Ha ha, no. It’s not one of those “Click on this picture of a celebrity and get a free laptop!” intraweb scams!

No, it’s Denver artist Justin Beard creating fake computers to gain a real one on October 3rd, and selling you the fun, unique art pieces for $10.

Justin Beard is “Pinocchio’s” Gepetto for the digital era.

For Denver artist Justin Beard, finding the funding for a MacBook computer took creating 150 “laptops” of his own out of wood and paper, with the ultimate dream of turning these into a real, working laptop.

“I call it the Gepetto Effect,” laughs Beard, explaining that his wood-and-paper creations are similar the wood-and-strings “son” created by the mythical puppet maker. “We both hope to get the real version of what we’ve created.”

Well-known in the Denver area creative community, Beard is often recognized for his ingenuity with materials as well as his artistic humor.
As an artist, Beard realized he needed a computer to take the next step in his artwork, yet lacked the funding for such a large purchase.

“I didn’t want to move backwards to move ahead,” says Beard of how he concocted the plan to raise the funds for a laptop via creative means.

Creating his artistic computers out of wood, paper, and duct tape, Beard has crafted 150 remarkable mimics of real laptops. The wooden laptop doppelgangers even hinge open to reveal a paper keyboard and paper screen.

To display the laptops, Beard even constructed a full-size laptop shop out of similar materials, complete with a wood-and-tape “security camera” and display rack.

Beard will be offering these laptops for $10 a piece during October’s First Friday event.

Beard will set up shop at the 11th Avenue Gallery (15 E. 11th Ave) on October 3rd from 7:00 PM to 11 PM during the First Friday exhibition. Accompanying Beard in the exhibition will be up-and-coming photographer Sean Chisholm.

Visitors will be able to examine his hand-made laptops, enter the “Laptop Store,” talk with the artist himself, and help Beard achieve his goal of owning a real laptop by purchasing one of his creations for only $10.