Natendo

Natendo: Where Nostalgia Meets Innovation
Nostalgia and the "retro-ness" of it all are concepts that have become deeply intertwined in Nate Geare's art. Drawing on memories of childhood, Geare channels the sights and sounds of dark, seedy arcades once found in bowling alleys, pizza places, and movie theaters— where countless hours and dollars vanished into glowing screens and joystick battles.
Geare’s Natendo series reimagines the classic arcade machine as a dynamic canvas, blending the tactile joy of vintage gaming with the endless possibilities of modern technology. Leveraging today’s microcomputing power and the vast resources of platforms like GitHub and Discord, Geare’s creations invite users to explore decades of gaming history. These sculptures are not only tributes to a bygone era but also fully functional machines capable of playing any game from the past 40 years, be it a console classic or an arcade legend.
The Natendo series includes innovative works by Geare, such as the Phone Booth Series. These sculptures transform salvaged public phone booths into immersive art pieces, each offering a unique twist on functionality and nostalgia. Similarly, his Cocktail Table Series features electric, motorized legs that shift seamlessly from single-player sitting mode to standing, head-to-head competition mode—a playful nod to both form and functionality.
With Natendo, Geare continues to bridge the gap between art and technology, offering a tactile and emotional connection to the past while showcasing the limitless potential of the present. Each piece is a celebration of creativity, innovation, and the enduring magic of play.