Something To Do Tonight

If you are in the Carrboro, NC area (which I now am), there is something that looks like it will be fun and toy/art related going on tonight. Tonight is the re-opening of Wootini at their new gallery space (not in Carr Mill Mall anymore) along with the opening of the Wootini Gallery Roadshow, featuring works of art by the likes of Steff Bomb, Fish McGill, CHema Skandal (apparently the "H" is capitalized, this is not a typo), Mike Ski, Evoker, Shawnimals, and other people with equally ridiculous names. There will probably be music, possibly by Family, and maybe even some beer or wine or other drinkies for the folkies. And of course, they got toys! Anne is going to a wine tasting, but I prefer an art opening, so this is where I will be. Maybe not from 7-11pm, but at some point.

But I Never Win!

This past Saturday night was the Rotobox Vinyl Anatomica Ganmetall Celsius Custom Show at the Toy Art Gallery right here in LA and for some reason I didn't know about it! How can something like this happen where I live and I don't know about it? Rhetorical question, but I will answer it anyway. It is because LA is huge and there is just no way to know about everything that is going on. Of course, being in general contact with the toy community at large and toy customizer and participant-in-this-event Tony Nakanari specifically, I should have known about this. Somewhere in the bottomless pit that is my e-mail inbox there is probably an invitation or two to this show. But I didn't know all that. Nope, I was completely oblivious. Until I walked past the show on the way to see one of my roommate's friends perform improv at the Comedy Sportz Theatre which is right next door to the Toy Art Gallery. There was a Kogi-ripoff Korean BBQ taco truck parked right outside, and my roommate and I both wondered to ourselves what it was doing there. We noticed the throng of people gathered around and as we walked past I peeked into the gallery window and to my delight saw several customized art toys. I convinced my roommate to venture into the gallery with me because we were quite early for the improv show. As we entered, we were both handed raffle tickets for prizes that would be drawn later that night. I really didn't think much of it, I didn't think we would be back at ten o'clock that night for the drawing. I didn't think the improv show would go on that long. But it did, and as we were waiting for my roommate's friend to change clothes after his performance and meet us to see what we were going to do, we went back to the gallery for the raffle drawing. To my amazed surprise, bemusement, thrill, and shock I was the first raffle ticket picked for a prize. I won a pre-release Ganmetall Celcius figure, Overheat, which I guess will be released sometime later this year. I'm not sure, there isn't any information about it on Rotobox's website other than that there is just one of them and it was the raffle prize. The new Jadon G.I.D. Exclusive Debametall Fahrenheit figure, which was released for public consumption at the show, was the other raffle prize that was given away. Spencer Ong of Rotobox even signed the feet of my prize Overheat Celsius figure for me! It was pretty sweet! And I normally never win anything! You can see pictures of most of the customs here. You can see the two that were given away below.
This is the one that I won.
This is the other one that was given away.

Most. Beautiful. Toys. Ever.

I am speechless after seeing these amazingly beautiful and ridiculously expensive Limited Ed. artisan toys from Ducobi. They are all 100% hand-made black lacquer with mother-of-pearl inlay. I can't imagine the amount of time that went into creating these. They are definitely more art than toy. They are actually very traditional in style and remind me of some of the work that I saw recently at the Japanese pavilion at LACMA. There is an entire room of hand-carved, miniature, polished wooden toys from the 17th-19th century. They also have a really nice lacquered stationary box that also features mother-of-pearl inlay. So it is no wonder that the prices on these artisan toys range from $750-$1,440! My favorites are Koi - Special Edition [pictured right], which has some beautiful pink mother-of-pearl inlay and Guardian of Organ [pictured center], which features some really nice iridescent mother-of-pearl inlay. If I were a rich man, yaidal-deedal-didle-dum! My birthday is coming up, maybe one of my rich friends will get me one of these. Yeah, right! Anyway, back to the job hunt.

