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Mar 31, 2007
Seen: D*Face @ O Contemporary
UK Street artist D*Face opened his Eyecons solo show at O Contemporary in Brighton today (3.31). Thanks toJeremy Gibbs, our UK correspondent, for sending these great pics across the Atlantic. The show featured several new paintings, a large D*Dog installation and two exclusive prints -- Kurt 'Kant Complain' (edition of 50), Cli-Che (Edition of 150).
O Contemporary Gallery
80 Trafalgar St.
Brighton bn1 4eb
UK
Continue reading "Seen: D*Face @ O Contemporary"
Seen: Augustine Kofie @ SURU
Augustine Kofie's large window installation of discarded treasures @ SURU opened this past Friday night (3.30). The large installation featured drafting table and supplies, hand-painted tool boxes, spray cans, hand-done T-shirts, and original art filled the front portion of SURU's sleek 'L' shaped window cabinet and continued the length of the store. The installation marks more than a decade of Kofie's art and creativity.
While most of the pieces in the window installation were not-for-sale, several paintings displayed on the boutiques walls were available for sale. The crowd which included SURU co-owner Joe Hahn (Linkin Park) and Nathan Cabrera grew throughout the night and spilled out in front of the store. Contact SURU for information about available paintings as well as Kofie's extremely limited T-shirts.
SURU
7662 Melrose Ave,
Los Angeles, CA 90046.
333.951.9812
Continue reading "Seen: Augustine Kofie @ SURU"
Mar 30, 2007
TADO's First Screenprint
TADO's lovely first screenprint done as an exclusive between postersandtoys.com and Mike and Katie is now available online. Screenprinted in six colors plus spot varnish, the 10.5"x 13" is limited to 80 pieces. Half of the full run is available at postersandtoys.com for $40/print. The remainder will eventually be available directly from TADO.
Seen: Tara McPherson - Ace and Ion Launch
Tara McPherson wrapped up her three cities in three days signing tour for the launch of her new Ace and Ion figure set at Kidrobot LA this past Thursday. In case you didn't already know, this is a great set -- starting with the three flocked figures (including the black pet dragon) and rounding out with plenty of extra touches including ray gun and pick axe accessories, a coloring book, puffy stickers and a slick rocket-shaped box (complete with pop out fins). Tara signed the box for many people and the flocked figures for the adventurous. Here's hoping we see additional toys from Tara in the future -- keep an eye out for her Dunny in Series 4.
Continue reading "Seen: Tara McPherson - Ace and Ion Launch"
El Panda Edicion Kozik
COMANDANTE ROJO: EDICION POBLANO POR KOZIK. Vinyl Pulse X Muttpop. June 2007.
Mar 29, 2007
Augustine Kofie Installation @ SURU
LA graff artist Augustine Kofie has collected discarded treasures for the past ten years. For April 2007, Kofie has created a unique window installation at the SURU boutique on Melrose featuring metal signs, boom boxes, vintage spray cans, drafting supplies, industrial equipment, tool boxes and more. Kofie has applied his signature artistic style to many of these previously private and unseen items, while leaving some in their raw and pure state. Come check out the installation's opening this Friday, March 30th from 7 to 10 PM at SURU. See the flier for full details.
SURU
7662 Melrose Ave,
Los Angeles, CA 90046.
333.951.9812
Interview with Andrew Brandou
Vinyl Pulse is pleased to bring you an interview with LA artist Andrew Brandou done b y our guest blogger Yevgeniy Shukhman. Read on to learn more about Andrew's "Sniper Bunny" toy and his upcoming projects.
Hello
Andrew! It's been a while since we talked about Sniper Bunny. I believe it was
for Mean magazine's "Mean Toys" "Dr.Romanelli Prescription" column before the
toy even came out. Let's start with an introduction and then move on to our
exciting topic -- the "Sniper Bunny" 12 inch
plush toy. Please introduce yourself.
I am a painter living in Los Angeles, and have only recently begun creating toys and objects. I work with a lot of character-driven art to create series based on real-life events. I use plants and animals, living and dead, as metaphor, so the work is more universal than its real life inspiration. Some of my subjects include the Charles Manson mythos, the May '68 student riots in Paris, and most recently the Peoples Temple. Of course, those are the jumping-off point, the finished pieces may recall something different depending on the viewer.
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Touma's Gaburin
Touma's Gaburin is the latest figure in Wonderwall's Kaiju for Growups Series. Gaburin stands about 6 inches (15 cm) high and is probably the cutest figure in the series to date.
Mar 28, 2007
Steph Cop's BBoy Process Teaser
Here's a video teaser of Steph Cop's upcoming BBoy Process figure from Bonustoyz. BBoy Process will measure in at about 6" high and be sold "blind".
Mar 27, 2007
Tara McPherson - Ace and Ion Launch
Tara McPherson embarks on a whirlwind 3-day signing tour for her Ace and Ion vinyl figure set from Kidrobot starting tonight (now) at Kidrobot NY. After NYC, Tara will sign at Kidrobot San Francisco (Wednesday, 3/28) and Kidrobot Los Angeles (Thursday, 3/29). Each event runs from 6 to 8 PM. Check the flier for full details and addresses.
