks went like hotcakes, but there are still 20 backer slots opened if anyone want to grab a deck with a handmade and hand foiled tuck.

[PurpleIce]

It's 200%+ funded at this point, and still almost 10 days left on the clock.  An interesting add on was posted yesterday afternoon for all of us that lived through the 80's: a custom Rubik's cube.

Those Signature Edition decks went like hotcakes, but there are still 20 backer slots opened if anyone want to grab a deck with a handmade and hand foiled tuck.

Don't we have to wait for the next "opening" to purchase the handmade/hand-foiled deck? Not too sure if i really wanna get it as my wallet is already on fire burning a hole through. This hobby might end up with me not requiring a wallet soon.

The rubik cube is indeed an interesting add. Always nice to see designers produce something a little different for each project.

[Paul Carpenter]

That's a great project. Lotrek is a very talented and passionate fellow, he's doing really nice work. Looking forward to getting those.

[Mike Ratledge]

It's 200%+ funded at this point, and still almost 10 days left on the clock.  An interesting add on was posted yesterday afternoon for all of us that lived through the 80's: a custom Rubik's cube.

Those Signature Edition decks went like hotcakes, but there are still 20 backer slots opened if anyone want to grab a deck with a handmade and hand foiled tuck.

Don't we have to wait for the next "opening" to purchase the handmade/hand-foiled deck? Not too sure if i really wanna get it as my wallet is already on fire burning a hole through. This hobby might end up with me not requiring a wallet soon.

The rubik cube is indeed an interesting add. Always nice to see designers produce something a little different for each project.

Yes, that is correct.  He will be posting details in the next couple of days for those final 20 backer slots that can purchase either or both decks, the Platinum Signature Edition and the Gold Signature Edition.  He posted pictures of the first handmade tucks a couple of days ago - absolutely fabulous to see old world craftsmanship being produced here in 2014!  The hand foiling just looks great.

That's a great project. Lotrek is a very talented and passionate fellow, he's doing really nice work. Looking forward to getting those.

I agree, Paul!  Lotrek always has something up his sleeve - pun intended...

Trying to keep things clean, since I'm the last poster I'll just add this to the previous post.

[Sher143]

Latest update: Uncut tuck sheets of the Signature deck are now available, in gold or platinum. Also, last 20 slots for the Signature edition will be released on 13 March. $40,000 stretch goal is an Art Book:

[Rob Wright]

A quick bump for this project. The project ends Sunday. Needs about $3,500 to reach $40k stretch goal for Bee stock.
This is another great looking deck by Lotrek. Awesome art work. Plus it's a great way to support our friends over at UC.

For all of the new collectors here, wondering what decks to support. This is one of them. If you get just one, go for the limited edition(only on KS) for $13. You can buy the standard deck after.

[Sher143]

Also,  art books are available for add on now! 

[CrankUP]

Just a question...why is it called "Grotesque?"

It looks quite...non-grotesque overall.

[badpete69]

Heya Crank.

he explains his choice for Grotesque on his project

The original meaning of 'Grotesque" was restricted to an extravagant style of Ancient Roman decorative art, rediscovered and then copied in Rome at the end of the 15th century. Since at least the 18th century (in French and German as well as English), grotesque has come to be used as a general adjective for the strange, fantastic, ugly, incongruous, unpleasant and thus is often used to describe weird shapes and distorted forms such as Halloween masks.
Although there is an immense variety of motifs and figures in Grotesque style, the three main tropes of the grotesque are doubleness, hybridity and metamorphosis.
During Renaissance, artists began to give the tiny faces of the figures in grotesque decorations strange caricatured expressions. In the 17th and 18th centuries the grotesque encompasses a wide field of teratology (science of monsters) and artistic experimentation.
Although grotesque art mainly favored the weird, ugly and monstrous, as an artist I try to bring "Grotesque" to my taste and make a deck which will be at the same time strange and beautiful.
I was always impressed by these haunting figures and about a year ago I decided to make some drawings for a deck called "Grotesque". After a year's nourishing, the deck finally came out and it's ready to begin its KS adventure!

[CordedTires]

The King of Spades in the latest update looks like the (semi)famous injunction to beginning Zen practitioners about sitting meditation practice -

"Sit as if your hair is on fire". (It might have been Dogen who first said that.)

It looks to be a really nice deck and I second the recommendations.

[Don Boyer]

Just a question...why is it called "Grotesque?"

It looks quite...non-grotesque overall.

You're applying the modern, common definition of grotesque.  Try the definition in terms of art and architecture.

[Sher143]

Less than three days left of the campaign. Last 20 slots for the Signature decks were filled up earlier today.  However,  still plenty of other goodies left,  including a custom Rubix cube,  gold and platinum uncuts of the Signature tuck boxes,  and an art book! Plus,  the $40,000 stretch goal for Bee stock was just reached

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Now less than 13 hours to go! If you've been thinking about pledging, now is the time. As noted in update #26, Lotrek will not be using BackerKit or PledgeManager after the campaign ends, so this is really your last opportunity to get these decks at Kickstarter price and any other add-ons available (rubik's cube, uncut sheets, uncut sheet of Singature tucks, art book, coins, art prints)!

[Sher143]

Bump on this thread. Only 8 more hours to go. Latest update from Lotrek - $110 brick add on is for either the standard or limited edition decks; so you can get a whole brick of LE decks for $110 (Around $9 a deck!). Also, example of the leather folder is shown (similar to Venexiana folder but with Grotesque on the cover); leather is from last surviving traditional leather workshop in Greece.