Toy Version Of Me

Yep, they have finally done it. They have created a toy version of me. Just look at the picture. I have that exact outfit. And I skate. And my hair often looks crazy like that. I guess CoolRain must have seen me around somewhere. Or I just wear the same shit they sell over at Kasina, the street-wear retailer who commissioned this toy line from CoolRain. I'm not sure if these toys are available anywhere, I can't seem to navigate either of the above websites, but if anyone knows, let me know, cuz THEY MADE A TOY VERSION OF ME!!!

Futurama Mama

I know, that title is terrible. I just couldn't think of anything clever to use as a title to better describe the adorably cute and great new Futurama mini-figure set from Kidrobot. I love The Simpsons mini-figs that Kidrobot did. They feature great sculpts and quality and feel really good in your hand. They are very solid and heavy for their size. And I'm guessing the Futurama figures will be the same. I'm not sure what the two chase figures are, but when I got my first Kidrobot Simpsons figure it just happened to be one of the chase figures, Snake, actually one of my favorite characters from The Simpsons. Hopefully the Futurama chase figures are equally as cool. Anyway, back to the job hunt. I got some more stuff to post later, so keep an eye out... literally! Just like Leela would!

Pimpin' It In 3D

Erick Scarecrow and Pimpit 3D have teamed up to bring you 3D online templates of the Shiitakes and Soopa Coin-Up Bros. vinyl. You can check the links below.

http://www.pimpit3d.com/object/soopa

http://www.pimpit3d.com/object/shiitake

On Pimpit 3D will can download 2D templates via PSD and custom them and upload them online. Using Pimpit 3D is very easy...

1. Download template to your computer.
2. Customize and pimp it.
3. Upload and battle.

Sounds pretty fun to me. Maybe if I ever get some spare time I will check it out.

Polish Your Vinyl

I got e-mail the other day from Abe over at Vinyl Canvas letting me know about their new gallery. It is filled with custom vinyl toys designed by Polish artists such as FRM-kid, Kobster, *starFil, and Werke. It seems like a nice project. I especially like the Scarecrow Qee Bear [pictured above] designed by Tomasz Płonka and featured on the front page of the website. Unfortunately, it has sold already. There are still several other cool pieces available on the site, so if you need something to do for a few minutes, check it out.

Samberger

I ran into Andy Samberg at Loteria at the Farmer's Market today. He is soooooo much cuter in person than he is on the TV. I had to walk by him when he was at the water cooler and grab some water to get a closer look. He ain't a big feller, but I bet he can squeeeeeeeal real perty. Next time I see him, I'm gonna make him take off that itty bitty shirt... and them itty bitty panties.

Just kidding... I had my way with him right there in the middle of all the market stalls. It was good, too. Real nice and quick, like a cat. Then he wiped off the blood and was gone. What a shame. Oh well, you never know who you are going to run into in this town.

Also, if anyone out there actually believes any of this, other than the fact that I ran into Andy Samberg at Loteria, damn y'all is gullible. He isn't even really that cute.

Me Wanty!

I really, really, really, really, really, really, really want this Sham: Black & Gold vinyl figure from MAD available through myplasticheart! I already have the matching t-shirt from SocialPest that MAD designed. I also have a pair of black and gold Huf Vans to match as well. I love black and gold, being a big Pittsburgh Steelers fan from back in the day (i.e. the 70's) when the Steelers were hot shit and my parents got my brother and I Steelers scarves and toboggans for our Hanukkah postcard picture. I am also a Steelers fan from when I lived in Pittsburgh going to school at Carnegie Mellon University in the early 90's. So I just need this figure to match all of my other black and gold items. Well, maybe "need" is too strong of a word, but as I said, I really want it! So if anyone wants to get me one for my birthday on March 6th (also the release date of the Watchmen movie, which better be good since it is coming out on my birthday!), feel free to do so. For now, with my less than great financial status, I will just have to look and drool.

