All Posts tagged art multiples

Bigshot Toyworks is All Over the Place (in a Good Way)

Jeff Soto and Travis Louie at Hi-Fructose

Bigshot Toyworks was everywhere this year at SDCC (DKE, Hi-Fructose, Mike Mignola’s booth…) and their productions crossed many mediums (vinyl, resin, wood, plush…).  Sharing some similarities with DOUBLE SUPER’s showcase at SDCC, Bigshot showed off several sculptural works–playful in nature if not necessarily in practice. Perhaps, like art itself, the definition of toy is really best left to the beholder?

Whether you want to call it an art toy, a sculpture, a bust or something else entirely, Bigshot is making 3D “objects” from 2D imagery by Jeff Soto, Travis Louie, Brian Taylor, Nathan Jurevicius and Mike Mignola, and as a collector of such objects, I find it exciting. Also exciting: exchanging compliments in person with the man who calls the big shots: Klim Kozinevich. Check out some of the Toyworks I found walking the aisles.

DOUBLE SUPER Ushers In a Return To Art Toys

DOUBLE SUPER, an upcoming range of figures by San Francisco’s own STRANGEco, made its debut at Comic-Con. Representing great hope for art toys, which in recent years have dropped the “art” from the equation, DOUBLE SUPER features intricate, high-quality sculptural editions by Nathan Ota, Bob Dob, Mars-1, Ron English, Feric and Will Sweeney. Each figure has been created faithfully from an original painting by the artists, and read this twice toy junkies: they have NO articulation. The sizable works are made from vinyl, and though prices aren’t set as of this posting, they are expected to be in the $120, $150 and $175  ballpark with low run sizes. I, for one, am double-super-stoked.

Goo Goo Gorgeousness

Black mint and army gold Goo Goo Ghandi

Spencer Hibert’s Goo Goo Ghandis were some of the most eye-popping pieces in Neon Monster’s Wondercon Resin Showcase. In the time between now and then, GGG’s been pollinating, and Spencer sent over a first look at these spectacular “pre-Comic-Con” releases. If I wasn’t about to be the proud owner of an Army Glass GGG, I’d be fumbling through Paypal for the gloriously resinated colorway you see above while trying to type this sentence. What a color combo! I hope it goes to a good home.

Invisible GGG with GID base

Each 6-inch handmade rotocast resin Goo Goo Ghandi comes in clear paint can packaging with a separate signed base. They’re all hand-poured one-offs. What’s GGG’s story anyway? Glad you asked:

Longer than anyone can remember ago, the mystical gurus high and deep inside the Fadon Mountains discovered the Goo Goo Ghandi. In his pure form, he stands taller than the mountains, but each drip from him produces a smaller version of himself.

Goo Goo Ghandi is a shape-shifting figure that absorbs mental energy. To activate your Goo Goo Ghandi, meditate with him and send him your worries telepathically. His powers will diffuse any negative energy and accelerate any positive.

Goo Goo Ghandi is the highest figure in the Karmatic Ranking. He works closely with the gurus and Sergeant Sorrow’s Umbrella Army to keep energies in order. He mentors Miigiis and bestows upon each a “goo” helmet as a right of passage into absorbment. Without the Goo Goo Ghandi, the balance of Fadon would be lost forever.

Giant GGG Bust from Melt Down

This giant GGG is on display as part of the current Melt Down show at SOYAL. It’s more than 2-feet high and was even profiled in the Phoenix New Times.

The final pre-SDCC release is a collab with Kill! Perhaps it’s a “meditation” on consumption as the GGG has literally consumed Kill!’s Flatwoods figures. All four figures are now available through Spencer’s Big Cartel. A selection of large and small Miigiis with gifted Goo helmets are available at Neon Monster. Awesomesauce all over the place.

Arbito’s Cosmic Hobos Are Still Hanging Out!

One of the Neon Monsters wants you to know that, defying all logic in the universe, Arbito’s new sculpt of his signature Cosmic Hobo character is still available! She knows this because she just ordered one. We all thought the new Hobos would be on the first FedEx truck out of Seattle like the little transients they are, but we’re now thinking fans may have missed the boat on this release due to the holiday weekend.

You might recall that the original Hobo mold(s) broke a while back, and Arbito recently finished sculpting a new version:

Cosmic Hobo is much more similar to his cartoon version. He’s taller (without feathers) but skinnier than the original. He now has a removable head band and feather, and arms are still magnetized and removable like the original.

These custom tinted Hobos are an edition of 25 pieces made to order. That number just got smaller. Hobo’s back in the gang! Get you some for $125 here.

Reporting Back from Friday’s Blamo Show

Remember how badly I wanted to see the Blamo Toys solo show at LA’s Toy Art Gallery? Well, I couldn’t get from SF to LA on Friday, but thankfully, I’ve got a good friend and fellow blogger in the area. Julie Wolfson went by TAG about an hour prior to the opening reception and took these great shots of Spencer painting the wall. You can see some of my favorite photos below, and there’s more on Julie’s Flickr set. If you need a freelance writer in the LA area for arts, culture, food and more, Julie’s your girl.

Speaking of girls and Blamo Toys, serendipitously, I was at Amybean’s house for a BBQ last night, and guess what I found? Vintage Blamo toys from at least 5 years ago. Amy said she found them in San Francisco and fell in love immediately. (No, these figures do not live on this Wedgewood stove normally.)

