Archive for the ‘Collect It’ Category
Bigtop Jinny Video Review
I just received my Burgerman Bigtop Jinny Bitbot (say THAT five times fast), and it’s kind of how I thought it would be. Jon’s all-over doodle design helps me look past the Bitbot’s strange head curvature and bloated Dunny body. But at $60, I’d recommend this for devoted Posse and Burgerman completists only. SpankyStokes does a nice, 10-minute review of the figure, which is available here.
Custom Spy Vs. Spy
To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Spy vs. Spy, MAD launched a Spy vs. Spy custom toy project.
First, we created a 6-inch “blank” version of our Spy action figure (right) — then we sent it out to a bunch of crazy-talented artists to customize however they liked! Suffice to say, the results were awesome!
The figures were on display at SDCC, although I never managed to find them despite being in the exhibition hall for four days straight. Luckily, The Idiotical is doing daily spotlights on the customs. This one’s by Jon.
Bigtop Jinny Toy Teaser
Bitbots is circulating a teaser for their new Jinny ‘Bigtop’ figure. ‘Bigtop’ Jinny sees the first release of their character with the discordant head in a new 6-inch size. Based on the image above, it looks to be a Burgerman. The figures will be released on August 1st in an edition of 500 pieces at $65 each. Will it look anything like Jon’s custom Jinny from 2010? Who knows, but it’s been a long while since I’ve gotten my fix of Burgerman vinyl. I predict that despite my criticism of this platform, I will want to own this figure. Well played, Bitbots, well played…
Custom Cavey Plush
Jon contributed a design for a custom Cavey plush for Cavey’s birthday party. Holly from A Little Stranger transforms the designs of UK artists into special one-off handmade Cavey plushes. The plushes will be available by auction the week leading up to the party:
It’s Cavey’s 1st Birthday and he wants to party with you! Join us at the Fleet River bakery for a unique night of fun, food and fantastic custom plush. Twelve of the UK’s top artists have created exclusive designs for Cavey, and Holly from A Little Stranger has transformed them into stunning one-off plush pieces. The auctions for these unique creations will conclude on the night so come on down, enjoy yourself and maybe you’ll get to say “Hey Cavey” to your favourite artists and artworks alike. Facebook event page.
LOVE MOVEMENT Customs Now Available!
Curating LOVE MOVEMENT was one of the best experiences of my life. You may remember seeing Jon’s figures as a preview here. I’ve already pontificated about LOVE MOVEMENT plentifully on my own website, but I wanted to post that all of the work is now available online for purchase at StoreEnvy. Here is a direct link to Jon’s figures, Love Messes You Up & Broken-Hearted Bear. Check out this video from the art opening.
Customized Toys for LOVE MOVEMENT
Jon is one of many artists involved in LOVE MOVEMENT, a very special project I’m curating with Shin Tanaka and Nao Shimojo. LOVE MOVEMENT is an art show using vinyl toys to deliver universal messages about love. American, Japanese and European artists were given blank versions of toys designed by recently married artists, Shin and Nao. The finished works will be exhibited and sold at SUPERFROG Gallery in San Francisco with an opening reception on December 11th at 7PM. Many artists will be in attendance!
I met Shin and Nao in Tokyo while on my honeymoon. I was freshly married, Shin and Nao were engaged, and Japan felt like the most welcoming place in the world. Love was everywhere, and I promised I would get the two artists a show in San Francisco. Shin and Nao are now married, and LOVE MOVEMENT is that show.
Jon’s custom T-BOY is called “Love Messes You Up,” and his custom Dankeschoen bear is called “Broken-Hearted Bear”. More images of his work are available upon request.
You can see all the artist’s designs for LOVE MOVEMENT here.
Find out more information about the show and join the LOVE MOVEMENT here!
Name Jon’s Mugo Player
Mugo is running a contest to name Jon’s new Mugo character. They’re looking for a name and a short description, and they’re putting the winner’s fate in Facebook fans’ hot little hands. The Mugo Player is a character-driven mp3 player for all those folks who would rather their digital music come in the form of a cute humanoid companion than that sleek little gizmo everybody else has. I have no doubt that Jon’s character already has a name, as Jon names and titles all of his work. But Mugo wants to crowd-source the little guy’s hello my name is (and collect a few email addresses along the way). Designer Mugo Players retail for about $60, and DIY blanks go for $50. No word on if these gadgets will be available through Burgerplex, so if you’re chomping at the bit, send your suggestion to mugo at submit [at] mugoplayer [dot] com.
Custom Jinny by Bitbots
I’m not really sure the world needs another platform mini-figure to DIY, but I do like designer Jats Gill’s mission to “develop new designers, especially from the UK and Europe”. (Everyone knows I’m gay for the UK.) The toy is called Jinny. The company is called Bitbots. Jon customized a blank figure for the opening of the the Bitbots pop-up shop in London near the Oxford Circus tube station. The store and the show will be up through October 3rd.
Plant Face Series Masks
Masks are the new platform. Here are three from Jon’s 2010 Plant Face Series. They are made of real and fake leather, stones, studs, cardboard and elastic ribbon. Clover (gold), Clover (green) and Nettles each measure 25 x 30 cm and can be purchased for 750 € by contacting sales [at] heliumcowboy [dot] [com].
Anxieteam Gets Puppetized
The talented Felt Mistress has created puppet effigies of Jon and Jim Avignon in support of their upcoming London Anxieteam gigs. Go see them!
Custom