Showing posts with label custom kokeshi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label custom kokeshi. Show all posts

Friday, October 2, 2009

Kokeshi: From Folk Art to Art Toy, Bids Adieu

It is a bittersweet thing to write that the Kokeshi show at the Japanese American National Museum has come to an end. It's been an amazing experience having the opportunity to work and show at such a respectable space. I know it was a first for many artists to have their work in a museum and for a few... the first time to show their work to the public, anywhere. Gives me goosebumps thinking about the opportunities that have happened and are in the works and in the future for so many amazing creatives. I'm keeping my toes, fingers and cats' mitts crossed for more adventures in the future where I can continue to work with such incredible talent. To the new friends I made, I am truly honored to have had the privilege to meet you (online or in-person) and to now know you on a first name basis, lucky lucky me!

Meeting so many artists this year has been intoxicating and as a result I was inspired to collect my own "Yearbook" of autographs from a few I spent some time with in-person. Below is a necklace book that I found at Renegade Craft Fair in LA, the day after the Kokeshi show opened, July 11. The maker of this beloved treasure is Found and Made Designs.

2009 Yearbook Necklace
1.5" x 2" book made from random papers and old book cover.

Can you figure out who the artists are based on the signatures and doodles (click here for larger images)? I'll send a Blank Artist Kokeshi to the first person to correctly match them up with the list below (sorry artist friends, if you're in the book, you can't participate, you already know the secrets it holds):


Many hearts and hugs to everyone that made this show and my amazing year possible. Thank you! -c

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Discover {JANM CUSTOM KOKESHI}

don't miss in-person:

Show ends October 4, HURRY!

For Sale in JANM Store:

Online detail views:
Custom Kokeshi for JANM 2009

This project and the pieces continue to thrill me everyday, I always see something new each time I take a look. Thank you again to everyone that made this show possible! xox - c

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Kokeshi: From Folk Art to Art Toy on NBC News




Despite the mispronunciation at the beginning and the embellishing a bit on the story behind the custom Kokeshi section, it's a pretty sweet piece. And all put together at the last minute, so I'm very happy with the results. Make sure you see this exhibition in-person... it's now NBC recommended ;)

And thank you to Edwin Ushiro for being on call to R E P R E S E N T! Make sure to check out his solo show, opening at LeBasse Projects in Culver City, September 12, 2009.

A Solo Exhibition by Edwin Ushiro
September 12, 2009, 7PM-10PM
6023 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
310.558.0200
contact@lebasseprojects.com



Photos ©Edwin Ushiro 2009


Thursday, July 30, 2009

ReDiscover {Kelly Tunstall & Ferris Plock}


The characters in the U2 music video/animation I posted earlier remind me of Kelly Tunstall's wide-eyed girls. I know the big-doe-eyed-girl thing is played over and over again, but there's something truly special about Kelly's girls. I love the way she portrays her characters... so fashionable and so much fun attention is paid to other elements of her paintings, I can't help but have a crush on many. I am lucky enough to have a new painting (in-process image above) from Kelly working its way from San Fran to my tiny home art collection... super yays!!

Kelly and her husband, the talented artist Ferris Plock, have a show, "Sea of Love", opening soon at 111 Minna Gallery in San Francisco (Aug. 6 - 29th). I HIGHLY recommend dropping by and being passionately inspired by their lovely, fun and collaborative work.

Tangerine by Kelly Tunstall. 8"H, Mixed Media. Click for larger image. Kokeshi available through JANM Store.

Frost by Ferris Plock. 8"H, Mixed Media. Click for larger image. Kokeshi available through JANM Store.

****Speaking of Animation and Kelly and Ferris' uber talentedness, admire this video they recently made with Jim Dirschenberger:

The Seafarers - Sea of Love from Eighty Four Films on Vimeo.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Cool Hunting Interview (link at bottom of post)


As of this post I have 338 bookmarked RSS feeds, or in layman terms, a whole lotta sites I try to stay up to date with. I use these sites to distract me from my day, learn how to find cheap deals, see what the latest pattern trend is, see adorably cute animals and read up on friends' activities, etc. etc. Included in this vast pool of sites I look at regularly is Cool Hunting. I was excited to learn at the Kokeshi preview, a writer from the site wanted to post the event and even ask a few questions to yours truly. Here's the damage ;)

Friday, July 17, 2009

Blank Kokeshi 2009

click on above image for larger view

I was unable to find blank kokeshi online back in 2007 when I started the first Custom Kokeshi show, so I had to have all the dolls created for me. All are U.S. made from Hardwood Maple and Birch (sorry, not the traditional Japanese woods) with removable head. Minor sanding may be required to finish cut edges.

