JLed Pyro Smash -- Sold OUT

SOLD OUT.  Fin.  Here's the last few shots -- Smash closeup cameos ;-) 'Night.

JLed Pyro Smash - More signing pics

Just cause I can... Enjoying the live blogging... Oh, just in case.... It's Munky King on Melrose.

Munky King
7308 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
323.938.0091

JLed -- It's On

He's signing... Online sales have come and gone ... 3 minutes?  in a flash.

JLed - Pyro Smash Launch -- NOW

Munky King is about to open the doors... Joe Ledbetter's Pyro Smash Launch is in 8 minutes.  Here are some pics of the line...

Uncommon Gardens - Koopman, Vivanco, Piri, and Brooks

Thinkspace Gallery will host the opening of Uncommon Gardens, a four girl show featuring Caia Koopman, Kelly Vivanco, Lilly Piri and Catherine Brooks, this Friday (5.10.08) from 7 to 11 PM.  Here's a quick preview of each four the ladies' work -- be sure to come out for the opening to check out all the paintings for yourself and Kelly's lovely front-room installation (above).

Thinkspace Art Gallery
4210 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90029
323.913.3375

tokidoki Miao + Mousubi from Zakkamono

They're nearly here. After a little bit of a wait, Zakkamono is ready to drop the first  artist edition of Miao (7") + Mousabi (3").  Limited to 500 pieces, the  tokidoki Miao + Mousubi features Simone Legno's immediately recognizable characters on the blue cat and the cleverly cute Mousabi (it's a rice triangle!)  Zakkamono is offering pre-orders now for the tokidoki edition ($80 ) as well as a DIY edition ($40).  Expect the figures to drop in early June. Please contact DKE Toys for wholesale inquiries.  Click through for a close-up shot.

S7's Blood Rage Squirm

The infamy of Super7's Squirm (part of the Snakes of Infinity) continues to grow.  His newest incarnation, Blood Rage Squirm (4.5"), features a clear rotocast body with red highlights (eyes, suckers), brown boots, and silver spray.  This one drops this Saturday @ 11 AM from Super7's SF store  for $50 and also online and through retailers in the S7 Distribution network.

Super7 Store
1630 Post Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
415.409.4700

AIDS Walk New York '08 - Team Kidrobot

Kidrobot is participating in AIDS Walk New York (5.18) -- a benefit event to raise money to promote awareness, prevention and assist those afflicted with this the deadly disease.   You can help out Kidrobot's efforts to raise at least $3000 for the cause this year by donating through their team page.  it's a great way to support a good cause and a way to let people know our scene/industry cares.  We donated and ask you to consider doing so too.

Andrew Bell's Altars @ Lulubell

Andrew Bell created three limited-edition Altars sculptures with production by Hobbymaster 2K3 Studio for his recent Burning Desire show in LA.  There's All Seeing (3 pieces), Skull (5 pieces) and Big Mouth (3 pieces).  Each hand-painted piece is 30" tall and available from Lulubell Toys for $1000 (+ s/h) each. Click through for more pics.

Luke Chueh - She's My Heroin(e)

Luke Chueh will open his She's My Heroin(e) solo this Saturday (8 - 11:30 PM) @ Corpo Nason.  This is Luke's primary solo for '08 and is definitely one to catch. Juding by the title,  also promises to be a personal and introspective collection. Also it appears that his Silver Mugs Vivisect Playset figures will be available at the opening.

Copro Nason
Bergamot Station
7525 Michigan Ave T5
Santa Monica, CA 90404
310.829.2156

Sket One - Snake Eyes @ CiRCA (5.9.08)

Sket One's Snake Eyes installation for the Kidrobot Room @ CiRCA in Toronto featuring eight custom Dunnys and Munnys opens this Friday evening.(5.9.08).  As you might guess from the flier and the "Clue" preview piece (below), Sket's picking up the board game theme he started with his Operation Munny from aways back.  Sket will also be making an appearance at Magic Pony on Saturday (5.10) from  7 - 9 PM as part of the store's vinyl trading party.

CiRCA
126 John Street
Toronto, Ontario M5V 2E3

Frank Kozik - Ludwig Van 16" Bronze Sculpture

Frank Kozik has been turning heads for a while with his busts of world leaders (some would say dictators).  Up until now they've been vinyl or fiberglass.  For Ludwig Van, he's stepping it up -- 16"  bust in bronze with a marble base.  This Clockwork Orange inspired design pays homage to  Alex's love of Beethoven (unpainted resin protos shown above).   This is  a high-end art piece limited to just 20 pieces coming from UltraViolence.  Pricing is yet to be determined but it is expected to be at least three thousand dollars.  If you're looking for a statement art piece this just might be it.  Lulubell Toys is offering a presale on the Ludwig Van bronze.

