'I.W.G. is in da House' Custom for Humans Beware Show

Bovinyl is participating in the upcoming 'Humans Beware' custom show at Rocketworld in San Francisco.

The completed custom, 'I.W.G. is in da House', also utilizes the Obama platform by Jailbreak Toys.

Medium: acrylic paint, polymer clay, mixed media.

The idea: The immediate goal for the I.W.G. (Insurgents Wilderness Gruppo) was to resist human destruction and domination of their ‘natural’ habitat. They accomplish this through a variety of means, including the use of weaponry and combat. With the emergence of Barack Obama, the I.W.G. sought out the new President in an attempt to create change through political means. The headline in the San Francisco Chronicle reads “Obama Appoints I.W.G. to U.S. Fish and Wildlife”. The insurgents hope to stop the destructive human ways from inside ‘da House’.

Show opens on Friday, April 10, 2009 (6-10 p.m.) and runs until June 6, 2009. Opening reception with snacks and drinks.

Venue - Rocketworld (660 - 22nd Street, San Franciso)

For more information about the show, visit - http://www.blue77gallery.com/shows/iwg/.

Creator of the I.W.G. Series and owner of Rocketworld, Patrick Ma, is working alongside artist/customizer DrilOne. Their goal is to put on one heck of a custom show.

The platform being used will be various blank I.W.G. figures, which includes bears, rhinos, rhinos on vespas, bears on vespas, and many more. This show features over 70+ artists, including: Angry Woebots, Apina, Betso, Brent Nolasco, Cris Rose, Ckawkees, El Maz, D-Lux, FAS, Jeremiah Ketner, Jim Koch, Keith Poon, Leecifer, Lou Pimental, Motorbot, Okedoki, Paulkaiju, PhuEk, Reactor 88, Toybotstudios and many, many more.

Part of the proceeds from purchases made at Rocketworld are donated to a variety of non-profit groups and organizations such as the Gorilla Foundation, International Rhino Foundation, Zoo Conservation Outreach Group, Friends of the Sea Otter and the World Wildlife Fund. When time permits, Patrick spends time in the field with wildlife groups.

To read more about Patrick and Rocketworld, visit www.rocketworld.org.

I.C.U. Moody Featured in YouTube Video

I.C.U. Moody Lands In Chicago

The designer vinyl art toy movement is alive and well in the 'Windy City'. Urban art toy destination, Rotofugi, is leading the way with featured artists and designers. Rotofugi has definitely paved the way for other designer vinyl stores in the area. I.C.U. felt right at home amongst the incredible selection of toys, art, fashion and customs.

I.C.U. Moody took the opportunity to check out the sites in 'Chi-town'. The highlights during the brief stay were Rotofugi, Millenium Park, Sears Tower, The Art Institute of Chicago, Palmer House Hotel and, 'oh yeah', the incredible deep-dish pizza . The Palmer House is a hidden gem and is a must see. It has been restored ($150 million investment) to its orginal character and charm.

We'll be transforming the 'I.C.U. Chicago' images into a new YouTube video. Watch for it!

Bovinyl/Ted Stilson Participating in the 'Humans Beware' I.W.G. Custom Show in San Francisco

I will be participating in the upcoming I.W.G. (Insurgents Wilderness Gruppo) custom show at Rocketworld in San Francisco.

I'm a huge fan of Rocketworld and can't wait to start working on one of their platform toys.

Creator of the I.W.G. Series and owner of Rocketworld, Patrick Ma, is working alongside artist/customizer DrilOne. Their goal is to put on one heck of a custom show.

The platform being used will be various blank I.W.G. figures, which includes bears, rhinos, rhinos on vespas, bears on vespas, and many more. This show features over 60 artists, including: Angry Woebots, Apina, Betso, Brent Nolasco, Cris Rose, Ckawkees, El Maz, D-Lux, FAS, Jeremiah Ketner, Jim Koch, Keith Poon, Leecifer, Lou Pimental, Motorbot, Okedoki, Paulkaiju, PhuEk, Reactor 88, Toybotstudios and many, many more.

The army of I.W.G. figures will definitely dampen some diapers.

Opening reception starts on April 10th at Rocketworld in San Francisco.

Part of the proceeds from purchases made at Rocketworld are donated to a variety of non-profit groups and organizations such as the Gorilla Foundation, International Rhino Foundation, Zoo Conservation Outreach Group, Friends of the Sea Otter and the World Wildlife Fund. When time permits, Patrick spends time in the field with wildlife groups.

To read more about Patrick and Rocketworld, visit www.rocketworld.org.

Cuban Artist, Manuel, Working on Moody Custom

Well-known Cuban artist, Manuel, has started working on his Moody custom for an upcoming group show in Canada. Although Cuban artists are unfamiliar with the designer vinyl art toy movement, Manuel has shown that even 3D blank canvases can provide an opportunity for artistic expression.

We are very excited to see the completed custom and are very thankful that Manuel has made time to fit this custom into his hectic schedule. His unique and colorful style are quite evident in this piece.

Manuel's 'gatto' has definitely taken a curious liking to this unfamiliar object that has found its way into the studio.

Manuel Hernandez Valdes was born in Cuba in 1943. He has been a participating artist in many major events in Havana. His paintings have also been shown in Belgium, Mexico, Germany and Spain.

