WE LOVE VINYL

A short while ago I joined together with a group of Minnesotan artists and TOMODACHI store in Rosedale, MN to form an arts group called "TOMODACHI ARTISTS". I would have told you sooner about it but I have been busy preparing for our first new art show using vinyl figures as the canvas base. The show is called "WE LOVE VINYL" and runs from today (09/17/2011) until October 2nd. If you are around come along to the opening reception from 4pm-7pm.

I have three Munny, two mini Munny and a MEGA Munny (complete with keychain Munny earring) on show with (and are you ready to have your mind hole blown?!?) another 80 (yes, count 'em 80!!) Munny and from over 20 artists. Boooom!

A couple of bits about it on line :
Kidrobot's (KRonikle) blog
Rosevill Patch article


YOU WANT A FORMAL INVITE? YOU GOT ONE....

Greetings from Tomodachi Artists!

We are happy to announce that our art show, “We Love Vinyl,” will open on Saturday, September 17th. We would be honored if you’d join us for the opening reception from 4–7 pm.

“We Love Vinyl” is a celebration of do-it-yourself (DIY) vinyl toys. DIY toys are an exciting, new type of collectible pop art that allows artists to work on a three-dimensional canvas. The featured DIY toy for this show will be Kidrobot’s Munny. We’re planning on having pieces from over 20 artists!

The reception will have prizes, music, refreshments, and a chance to meet many of the artists. There will also be a silent charity auction and several pieces at the show will be available for purchase. The charity auction will run from September 17–19, with all proceeds going towards Imagine No Malaria. Current art majors and alumni from Hamline University are working with us to create these pieces. We are also donating a portion of all gallery sales to Keystone Community Food Shelf. This non-profit organization works to help families dealing with hunger and homelessness in the Twin Cities area.

Tomodachi Artists was founded by Tomodachi as a non-profit art organization in the spring of 2011. As a group, we are dedicated to helping grow a Minnesota-based, but nationally connected, artistic community. Tomodachi Artists also works to improve the lives of our fellow artists through programs and events, help them gain greater exposure with regular gallery shows at Tomodachi, and provide them with unique opportunities in the art community.

We hope to see you at our opening reception! If you have any questions, please email us at info@tomodachi.us or call us at 651-631-1777.

Elf Bot

Macy's is getting the design for it's next Thanksgiving Day parade float via artist submissions. You had to first go online, find the location where a vinyl elf would be hidden in a Macy's store, get a password to give to the clerk, get the elf home, decorate it, photograph it and then submit it via Facebook, hope it gets selected in the final 85, hope it gets voted on via Facebook, hope it wins so that Macy's rush the design off to be made into the actual balloon for THIS YEARS parade! Hard work. Especially as most of the Macy's staff I encountered had no idea about the project and disputed they should give me anything for free just because I was standing in the young women's section (the location on the day I went to claim my elf) saying "Sweet Potato" (the daily password). I was not arrested however and managed to design this is an Elf Bot.


















The actual vinyl elf itself was quite restricting in that it already had the facial features of a large nose and tiny eyes. I recast my eyes with clay making them larger and more cartoony, lining them with silver to show the metallic qualities. I toyed with painting the whole character in golds and silver and having a real "tin man" persona but it didn't really fit with the Macy's theme (which was requested in the guide lines). The digital front display and the jet pack were made from my reliable friend Crayola Air Dry Clay. The fire that was coming out of the jet pack had to be removed when I submitted the piece on Macy's Facebook page and the picture had to be inserted into their elf shaped cookie cutter submission process (the legs were cut off a bit when I did this)

The submission process has now finished and what I can only assume to be real elves, are whittling down the submissions to 85 which will be displayed online via Macy's facebook page to be voted on from August 30th 2011. So go vote for an elf bot so I can be in New York for Thanks giving.....which is part of the prize by the way....I would send you a post card! Promise!