Harry Oh - It's Finger Licking Good (5.9.08)

You might remember Harry Oh from his production Qees or his various customs.  We haven't heard much on the art front from Harry, until now...  His solo, It's Finger Licking Good, opens this Friday (5.9) @ Channel 1 in New Haven, CT.  Come out to check out his newest paintings. 

Channel 1
220 State St.
New Haven, CT 06511

The Making of Julie West's Bumble and Tweet

Bumble

Today we're bringing you an exclusive first look (turn-arounds) at  Julie West's first original vinyl figures, Bumble (above) and Tweet (below), currently in production from STRANGEco.    Over the next several months we'll be bringing you updates on the development process through all the key stages -- sculpting and revisions, color samples and revisions, packaging, and the finished product.   Each update will feature commentary by both Julie and STRANGEco's production team. 

Tweet

Julie West has exhibited her art in numerous group shows around the world.  Whether on a 2D surface or on a 3D toy, her characters bring a unique aesthetic driven by her signature rendering of facial features.  Her customs are remarkably well-executed with crisp, immaculate lines.  Here's Julie's take on the initial design process for her upcoming vinyl figures, the release of which ( ~ August '08) will likely result in the widest audience for her personal art to-date.

Julie: The characters are  an extension of ideas and themes that I use in my regular work - a 3d version of what I typically do in 2d. I tend to draw a lot of birds (especially birds) and bees along side human characters and they are really prevalent in my work.

Pyro Smash in the Jungle of Leaves and Concrete

Pyro Smash from Joe Ledbetter  and Toy2R has been spotted roaming the Jungle -- natural and urban. We've been tracking him and have quite a few shots (click through).  Ok, ok, so we dragged him along and shot pics of him  while 'normal' people stared at us... Previous pics have made it hard to see that Pyro is a mix of yellow and a fiery orange.  You can definitely see the two-tone design here.   This is the rarest species to-date (200 pieces).  It will drop this Thursday (5.6.08) @ Munky King (from 7 to 11 PM). 

Munky King
7308 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
323.938.0091

Jamungo's New Sqwerts from Brian Morris and MAD

Jamungo's just announced dope new Sqwerts  -- Brian Morris's wicked skull design  and MAD's Slimeball.  Both look really good.  Ferg says that the printing is super tight and we believe him as the intial round of Sqwerts had stunning quality. The regular colorways of each (green for MAD and black/white for Brian Morris) are limited to 500 pieces.  The alternate colorways are limited to 250 (brown for MAD, and black/gold for Brian Morris).  These should be dropping next week (or slighty after that) for a suggested retail of $25.  Please direct all wholesale inquiries to DKE Toys.  Click through for side profile shots.

Olivas, Peters, Sas and Colin Christian @ RGG (5.17.08)

Richard Goodall Gallery has a tresat in store for Manchester, England.  The gallery will host not one but two powerhouse art couples -- Kathie Olivas and Brandt Peters as well as Sas and Colin Christian, on May 17th 2008 (12 -5 PM) for a special four-person show.  Each is an established solo artist on their own, so the collective presentation of new work from each is not to be missed.  All four artists will be at the opening and will sign  and customize prints and vinyl toys.  Speaking of vinyl, if everything goes as planned the gallery may offer an  exclusive edition of one of MINDstyle's  Scavengers mini-figures  by Kathie Olivas.

Richard Goodall Gallery
59 Thomas St
Manchester England M4 1NA UK

Here We Grow @ Black Maria (5.17.08)

The London Police, Flying Fortress, Galo and Pez will showcase their individual urban aesthetics with the opening of Here We Grow @ Black Maria Gallery on Saturday May 17th (7-11 PM). 

In conjunction with Aphrodisio records, the show will feature original work from all four artists, a live painting session, and two new Flying Fortress giclees produced by Aphrodisio.  During the opening, the artists will collaborate on a painting which will later be auctioned on eBay with 10% of the proceeds going to Monkey Sanctuary, a charity working to protect primates.  Both Flying Fortress Gicless measure 18" x 24" and  are limited to 150 signed and numbered pieces.

This is a rare opportunity to see the work of these European artists collectively in one spot, in Los Angeles no less. Not to be missed.  Get there early -- you can be sure people will be lining up with their black books.

Black Maria Gallery
3137 Glendale Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90039
323.660.9393