In addition to his reputation as a painter, he is also known as a cartoonist, ceramist, illustrator and humorist.

He has been honored with the Pablo Picasso Medal of UNESCO and the Journalism Prize - National Jose Marti.

His works are found in important private collections such as:

- Danielle Mitterrand Foundation
- Geraldine Chaplin Collection
- Mario Benedetti Collection

His paintings are very representative of the Cuban art that idealizes the human body and integrates nature - planting sugar cane, banana, tobacco etc. His characters reflect the gentleness and happiness of the Cuban rural-living environment.

Moody Does Cuba!

Once again, Moody escaped the harsh winter weather - this time travelling to the warm, lush and colorful island of Cuba.

It is a beautiful country and the people are passionate and full of life. They express their diverse culture through dance, music and art.

Cuba is a unique country and visitors are treated to a way of life that is a blend of old and new. At times you feel as if you have taken a step back in time - old cars, horse carts, crumbling architecture and no cell phones. It is an extremely interesting place that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime.

Although we had some fun with Moody, we also took the time to visit a number of galleries and meet some talented artists. One of those artists, 'Manuel', has agreed to work on a Moody for one of our upcoming group shows.

Manuel Hernandez Valdes was born in Cuba in 1943. He has been a participating artist in many major events in Havana. His paintings have also been shown in Belgium, Mexico, Germany and Spain.

In addition to his reputation as a painter, he is also known as a cartoonist, ceramist, illustrator and humorist.

He has been honored with the Pablo Picasso Medal of UNESCO and the Journalism Prize - National Jose Marti.His works are found in important private collections such as:
- Danielle Mitterrand Foundation - Geraldine Chaplin Collection - Mario Benedetti Collection

His paintings are very representative of the Cuban art that idealizes the human body and integrates nature - planting sugar cane, banana, tobacco etc. His characters reflect the gentleness and happiness of the Cuban rural-living environment.

VIVA CUBA ... Moody Takes a Vacation!

Huichol (wee-chol) Moody Custom

A blank Moody took the long journey from Canada to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and came back adorned in colorful beadwork applied by a Huichol Indian by the name of Roberto.

To create bead art, the Huichol Indians place a thin layer of beeswax with pine resin onto a hollowed out gourd or other form. Small, colorful beads made from glass are then picked up with a long needle and pressed into the wax. Using complex designs and symbols, the result is stunning.

Each piece tells a unique story about the legacy of their tribe, while each symbol is a representation of the many facets of their 'animism' religion.

Huichol beadwork originated as an art form long before the Spaniards set foot in Mexico. Bone, clay, coral, jade, pyrite, shell, stone turquoise and seeds colored with insect and vegetable dyes were utilized instead of the glass seed beads used today. The seed beads are finer and smaller and, as a result, more detailed work is being created. These beads are very similar to those that were brought to the mountains of Mexico by missionaries in the 18 century.

You can find Huichol bead work done in both traditional and contemporary designs. Because of the small number of artists and the individual creativity, no two pieces of bead art are alike.
Although some of the Huichol Indians create bead art for pleasure, most use the art to help generate income for the tribes.

Today, you can find a few Huichol Indians willing and eager to embrace modern life but most prefer to remain tucked away in their remote mountains where they work by hand with natural materials to create some of the most amazing pieces of art found in the world.

Matt Doughty from Onell Design Launches his Govurom Spaceship Moody for the Pravus Gallery Show

Matt Doughty definitely pushed the outer limits with this brilliant Govurom spaceship Moody custom. The character that accompanies the Moody custom is Onell Design's newest toy, Govurom, which will make its debut at the opening of 'Don't Cry Over Spilt VINYL' on May 2 at the Pravus Gallery in downtown Phoenix. Matt's custom will definitely be a huge hit with attendees.

Matt and his partners at Onell Design http://www.onelldesign.com/ have gained a strong following within the toy collector world. Their expertly crafted and highly articulated toys are in huge demand. If you haven't seen one of their toys up close, I urge you to visit their online store and pick up a Pheyden or some of the other amazing characters from the Glyos System Series.
Here is an excerpt from their local newspaper, the Beacon, that will provide you with a glimpse into the man behind Onell Design.

In the first room, a massive collection of action figures stand their posts on a network of shelves or hang from the walls, like sentries guarding the entrance to the second room, Doughty’s workshop.

Like the first room, nearly every square inch of this inner sanctum is dedicated to action figures. Walking through the room requires carefully maneuvering between a few bare patches of carpet. There are action figures hanging from the walls and overflowing from plastic bins on the floor.
In the corner is the desk where Doughty, an Acton resident, first crafted Pheyden, the hallmark of Onell Design, an independent toy and comic book manufacturer based in Acton. Doughty, 34, and his wife Michelle started four and a half years ago. Doughty decided to go ahead with his dream after spending seven years working for his wife’s family’s generator company, Buxton Service.

Pheyden and Doughty’s other figure, Exellis, stand 2.75 inches tall and hark back to the durable, affordable, small-scale action figures of the 1980s, bucking the trend of the independent toy movement, which is largely built around elaborate vinyl figures intended mainly for collectors. Doughty is more than happy to demonstrate Pheyden’s durability by hurling him against the floor and popping his arms and legs off only to reassemble them, tactics he often uses when presenting the figure at comic book conventions.

Check out more information about Onell Design at http://onelldesign.blogspot.com/.