Black Friday 11.28.08

Hollow Weenies

Man, I am so mature. Anyway, it has been a while since I was really excited about anything Kidrobot was doing, other than a moderate interest in The Simpsons figures and the Adult Swim mini figures, but I do get excited when they put out a new Kidrobot figure, especially one associated with Halloween. I have a few of the early Kidrobot figures and I just might have to add this Kidrobot 15 Kidreaper figure [pictured above] to my collection. I haven't bought any toys since I have been in LA and there are several toy stores here! Creatures in My Head creator Andrew Bell is responsible for this little bit of awesomeness. He will be in New York for its release tomorrow, October 16th, and then in Chicago the next day, signing autographs and living the jet set lifestyle. The figure glows in the dark and apparently there is a chase figure out there for some lucky person. I am going to try to make it out to the LA Kidrobot store tomorrow and pick one up. Just $50. Gotta' keep the economy strong!

To Infinity And Beyond!

Super7 just announced their Halloween set for this year. The Snakes of Infinity Halloween set includes four figures, [three pictured above], cast in beautiful clear orange vinyl with black and silver spray. "Complete the set, and the fifth figure is on the (haunted) house!" One will be released each Saturday in October. I am really looking forward to October 4th when the first figure is released. I wonder which one it will be?

Obaaamaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!1!

I just got word about this Baruch Obama toy from Jailbreak Toys in an e-mail from Turntable Lab. I haven't given props to Turntable Lab in a while, but I like this toy. I have decided to start calling Barack Obama Baruch Obama. It makes him sound Jewish. Here's what TTL has to say about it:

I'm going to restrain myself from writing my longest review ever for this toy. I will simply transcribe the conversation that Ak Boogs and I had when it came in. These were my first reactions, I am not claiming any accuracy for my belligerent statements. Real talk.

Me: "I don't know... His features are a little too Curious George (The skin tone is accurate, but strangely the product shots that Snack looked up online were mad suspect in the skin-lightening department. Had a brother looking like Nat King Cole on television in the 50s and shit). I'm not feeling the fact that his campaign probably isn't seeing any of this money, either (it's since been confirmed that $1 goes to his campaign for every figure sold online). Why does he have the ill Arsenio finger? I bet these toy-making motherfuckers are a bunch of white boys trying to cash in on one of the most amazing moments in the history of the United States."
Ak: "I bet you're still going to buy one, aren't you?"
Me: "Two. One for my desk and one for the crib."

Anyway, I am tired from a long night last night at the art walk and a long day of work today. I am working on another piece for Billy Dee Williams. This one is a composite of two paintings that will be used for the cover of a magazine that goes along with the Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz 2008 Saxophone & Composers Competition. Billy Dee Williams really likes my work. Then I had to scan some images and print out some super high quality prints the same size as the originals for Igor Kovalyov, the director of The Rugrats Movie and an episode of one of my favorite cartoons of all time, Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man, and a very close friend of the gallery. I was getting ready to leave when a guy came in wanting to print an image five feet by twelve feet on linen. My boss was out, so I had to show him around the studio, show him our printers and that we had the capacity to print that large. I don't know prices or anything, I'm a production designer, so I was trying to get him to come back in the morning when my boss would be there. It was after five. I wanted to leave, but stayed and helped him as much as I could. He is coming back in the morning. I hope he has deep pockets!

Vodka With The Boss

Yesterday was a rough day at work. I am working on a new website for the gallery, which should be up soon, and my boss kept changing his mind about how he wanted the intro animation to look. First he wanted it to be a paint brush dripping paint onto our business card, then it flipping over to reveal the website. Then he wanted smears of paint going across the screen to become the website. But they were both too busy. Not clean and simple enough. By lunch, I was on the verge of exasperation. I took my lunch to do some meditation and calm down, got some caffeine and headed back to work. By four o'clock we had completed the intro animation for the website and it looks very nice, clean, represents the gallery well. When I am done with the rest of the website I will put a link up here for everyone to check it out. Anyway, my boss was so excited by the results, he busted out a beautiful bottle of vodka. We had to toast to our success. He had even showed it to Billy Dee Williams, who was also impressed. This was right before I was getting ready to leave for the day. So we did several shots over vodka, four or five, in rapid succession, finishing the bottle, with some blueberries to chase it, the only food I had eaten all day.

