Round and round we go because you can’t be late! “I get Around” is a stunning bronze sculpt by Stephan Webb. Mechanical, rabbit, hands, and astonishing skills. This 3″x6″x4″ sculpture is currently available at the Stranger Factory store here.
She has a love for monsters, a grasp on tentacles, a legendary twitter feed, and seeks refuge with the WWE, she is Miss Monster!
Melita Curphy aka Miss Monster simply put, makes monsters. She even does this full time.Talking to her the past couple years at Dragon*Con, you can see the compassion and vehemence she has for her craft. This was never more obvious than with the costume she endured during Dragon*Con. That was an undertaking! Her nom de plume fits her art perfectly!
Melita, in my opinion, has perfected making dolls and masks. The masks are uncannily amazing and detailed. The dolls she creates are all hand sewn, hand cast, hand painted, and hand amazing. Seriously, these could be creatures you see in Labyrinth or the Dark Crystal scurrying around. Melita doesn’t stop there, she is also well crafted with her paints, design, leather crafting, and printing. She is all over mediums actually.
Check out Miss Monster here, and we are proud to have her in Stranger Factory’s “Subterrane” group sculpture exhibit coming Nov. 9.
We know her as Shing but most know her as Sawdust Bear. You may know her name from a convention, seen her web comic, laughed at a her fun message board posts, or gazed at some of her art in a gallery. She has her paint soaked hands all over it seems.
Now Shing is an awesome lady! I had the pleasure of meeting her in person for the first time this past year at SDCC and was greeted with possibly the most pressurized hug I have ever experienced! I was warned by Ryniak that she gives intense hugs, but I was not prepared for that much enthusiasm! It was very comforting actually since I had the energy of a herd of turtles in the middle of the convention. I can’t forget she owed me a juicebox and paid up. She exudes excitement which shows in her work.
Sawdust Bear is known for her illustrations and sculpts creating creatures that science typically doesn’t focus on, or as she puts it “My sculptures are rooted in the ideas of bad science, historical hoaxes and cabinets of curiosities.” Usually utilizing clay, wood, and glass for her sculpts, but she also ventures out into metals and canvases for painting. Many of the creatures she creates have distinct facial expressions, tentacles, buggy eyes, round bellies, and a face anyone would love. Honestly, the facial expressions will draw you in. Some look like they ate way too much pizza buffet and some look like they are pouting over not enough lego pieces. They may even make you want to rub their belly. We love all her creations.
If you would like to see more of Sawdust Bear, please visit her site and also you can see her in Stranger Factory’s “Subterrane” Group Sculpture Exhibit.
For several more images of Sawdust Bear’s work, click more.
Opening next month at Stranger Factory is Subterrane, a group sculpture exhibit showcasing the talents of six of the industry’s most promising emerging sculptors. Follow Shing Yin Khor (Sawdust Bear), Carisa Swenson (Goblinfruit Studios), Melita Curphy (MISSMONSTER), Valency Genis, Yosiell Lorenzo and Shea Brittain (FrankenFactory) as they take us for a trip down the rabbit hole to experience a world inhabited by creatures that lurk in caves and crevices which fall just beyond the sun’s reach.
The exhibit also presents an interesting dynamic in that we have the opportunity to learn a whole lot more about ourselves from these creatures. Through sculpture, the artists are able to express complex emotion without the distraction of the familiar human face. Denied the comfort of what we’ve always known, we’re stripped of our preconceived notions and offered the chance to confront the artists’ intent without influence. We’re then able to see more clearly how love, anger, joy, sadness and loss shape and define our own inner creatures.
Subterrane opens Nov. 9th with an opening reception from 6-9pm. A number of the exhibiting artists will be in attendance!
Hit the jump for more sneak peeks from the exhibit!
Read More »Stranger Factory Presents: “Subterrane” Group Sculpture Exhibit, 11.9
To start off, let me say that the term “spirit animal” gets tossed around a lot at Stranger Factory. Some of us know our spirit animal no problem but others are still searching. I am of those others. I bring this up because the Wooper Looper (or axolotl) is quite the creature to behold: the term “Wooper Looper” is mainly used to explain a group of salamander indigenous to the areas around Mexico City (or so Google has lead me to believe). Now if you had asked me if I found it possible to relate to a salamander at some point in my life, I don’t think I would have even taken you seriously. Until Gary Ham made a toy of him, that is.
Designed by Gary and sculpted by Chauskoskis, the Wooper Looper is quite the impressive piece of sofubi. The extensions from the head alone create some very interesting production challenges. That said, the lengths the factory went to preserve the charm of Gary’s character really helps make the piece shine as a whole. The figure serves as a great example of the playful side of sofubi in general.
