The Resin Toy Show at Toy Art Gallery in Los Angeles has really created a big uproar in the resin toy community. First off, the show was an “open call” which means any person that can lick a stamp gets to send in 3 resin toys for display. I’ve never been in an open call type show. I thought the open call was to be juried. Even after I posted 3 of my Gompers to TAG, I was not sure I was in the show. I expected a culling of the herd before opening night.

Arriving at the gallery I realized that the quality of the work was very varied. Many beginners got their resin toy on display next to masters like Paul Kaiju, Arbito, and my fun favorite, The Sucklord. I graduated art school in ‘86 and have been teaching arts and crafts with ages 7-16 ever since. I have a high tolerance for beginner art. So much so, I even like it. When I saw the beginner art (the slugs were beside my Gompers) I thought how being in this show may push that artist to continue and get better. If they had been there, I’d of traded one of my toys for one of theirs. I was there to trade toy for toy. I like people and what they make. Paul Kaiju was so kind to give me a Chibi Welt, and he got a purple Podling in return. I try not to take anything so serious that it ruins my good time.

Jeremy Riad gave the show a proper review:

http://www.jeremyriad.com/blog/events/ribbons-for-resin-is-the-toy-community-ready-to-be-judged/

For some reason Jeremy says the resin toy folk are not ready to be judged… I haven’t heard one word of critique offered on my work. No one seemed to mention any of the work on the shelf that night. I’d love to know what the judges liked, and where it could go to be better. Ideas for a next step, and things it may remind them of, anecdotes, personal stories… any critique would be appreciated. The judges were not given a time to speak to the artists, so we missed out on that sort of exchange opportunity. My entire family drove from San Francisco to see the show in LA. We met many flickr and twitter friends for the first time. I introduced myself to as many people I could, but my wee one was tired, and we returned to the hotel to rest up after our long trip. I wish I could have stayed a little longer to meet you all.

If you are in LA go check out the show. It’s up until July 1st, 2011 at Toy Art Gallery.

I finally got that Goofy hat I’ve always wanted.

Go find the Little Lost JEM Toy outside on the window at Toy Art Gallery at 737 Seward St. #1 Los Angeles, CA, 90038. Be sure to go inside and check out the Resin Toy Show before it closes July 1, 2011. Tell Aaron JEMTOY sent you. Say “HI” to my Gompers, bask in the glory of Paul Kaiju’s King Jinx, and for God’s sake BUY something to keep this important gallery alive. If you are fast enough to get the Lost JEM Toy, please comment below. Then take the toy far far away, put it some place in plain sight, take a photo and post the photo to my web site. Add a Google Maps link so folk can go find it. Let’s see how far these toys can travel!

UPDATE! This toy has been found: http://disq.us/2amhkq

Los Angeles: Little Lost JEM Toy! I’m here in LA for the opening of Toy Art Gallery’s Resin Toy Show, so I thought I’d “lose” a few toys while I’m here. We had lunch at Grub, and on the corner in front of the restaurant is a stop sign where I hung one of my Lost JEM Toys. Just roll on over to 911 Seward, look for the stop sign and grab the toy. If you do, add a comment below letting me know you’ve found the lost toy. Then, if you’re game, take the toy far far away, leave it in plain sight, take a photo and submit the photo to my blog. Add a Google Map link so others can try to find it. Let’s see how far these toys can travel.

The Toy Art Gallery Open Call Resin Toy Juried Show opens in Los Angeles, California June 10th, 2011 from 7 PM – 11 PM and runs until July 1st. More info at: toyartgallery.com

Podling Pack. Inside each hand printed bag is one Podling and one Pod. Under the bag is a mini Podling print. All contained in a nice hand printed box.

Toy Art Gallery’s Resin Toy Show opens June 10th, 2011 and I have a few Gompers in the show. I’m making a few Podlings to bring with me to trade. My hope is that the other artists will bring a few toys to trade: art for art. I also hand cut a block print so that each Podling has a hand printed trading card. Here is what the Podling card looks like. I don’t sell Podlings because they are so much work. I keep them for trade only. I have to rotocast each Pod by hand, which means rotating the mold for 12-15 minutes until the resin cures hollow. You see, solid toys are easy, you just pour it full of resin and walk away while it gets hard. Hollow requires so much time and attention. I just turn up the tunes, and rock out while I make Pods one at a time. Bonkers.