The LARGE is the same design the artists used for the Fall 2007 show at Subtext. The ARTIST size is the same design used in the most recent show at the Japanese American National Museum. I have a limited quantity of every style, write me if you would like to purchase any, this is the "official shop" for now :)

Happy Creating!
Christina Conway

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Kokeshi Artists 2009 at JANM/ Opens July 11

This year's custom Kokeshi artists are (click on name to see their website):

Adolie Day
Aline Yamada
Allison Sommers
Amy Huddleston
Amy Paul
Amy Ruppel
Amy Sol
Ande Cook
Andrea Innocent aka Innocentgirl
Annie Wilkinson
APAK

Bubi Au Yeung
Bailey Saliwanchik
Betsy Walton
Brigitte Coovert

Caia Koopman
Calef Brown
Camilla d'Errico
Camilla Engman
Catherine Brooks
Cathie Bleck
Celene
Cheon Eun Sil
Christina Conway
CJ Metzger

Dacosta!
Danamarie Hosler
Dan May
David Horvath

Edwin Ushiro
Eliza Frye
egg scissors
Eveline Tarunadjaja

Ferris Plock
Florence Pacho
Fontaine Anderson

Gustavo Aimar

Harmony Gong
Hine Mizushima

Jacqueline Myers-Cho
Jaime Zollars
Jason Levesque aka Stuntkid
Jason Limon
Jeni Yang
Jen Lobo
Jenn Playford
Jenn Porreca
Jennifer Davis
Jeremiah Ketner
Jody Hewgill
Joel Nakamura
Johnny Yanok
Julie West

Kathleen Lolley
Kelly Tunstall
Kelly Vivanco
Ken Garduno
Kent Williams
kozyndan
Kris Chau
Krista Huot
Kristin Elder
Kukula

Laura Laine
Lilly Piri
Liza Corbett
Lorena Alvarez
Lou Pimentel

Macoe Swet
Marcos Chin
Marguerite Sauvage
Mar Hernández aka Malota
Mari Inukai
Meredith Dittmar
Michelle White
Mike Rivamonte
Miss Mindy

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Kokeshi 2009 Sneak

It's not until mid-next year but I had to share a peek into the project and proudly display the artists that will be contributing to the next Kokeshi show. There's a new shape (unreleased) and a bevy of new artists for 2009. Artists' links have been added to the Flickr images. Click on above images to be taken to Flickr set of artists in next year's show.

An early "Thank You" to those contributing, I am truly honored!

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Kokeshi Review Posts

These are all the previous posts made on **Twinklings** regarding the Kokeshi and accompanying group art show at Subtext Gallery in San Diego. Opening night is coming soon and I'm excited to see all the pieces together. This is a wonderful project that I have had the privilege of working on. Thank you to all the talented artists who have made this show possible.


**Kokeshi** @ Subtext Nov. 3, 6-10 pm


Kokeshi Artists


Kokeshi 101


My Favorite Mino


Bunka-no-hi/Culture Day


Bill Collins - 5th Generation Woodworker

Sunday, September 30, 2007

** Spotlight Artist: Ken Garduno **





photo borrowed from Tom Haubrick, another talented artist from Comic Con (center).

I randomly stumbled upon Ken Garduno's work at San Diego Comic Con this year (he's the fella outlined on the far right of the photo above). It was towards the end of my day long trek through the convention center seeking vinyl toys and a table at the end of one of the rows caught my attention, I was immediately in awe.

Ken works mostly with pen and ink, flavoring his drawings with bits of color every so often. I love his style, rather reminiscent of Albert Hirschfeld, beautiful in its line simplicity and color. Ken and I have become friends so I can't say too many more kind words, I have to play it off that he's just "kinda talented" or I'll never hear the end of it. Yea, Ken's alright.


This is the lovely drawing I bought from Ken that fateful day at Comic Con. Now I need more and supposedly he's hard at work on a custom piece I hear will be AWESOME and his best drawing yet! You can enjoy his work at subtext come November 3rd for the Kokeshi show where Ken has created two custom dolls. Word is more of his drawings will be gracing their walls in-between shows too, congratulations Ken!