Then I drove home.

It didn't really hit me until I hit traffic on Sunset Blvd. I was overwhelmed by a sloshing sickness. My head throbbed. Vodka on an empty stomach is not a good thing. I much prefer it with some food or after a meal. When I got home, I figured it would probably be a good idea to eat something if I was going to throw up, give it a little substance. Also, I hate the dry heaves. So I ate a few handfuls of peanuts, some dry bread and yogurt. The yogurt did it.

I called in sick this morning. My boss understood. I am getting ready to head into work right now. We have an art walk this evening, so I will probably be there until nine o'clock, which will be a full day. If you are in the La Brea and Santa Monica area tonight, stop on by and say hi. It should be fun.

Speaking of fun, a few things for y'all folks:

Erick Scarecrow of ESC Toy Ltd. has a new 8" Micci plush coming out in September. It will be available in five different delicious flavors, Purple Lurple, Snow Attack, Pink Rage, Green Master, and Mocha. Available now? Soon? How much? We shall see... we shall see.

A Paper Tiger has a beautiful new Limited Ed. print from Nimit Malavia entitled The Spark That Hath Set Fire. Limited to ten 12" x 16" prints signed and numbered.

Update: It looks like they are sold out already.

There is a new iPod Nano and new iPod touch. iTunes 8 is out. The world is changing my friends. The world is changing. Now I gotta go to work!

Full Vinyl Jacket

Ningyoushi has got the new goods from probably my favorite vinyl artist, Michael Lau, in stock. The Limited Ed. SK3 Set is Lau's homage to Stanley Kubrick, one of my favorite directors of all time. I remember staying up late Friday nights to watch A Clockwork Orange on Skinemax. A bit of the old ultraviolence for little Alec. And who doesn't remember the first time they saw 2001: A Space Odyssey all fucked-up on acid? Actually, who does remember that? I sure don't. Or in Full Metal Jacket when Gomer Pyle blows his brains out. I didn't see that one coming. Anyway, these new figures from Michael Lau are pretty sick, and only $285 for the set of all three. Not too bad for Lau's work. Out of my price range right now, though, with just having gotten a job and having to pay for a trip to Delaware for my parents' 40th wedding anniversary and all. 40 years, who would have thought? And 2001 was their first movie date. Isn't that precious.

Update: The red/silver version of 2bb1 is out of stock at Ningyoushi, they are now only shipping the blue [pictured above], yellow or green versions.

Buried

My old pals over at project:gallery have an exhibit opening this Saturday, August 16th from 7-10pm entitled Buried Beneath Me, a group exhibition curated by the Friends United Network. Here's the good word from project:gallery:

The concept for the exhibition is the idea of being "buried" - and not necessarily in a morbid way. The main body of work will be a reflection on the simple beauties which are so often overlooked in our fast-paced lives, emphasizing that we are a relatively small, but important, part of a larger collective consciousness. The hope is that this show will help the viewer recognize the playful joys of living despite being "Buried" under a mound of superimposed social constraints.

This will be the second major Los Angeles show curated by the Friends United Network, and will host several artists that have shown in the gallery including: Rebecca Urias, Derek Albeck, Ken Garduno - as well as new artists to project: Ian Mailhot, Seth Neefus, Tim Karpinski, David Wien, Mark Warren Jacques and Scott Ferguson.

Looks like some good stuff. Project:gallery also has a new blog, here. Anne and I are going to try to make it out for the opening this Saturday night. Culver City is a haul from Echo Park, though, but it's worth it.