Limited to 1500 units, the set features three flocked figures of the intrepid comsic explorers -- Ace Kittyhawk (spacebear), Ion Z (alien bunny) and their pet dragon. Packaged in a rocketship box, the set which retails for $39.99 comes nicely equipped with ray gun and pick-axe accessorires plus a sticker pack and coloring book.
Seen: Tokyo International Anime Fair
Strong characters and a loyal following here in the States, is fueling anime crossover art toys such as the recently released FLCL Canti figures and the large 36" T-28 vinyl from Kaching Brands. Toby HK recently made the trip to the Tokyo International Anime Fair recently (3.22 - 3.25) held at Tokyo Big Sight. He sent back pics of sights from the show including toys and CosPlayers. Enjoy!
Continue reading "Seen: Tokyo International Anime Fair"
Seen: Bigfoot - Survival In the Modern World
Bigfoot opened his Survival in the Modern World show this past Saturday (3.24.07) by transforming Corey Helford Gallery into a lush forest of faux trees. The paintings featured Bigfoot large and slightly smaller in both furious action and contemplative pieces. The clear standout of the show, a 7 foot tall Bigfoot sculpture carved from a fallen tree, stood watch over the show floor.
The show runs through April 10th -- be sure to browse the available art in the online show catalog. Thanks to Julie B. of Pretty in Plastic for the pictures of Bigfoot finishing one of the pieces in the gallery.
Corey Helford Gallery
8522 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
310.287.2340
Continue reading "Seen: Bigfoot - Survival In the Modern World"
Mar 26, 2007
Proto Monday >> MINDstyle's Conehead by GERMS
Today for Proto Monday we bring you a first look at MINDstyle's Conehead, the first art toy from emerging Hispanic artist GERMS. The Conehead project started with MINDstyle's creative head Matthew D. Young's introduction to GERMS by L. Crowskey after he attended shows at Thinkspace Gallery and the traveling Cannibal Flower.
GERMS combines Chicano and Lowbrow art into what he calls "Lowbrown". He describes the Conehead Luchador as "half Mexican and half American" drawing on "the toughness of the wrestler and the culture it represents".
Conehead is scheduled for a summer release. Impressed with work shown at Thinkspace and Cannibal Flower, Young indicated that there are discussions on an imprint with both to bring new artists into the limited-edition Art Toy genre.
Seen: CJ Metzger and Miss Mindy -- The Secret Lives of Dolls
Artist sisters CJ Metzger and Miss Mindy opened Secret Lives of Dolls this past Saturday (3.24.07) at Gallery Revisited in Silverlake. In addition to the varied art work including paintings, mixed media pieces, and mobiles, the artists designed elaborate baroque costumes for Miss Penny Star Jr. and friends complete with painted-art hair pieces and other subtle touches. The eye-catching show installation featured a painted tree mural, a large number of hand-painted mobiles, and two 2.5D caged birds.
CJ and Miss Mindy's colorful and whimsical art is featured in their Limited Edition Children’s Book Box-Set, Artist Sisters: Box of Stories which was available for pre-sale at the opening. The show offers a great introduction to the sisters' art and runs through May 5th. For comprehensive pictures of the show pieces check out Gallery Revisited's photo gallery.
Look for artist sisters CJ Metzger and Miss Mindy's art toys coming from Kaching Brands . Kaching Brands President Kenneth Appel remarked, "the Artist Sisters are one of our many exciting new releases this summer and they lead the way for character designs that meet the demands of the growing female art toy collectors segment. Both CJ and Miss Mindy bring a fresh approach and have wide appeal."
Gallery Revisited
3204 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
626.253.5266
Mar 23, 2007
Dave Flores @ Gaslamp Oakley O-Store (3.23.07)
Dave Flores will be signing tonight (3.23.07) from 7 - 9 PM at the Gaslamp Oakley O-Store in support of his new limited-edition Oakley Signature Sunglass. So if you just happen to live in SD, you might want to drop by and check it out. See the flier for full details.
Gaslamp Oakley O-Store
460 5th Avenue Suite # 2-113
San Diego, CA. 92101-6912
Muttpop: The Collection
This week we take a look back at all of the Muttpop figures in existence. This includes produced figures and the new batch that we have revealed here at Vinyl Pulse. In case you're wondering, there are no plans to
produce Carai Tequila (the other Extra Spicy).
Nikos Constant - Runaway Brain Photography Signing (3.24.2007)
Nikos Constant (Span of Sunset) will be signing prints of his "Mickey Mouse in Walt Disney's Runaway Brain" photographs this Saturday, March 24th, 2007 from 10:00 am until 12:00 noon at Disney's Vault 28 in the Downtown Disney® District at the Disneyland® Resort. Along with the collectible prints, the Span of Sunset X Disney® "Runaway Brain" figures will be available too! Come out and be a part of this special collaboration.
Mar 22, 2007
Bigfoot - Survival in the Modern World (3.24.07)
San Francisco artist Bigfoot's new solo, Survival in the Modern World, opens this Saturday (3.24.07) at Corey Helford Gallery. Examining nature's place in the ever-expanding modern world, the show will feature new paintings and an installation featuring a life-size Bigfoot sculpture carved from a fallen tree. See the flier for more info.
Corey Helford Gallery
8522 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
310.287.2340
Attaboy Signing at PinkGhost (4.7.07)
Attaboy will be signing his AXTRX vinyl figures (original and Fuzzy) and copies of Hi-Fructose<