Exhibition

Kathie Olivas & Brandt Peters for ‘Awakened’ Charity Show @ AFA NYC, 9.20

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As part of Alix Sloan’s “Awakened” charity group exhibition opening Sept. 20 at AFA NYC, Kathie Olivas and Brandt Peters are contributing “Beloved”, 20″x30″ oil on linen painting.

“Awakened” is a special, 10-day charity exhibition and fundraising event inspired by the companions in our lives. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Adopt-A-Pet.com, an international initiative driven to finding homes for homeless pets. The exhibition also doubles as a celebration for the release of Sloan’s “Pet Sitter: A Jenna Stack Mystery,” a novel co-authored with writer Amy Eyrie.

Exhibiting artists include: Jessicka Addams, Jennybird Alcantara, Nicole Alvarez, Nana An, Jean-Pierre Arboleda, Carrie Anne Baade, Rebekah Bogard, Mia Brownell, Tim Burton, Bill Carman, Bryan Cunningham, Jason D’Aquino, Michelle Doll, Peter Drake, Nicole Etienne, Tom Everhart, Eric Finzi, Marc Finzi, Erik Foss, Camille Rose Garcia, Theodor Geisel, Kady Grant, Leontine Greenberg, Linda Griggs, Gris Grimly, Evan B. Harris, Jason Holley, Anthony Iacono, Kate Javens, Lisa Lebofsky, Travis Louie, Julia Marchand, Elizabeth McGrath, Daniel Merriam, Gabriela Mesa-Jonassen, Scott Musgrove, Joshua Petker, Ransom & Mitchell, Kirk Reinert, Martha Rich, Paul Richard, Ron Richter, Chris Roberts-Antieu, Jean-Pierre Roy, Jonny Ruzzo, Isabel Samaras, Charles M. Schulz, Ryan Scully, Maurice Sendak, Heather Sherman, Nathan Skiles, Sally Sloan, Aaron Smith, Owen Smith, Nathan Spoor, Jonathan Viner, Melanie Vote, Lindsey Way, Casey Weldon, Eric White and Brad Woodfin.

In addition to the original artwork submitted for the exhibition, rare prints from Nicoletta Ceccoli, Tom Everhart, Shepard Fairey, Marion Peck and others will be up for grabs in a live auction. The opening reception for “Awakened” is Sept. 22nd, 5pm to 8pm.

New In-Progress Magic from Amanda Spayd for ‘Origins of the Forest’, 9.7

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With Origins of the Forest just two weeks away, Amanda Louise Spayd’s studio is in full-swing production mode with little resin faces and plush bodies blanketing every conceivable surface. It also means a steady stream of WIP shots hitting Instagram, which always makes us tingle with antici … pation.

I’ll let the critters speak for themselves; Mandi’s WIP shots are nothing short of magical and for a show that seemingly crept up on all of us, it appears we are in for something very special.

Origins of the Forest opens Sept. 7th at myplasticheart with a reception with the artist from 6pm to 9pm. The exhibition is on view through Oct. 7th.

New Teasers from Kathie Olivas for ‘Haunted’ @ AFA NYC 10.20

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The eye candy continues to trickle out from CP HQ, where Kathie is busy juggling preps for Paris this September with what’s shaping up to be a cracking solo exhibition the following month at AFA NYC. This round of ladies is for the latter: a striking (albeit slightly unsettling) original sculpt of Siamese twins, followed by a gorgeous Lizzie custom (these always kill me) and seriously freakish lady off to the left (watch your back). The bronze 4-legged is for Paris.

Haunted opens Oct. 20th at AFA NYC. Opening reception with KO from 7pm to 9pm; come say hi!

Doktor A’s ‘Ophelia Grimm’ for A Postcard from New Yorkshire, 10.12

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Doktor A has just put the finishing touches on all of the dimensional pieces for his upcoming solo show at myplasticheart this October, A Postcard from New Yorkshire. First to be revealed is this stunning original, Ophelia Grimm:

Chronic nyctophobe, Ophelia is terrified of the dark. Sadly, her grand house was inherited from an eccentric uncle who built it without windows, so she was forced to squander her fortunes on candles…

Miss Ophelia stands 9.5″ tall, or 11.5″ with the vintage brass dome. She and the (seriously impressive) candles are crafted from vinyl, ABS, rubber, lead, glass, styrene, polymer clay, vintage draughtsman’s tools & clock key, and other repurposed treasures.

A Postcard from New Yorkshire opens at MPH during NYCC weekend, Oct. 12, and is on view until Nov. 11th.

 

‘Paperwhite’ by Amanda Louise Spayd for Le Carnaval des Spectres, 9.13

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A new little lady has surfaced from the studio of Amanda Louise Spayd for Le Carnaval des Spectres, this one blessed ‘Paperwhite’. Similar to her Daylight Specters, Paperwhite is hand made one-off who comes packin’ enough electric punch to illuminate a room. I can only imagine what she’d look like under a black light!

Le Carnaval des Spectres opens Sept. 13 through Oct. 20th at Artoyz Shop + Galerie in Paris, France. The exhibition marks CP’s first group exhibition on European soil and features a collection of new two- and three-dimensional works from Kathie OlivasBrandt PetersTravis LouieChris RyniakAmanda Louise Spayd and Teodoru Badiu.

 

Say Cheese! A WIP from CMR for Lucha Libre! @ Rotofugi 10.5

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Chris absolutely nailed his critters for Monsters & Misfits II and he doesn’t look to have lost any momentum with yet another original figure in the works, this one a Luchador for The Beast Brothers’ Lucha Libre! group exhibition opening at Rotofugi Oct. 5th. This guy is certainly not shy of showing off his gap-toothed grin!