Back to LA’s Blamo Toys show. I love how the following picture shows toys made out of resin, wood and brass all in a row.

Packaging is another thing that Blamo does exceptionally well. Boxes always feature silkscreened imagery and other hand-made flourishes. Read the rest of this entry »

KAWS Goes to the Burbs: The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum Show

Thanks to my pal, Robert aka OsirisOrion, those of us who are not near (and may never be near Ridgefield, Connecticut) can see a slice of a proper KAWS art show. KAWS took to the Aldrich Contemporary with what can only really be described as a full spectrum KAWS fan’s wet dream. There were toys, busts, sculptures, adverts from the bus stop days, C10 Kimpsons, Kaws Troopers and more. It’s very cool to see all the KAWS figures in one room. I spotted what looked like shiny solid black and shiny solid grey dissected Companions I’d never seen before.

This morning’s blogosphere is abuzz with probably the least interesting toy in the show, a Medicom-produced Pinocchio pairing with a list date of 2010 and no further release info. Will it ever be available to the public? Who knows! Will it sell out immediately if so? Of course!

The elusive KAWS, himself, was on hand for the opening.

There was also a lot of product art on display. It looks like it was for sale, like for instance, if you’re not Pharrell, and you can’t afford a lifesize Chum in your living room.

This video (and these screengrabs) wouldn’t be possible without Robert, but also, Yosiell Lorenzo (aka Project Detonate), whose presence was required in front of the camera by the museum. Apparently, there was a no picture policy unless a person stood in with the art. That’s a new one, right?

On that same tip, here’s two adorable kids hanging with a Dissected Companion that’s bigger than them. This should be a permanent part of the exhibit.

The show runs through January 2nd, so there’s plenty of time to get there. Maybe you’ve got relatives to visit or something? Bonus points for the Bjork score. Thanks Robert!

Scarygirl Resin Statues from Bigshot Toyworks

Wow! Resin fans, prepare to be stoked because Bigshot Toyworks is about to release a resin version of Nathan Jurevicius‘ much-loved character, Scarygirl. Readers of this blog will recall we are big fans of Nathan and our first Meet Your Maker interview featured Mr. Jurevicious. I like how Bigshot describes the direction of this figure:

Bigshot Toyworks is pleased to bring Scary Girl to life as a more “adult” collectible, with a brand-new sculpt by Scott Wetterschneider and a simply incredible paint application that pushes Scary Girl beyond being a “toy” and well into being a true art object.

The solid resin statues measure 7” x 5” x 3.5” and weigh in at nearly 1.5 lbs, the Scarygirl statue will be available in both bronze and full-color. The two editions (painted bronze and full-color) will be limited to 100 pieces worldwide and available here from Bigshot Toyworks and limited retailers for $85. The expected release date is early July. Looking forward to it!

Fiberglass Eyezons from Killer Kaiju

What is this, the Mark Nagata blog??? The dude is unstoppable right now. We first got a preview of these fiberglass Eyezons at Kaiju Invades San Francisco. Another great collaboration between Mark Nagata and Matt Walker has resulted in ten 28″  hand-painted fiberglass Eyezons. This limited edition was created to coincide with the publication of the new book KILLER KAIJU MONSTERS by Ivan Vartanian. I saw the book briefly with my own eye(zon)s, and it looked interesting, though the initial reviews on Amazon are unfortunately lukewarm

Anyway, I’ve got nothing but love for the fiberglass Eyezons. If you’ve got love + $1,400 + shipping, you are encouraged to send your inquiry to monster [at] killerkaiju [dot] com and indicate  your first, second, and third choices of color schemes. P.S. I lazily ganked the picture above from SpankyStokes here! Thanx Spanx!

Art Multiples by Yoskay Yamamoto at LeBasse Projects

Yoskay Yamamoto opened Familiar Strangers this past weekend at  LeBasse Projects. Among the mixed media on panel pieces (all sold out), he released two art multiples entitled “Do You Remember Me?” The figures were made in conjunction with Pretty in Plastic and come in a 100 piece black resin edition for $150 (available!)  and a 10 piece polished metal edition for $900 (sold out!).  The show also included 4 hand-carved wood pieces, which are, take a guess, sold out. While the show is up, you can view the art you’ll never own here.  If you’re interested in the high-gloss black resin sculpture, only 25 pieces were reserved for online sales, so call LeBasse now (310-558-0020).

Tim Biskup’s Concrete Ostrich

On paper, this sounds really cool: Take a Tim Biskup idea, produce it in the magical  Switcheroo Workshop and make it out of an alternative material. Team Amanda and Michelle call it:

“Kick ass flare for your manly desk. My new favorite, rough concrete with a giant feather freshly plucked from a giant flightless bird’s bottom.”

The 8.5-inch tall concrete sculpture is called Struthio, and it’s a limited edition of 44 pieces for $185 each. Tim Biskup, we love you, and it’s applause-worthy trying out new mediums, but personally I’m having trouble escaping the dead bird on a sidewalk visual. Each to his/her own, and surely there is someone for whom this sculpture is a must have. I’m excited to see what other materials the Switcheroo kitchen is kicking around, and hopefully more from Tim Biskup!