Top 10 Art Toys of 2009 Under $50
Supercool geek chic(k) Danie Ware asked me to send her my favorite toy of 2009 to be posted on the Forces of Geek site. I gave myself a parameter: Top Ten 2009 Production Art Toys Under $50. Let’s be real: 2009 was a rough year economically. There were big toys by big names, but for most folks, they remained hundreds of dollars out of reach. Resin really hit its prime, and customizers took their art to a new level, but that’s another list. So without further ado, here’s my Recession Necessities list. I own all ten of these, and I give you my word (which is 97% opinion), that should you also own them, they will bring you great joy. The list has now been updated to include links to buy everything without leaving the Bay Area or your chair! Reposted with permission of the Geeks.
1. Lunartik in a Cup of Tea by Matt JOnes – This toy is the antidote to 2009’s surplus of snore-inducing “urban” vinyl retreads. Prepare to shout “that’s what she said” because everyone agrees that the Lunartik figure is bigger than it looks on the Internet. I love the saucer and spoon accessories and the cheeky colorway names. The customs I’ve seen on this unintentional platform are some of the best I saw this year. Fingers crossed that the Tea Tour hits San Francisco in 2010. [Available in milky DIY flavor here.]
2. O-No Sushi by Andrew Bell – Something I ask of my art toys is whether they elicit an emotional response. O-No Sushi gives me guilt. Am I going to stop eating sushi or buying toys? Heck no. Can’t wait for the green colorway. Bonus points for smart packaging and dedicated microsite. [Now available in green here and red here.]
3. CHOEGAL by David Choe – 2009 was a year where many toys masqueraded as art but fell short of the definition. Love him or hate him, David Choe is an artist, and CHOEGAL is an art toy. If the prices on his prints and paintings are too steep for your wallet, consider this a three-dimensional entry point to owning a piece of Choe. The figures are hand-painted with great boxes, and Choe is rumored to have painted a few himself and slipped them into the mix. Ningyoushi did good on these. [Cupcake edition available here.]