Really looking forward to seeing this sculpt finished —  not only to quell my curiosity of what lurks beyond the frame, but he looks to be a fair-sized figure. Scale is always hard to determine in photos, but the pic below suggests there’s a pair of arms jutting out the front on the body, reminiscent of this guy (aka my absolute ALL TIME favourite CMR sculpt EVAR). … More visual stimuli soon!

Lucha Libre! runs opens Oct. 5th through the 28th at Rotofugi Gallery in Chicago. Participating artists also include The Beast Brothers, Angry Woebots, Brandt Peters and Kathie Olivas, BurunDANGA, Eric Merrill, Huck Gee, Jime Litwalk, Joe Capobianco, J*RYU, Junko Mizuno, Kronk, Michael Motorcycle, Patrick Cornolo, Phil Young, Sara Antoinette Martin, Scribe & Alisa, Mr. Shane Jessup, Shawnimals, Sket One, Sourbones, TADO, and Tim Tsui.

 

Travis Louie x Circus Posterus ‘Ecto-Stan’ Bust Revealed at SPIRITS, 8.3

Travis Louie’s utterly awesome Spirits exhibition opened this past weekend at Stranger Factory and hidden among the paintings and drawings was his Ecto Stan bust, a surprise, 20-piece edition from Travis and Circus Posterus. Standing 7 inches tall and retailing for $250 per, the hand painted resin busts are a brand new platform from CP and it’ll be really exciting to see what they have planned for these, given this strong debut. We’ve had a taster of what can be done with giant Elizabeth and Skelve busts, so there’s no doubt that these smaller platforms should yield all kinds of toytastic magic — editioned and custom pieces alike!

Spirits is on display until Sept. 3 at the Factory and the exhibition is also live right here. For those hankering for more 3D goodness, be sure to check out Travis’ exclusive Uncle Six Eyes, and his Ghostly Stan Skelve, as well!

 

 

 

Ultra Squid Girl Makes Her Resin Debut @ Le Carnaval, 9.13

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Oh hot damn, remember these two?! Kathie and Brandt’s Ultra Squid Girl figure made its debut as a prototype at the Super7 booth during SDCC 2011.

Now, this probably goes without saying, but this is a very complicated sculpt and production on the vinyl edition is still up in the air, but the GOOD NEWS is that resin versions of the sculpt EXIST. What you see above is the first hand painted set to be revealed (we’ve also seen a lone Squid Skull), and is part of Le Carnaval des Spectres in Paris this September. Unlike the vinyl edition, these figures cannot be stacked (originally the Squid Girl on the left was intended to slip over the Skull), but I don’t think I’d want to conceal the sheer awesomeness of that irradiated invertebrate, anyway! We’re talking handpaints, people! Just when you thought this figure couldn’t get sexier … ;)

Plenty more pics and info to come; this is startin’ to get good!

 

Mandi’s Critters Prepare for the Carnaval

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For Le Carnaval des Spectres, Amanda Louise Spayd will have an assortment of her signature dumpy dudes, likely of various sizes, shapes and smiles. She’s kept mum over progress pics so far, but recently dropped these two hypnotic little faces. Totally digging the soul-sucking eyes.

One of the perks of Mandi recently acquiring an iPhone is that she’s on Instagram (@amandalouisespayd). Instagram means delicious, visual stimuli: we get a daily dose of Mandi’s discerning, rustic-antiquey-freaky taste, and also further insight into her artistic process, which we rarely, if ever, see. Look, Ma! It’s Easy-Bake!

The below image has got to be one of my favourite progress pics from her. And not because it reminds me of cut Pillsbury cookies from the tube, but I had no idea that this is how it all starts. They’re so … flat! Ya learn something new every day.

More eye candy to come!

Le Carnaval des Spectres opens Sept. 13 through Oct. 20th at Artoyz Shop + Galerie in Paris, France.

Chris Ryniak’s Spooky Leftovers for Le Carnaval, 9.13

Now isn’t this cool. Over the years we’ve seen Chris Ryniak tackle many a monster; we’ve seen his interpretation of Rayolas, of Stitches and of Buff Monsters. He’s even taken on YHWH. But it wasn’t until last year’s Late Season at Stranger Factory that I saw my first 100% genuine Chris Ryniak ghost.

This was really interesting to me. Up until then, I’ve always viewed Chris’ creatures as being very real, substantial, living creatures. They leave foot prints and trails of slobber, scavenge your crumbs and roam the wooded areas. But then I saw this and it changed everything:

This is Ryniak’s ‘How It’s Made’. It’s a ghost-type creature eating candy corn … and, uh, producing recycled leaf matter :)

I was instantly wowed when I saw this as it was the first time I had seen the tangible and phantasmal collide in Chris’ universe.

Fast forward to now and he teases this on Instagram (@chrisryniak), calling it “spooky leftovers”:

It’s armature, yes. But look at the sketch. “Spooky leftovers”? Sounds like a ghost with an appetite. Which would certainly fit Chris’ MO, not to mention that Le Carnaval des Spectres is creeping up real fast. Eeeee!

With themes centred around ghosts, spirits and early American spiritualism, the CP gang is sure to pull out all of their best tricks for this one. They live for this. And let’s be honest: we’re due for a good haunt.

Le Carnaval des Spectres is a Circus Posterus group exhibition featuring new works from Brandt Peters, Kathie OlivasTravis Louie, Chris Ryniak, Amanda Louise Spayd and Teodoru Badiu.  The event opens Sept. 13th at Artoyz Shop + Galerie in Paris, France.