Also worth it, if you are in the Sunset Junction area of Silverlake in LA, is the sneaker shop Kicks Sole Provider [pictured above]. Anne and I stopped in there while strolling around Sunset Junction. There is also a Giant Robot store, an Undefeated store and Secret Headquarters [pictured below], a good comic book shop. I could spend all weekend at those four shops. Of course, for sneakers in Sunset Junction, I think Kicks Sole Provider has a better selection than Undefeated. They had some real nice Onitsuka Tigers and some dope Limited Ed. Nikes on consignment. There are also some good vintage shops around Sunset Junction. My kind of area. I think I will be spending a lot of time down there while I am living in Echo Park. It is so close! (Check out my other pictures from LA here)

Neglectin' My Duties

Sorry I have been a little lax with the posts the last few days. I have been busy exploring LA and searching for a job. Yesterday, Anne and I took an unexpected tour of Los Angeles when I tried to find Cedar Sinai Medical Center without my iPod. We ended up in Inglewood. 45 minutes later, we found Cedars, then it was on to Runyon Canyon Park for a little hiking and sightseeing. I will have to bring a camera next time 'cause from up there you can see all of Los Angeles. It is pretty amazing. Today I got a job at Art Territory, a gallery and studio on La Brea and Santa Monica. I start on Monday. It only took me six days to find a job. I guess I can rest tomorrow.

Anyway, today, there is no rest for the weary. I got some Limited Ed. stuffeses to share with y'all. First up, Erick Scarecrow's SDCC Kissaki Sandstorm colorway figure [pictured above] is now available at the ESC eBay store. It is limited to only 300 pieces and comes with a signed limited edition print by Erick Scarecrow. This is definitely one of my favorite ESC pieces so far, and I especially like this Tattooine-lookin' colorway.

And the other thing I wanted to share with y'all for right now, Julie West will be showin' an exhibit of her work at the Myplasticheart Gallery in NYC startin' tonight. The exhibit, entitled Sickly Sweet features a wide range of new artwork, from paintings to prints and customs based around her sugary theme. Unfortunately, I forgot I am on West Coast time, so the opening has already ended. You can still see it, though, through September 9th.

Man, it is crazy being out here in LA! I have just been drivin' around gawkin' at people and at places that I done seen in the movies and on the TV. I feel like a regular country rube bumpkin givin' blumpkins out here. I keep yellin' at people in other cars, "I'm from North Carolina, man! I don't know where I am! I don't give a shit! I'll kill us all, dammit!" in Edward's redneck accent from The Dog Prince. Of course, I got the windows rolled up for the AC, so people just think I'm some crazy guy yellin' to himself in his car. They steer clear, though. It's fun.

Death

Alright, now that I'm settled in, it's time for some Limited Ed. shit. I got e-mail from 3A, Ashley Wood and 3-Zero's collaboration toy company, letting me know that their new 12" figure Les Mort [pictured above] is now available over at Bambaland. I am a huge fan of both Ashley Wood and 3-Zero and this is one sweet-ass figure. Unfortunately, I just moved to LA and don't have a job (yet) or an apartment, so it might be a little while before I buy any more toys. But for only $130, it is a lot cheaper than some of Ashley's other toys.

KAWS JPP

We are just two minutes away from the drop of Kaws latest creation, JPP [pictured above], in association with Medicom Toy. Get ready to hit refresh over and over until you can actually get this to pop up for you and then try to get it before it sells out in ten seconds. No price or availability info, of course.

Kiss, Kiss

Got e-mail from ESC lettin' me know 'bout a Limited Ed. SDCC 'sclusive Kissaki Sandstorm Edition. It is limited to only 300 pieces, available Friday or Saturday, the 26th or 27th to be signed at the Toy Tokyo booth. It'll run ya' $69.99, but you can get it signed, which makes it priceless. Also, it looks pretty sweet and I really like the brown and blue colorway. Reminds me of something.