The main feature I find so endearing about the Wooper Looper (besides that cheesy grin) is the choice in articulation. I really enjoy that the figure has a solid body piece and the tail is used to create a firm anchor so the toy is guaranteed to stand. Also the arm articulation really helps to sell the fun idea behind the figure: he reaches out like he really wants to give you a hug!
All in all, the team of people that made this toy possible all deserve kudos. The toy is a definite gem and something I will happily display on the shelves in my house.
The cute shelves. Not the creepy ones.
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The Stranger Factory exclusive Wooper Looper is an edition of 33 pcs and retails for $68. The figure releases on Tues., Oct. 9th at noon PST via the Bewitching Preview. Want to catch one for yourself? Get the full scoop here!
Freaks and geeks, witches and ghouls, our favorite day is upon us and is sure to make you drool! The boards are coming off the doors and windows, the candles lit and cobwebs dusted at Stranger Factory as we busily prepare for the opening of our biggest show yet: Bewitching II. Featuring the works of roughly 40 artists from all over the globe, this show may very well bring about the apocalypse. The teasers alone are enough to cripple all expectations, self-restraint and bank accounts and those were just a sampling of what’s to come.
And we musn’t forget the sheer brilliance of this year’s sideshow act: Gary Ham’s Dead Wood. This will certainly be an exhibition to remember, and for the souls around the globe who can only attend in spirit, I bid you to listen well …
As per every exhibition, locals get first crack at the goods starting tonight through this weekend. Online collectors, the request period opens TUESDAY, Oct. 9 at 12 noon PST. It’s been pushed back a day on account of Baby Tattooville. Given the volume of art on the preview, an email may not be sent out to collectors in time. That said, the list is being constantly updated on the Stranger Factory website so check in this evening for the full spread. Please avoid camping on the site as it creates a lag for everyone. Art from both shows will be compiled on the same page.
Bewitching II and Dead Wood open TONIGHT with an reception from 6-9pm. Gary Ham will be in attendance! The exhibits run through Nov. 4th.
More smart art for the Halloween start. We are glad to showoff SKULLBOY, and we aren’t talking about Ryniak here. Alas this boy isn’t made of osseous tissue but an 18 x 15″ original painting by Stephane Levallois. Currently stalking the halls of Stranger Factory and tormenting Mikee, he is waiting for a new haunt. You can purchase Skullboy right here and add it to you Halloween or skull collection.
Some of you may recall Seymour’s nightmarish sideshow from Strychnin’s Emporium exhibition (with Doktor A and Skeleton Heart) earlier this year. But if you’re unfamiliar with the work of Berlin-based artist, now’s your chance to see him at his best.
Continuing the carnivale theme, Seymour presents “The Mascarade”, an installation comprised of eight polymer clay and resin figures all housed in a vintage wooden clock body. Customised to look like the front of an old house, the characters sit on the front steps, eagerly awaiting someone brave (or foolish?) enough to approach for candy. Oh, they’ll give you something, all right …
The clock box measures 22 inches (it’s a big ‘un) and includes an internal light to show off the group of geeks loitering within. Something tells me they’ll be right at home at Stranger Factory.
Bewitching II opens tomorrow (Oct. 5th) with an opening reception from 6pm to 9pm!
This fall has been one of the most jam packed and event filled seasons I have ever seen. To keep us all from doing our heads in, here is a quick rundown of the Circus Posterus related shenanigans.
Oct. 5-7: Kathie Olivas and Brandt Peters at Baby Tattooville in Riverside, California.
Oct 5: Doktor A, FERG, Chris Ryniak, DrilOne, Amanda Louise Spayd and many more amazing artists at Stranger Factory’s Bewitching II.
Oct. 11-14: Dok A and Chris Ryniak at New York Comic Con
Oct 12: Dok A solo show “A Postcards from New Yorkshire” at myplasticheart.
Oct. 20: Kathie Olivas solo show “Haunted” at AFA Gallery.
Nov. 3: Kathie Olivas, Brandt Peters, Chris Ryniak, DrilOne, Amanda Louise Spayd, and more at Designer Con in Pasadena, CA.
Dec. 7: Circus Annual (Circus Posterus Group Exhibit) at Stranger Factory
Amanda Louise Spayd is one of those artists whose work consistently impresses and inspires me, and when the air grows cool and the trees become a mosaic of yellow, orange and red, she’s in her element. Magic happens. She reignites our imaginations and reminds us that while we wander the forests listening to the crunch of the leaves beneath us, the sound me not be from our feet alone.
Harvest Moon is a custom sprite that’s bound for Bewitching II, Stranger Factory’s annual Halloween haunt, opening tomorrow. Complete with hand-cast resin face, custom forehead adornment, seriously stylish leaf mane and Beetlejuice slacks, s/he’d make a perfect centrepiece for any Thanksgiving table. As always, I’m curious of the scent: cinnamon? Pumpkin pie? Dried leaves? Mmmm, creature therapy.
