Toy to the World 2017

This year for the biannual Toy to the World Project exhibition, I set myself the challenge of customising two Popobe, vinyl bears, and rendered one almost unrecognisable.

A monochromatic, spray toned Equality bear climbs up towards the hermaphrodite, zebra snails in
Journeys of a Bento Box* REDUX.

 Journeys of a Bento Box* REDUX, detail

For the first time, Terry Pratchett's, Discworld character,
the Grim Squeaker is rendered authentically using carefully articulated, real bones**.
A lovingly, crafted miniature scythe was whittled from
found eucalypt twigs and reclaimed, machined aluminium off cuts.
A reclaimed glass dome is revived with a custom made, reclaimed oak base and handle with leather washer and brass finial.

The Grim Squeaker

Toy to the World

October 11-14, 2017

Opening Night: 11 October at 6:00pm –9:30pm

ArtBoy Gallery

99 Greville St

Prahran, Victoria, Australia 3181

Enquiries:(03) 9939 8993

Open hours: 10:00am - 6:00pm

Online Auction will open on 

11th October at 6pm (AEST / UTC+10) 

and run until 

9:30pm 25 October 2017 (AEST / UTC+10)
Click HERE to bid.

'Over 120 Vinyl Toys have been customised by artists around the country and overseas, they'll all be on display for 4 days only at ArtBoy Gallery in Prahran, starting with the Opening Night event from 6pm on Wednesday 11th October 2017. Including beats from DJ Kitty Kat and a very artist-friendly-priced cash bar stocked with beer from Moon Dog Craft Brewery and wines by Pizzini Wines, so bring your loose change and grab an uber not your car keys for this one.

All the artist's creations will be for sale via an online auction that lasts 14 days from the opening, this Auction will be available directly and exclusivly on the Toy to the World Project Facebook page from 6pm on the 11th.

All net profits from the project are donated to the Victorian AIDS Council for their amazing work designing public health and education campaigns to combat STI and HIV rates, research, and providing support services to people with HIV.'

*Previously exhibited, sans bear as Journeys of a Bento Box as part of Greyscale at Red Gallery.
**Roadkill, partial rabbit skull and cat killed rat.

Value Our Ambos, CODE RED brooch

Value Our Ambos, CODE RED

5.5 x 7 x 1

acrylic paint, enamel paint, wood, metal jewellery fixings

Commissioned to be worn to an awards ceremony by an ambulance officer friend. Read about the Code Red campaign here.

Souvenir at Lord Coconut

Souvenir, detail

coconut shell, glass, acrylic paint, enamel paint, PVA glue

'Lord Coconut travelled the world circa 1900 and sent back a postcard and small gift to his father back in Australia from each country he visited. The exhibition consists of the postcards and gifts interpreted by 15 plus jewellers and artisans involved in the exhibition.'

I have a coconut shell sculpture, Souvenir, in this show.
For more images, click here.

Lord Coconut

Suite 3, Level 4
Carlow House
289 Flinders Lane
Melbourne 3000
Tuesday to Friday – 11am to 6pm
Saturday – 12pm to 4pm
Other times by appointment

Enquiries:

0450 015 263

info[at]lordcoconut.com

Souvenir: A coconut shell, faux taxidermy, monkey face

Introduction
When I was a child my father made garden ornaments out of coconut shells. They were inspired by Oceanic art. They usually had holes for eyes and mouths. Dad painted them with enamel paints or left over household acrylics - whatever was handy! After refurbishing some of Dad's weatherworn shells I made a few myself: a beagle, Ludo from Labyrinth, The Crow, and Astro Boy, plus a bright ginger cat in collaboration with my brother. They are all are still hanging at my parents' place.

As adults my brother and I collaborated on a cat face inspired by our father's coconut shell art. It was a realistic depiction with the raw fluffly coconut fibres left on to create fur, a carved and painted nose, and  plastic eyes fitted into its eye sockets. That one stays inside the house and was not intended to be weatherproof. It was a faux taxidermy head.


The Dear Father Brief
'Lord Coconut travelled the world circa 1900 and sent back a postcard and small gift to his father back in Australia from each country he visited. The exhibition consists of the postcards and gifts interpreted by 15 plus jewellers and artisans involved in the exhibition.'

I was supplied with a vintage postcard from the Rock of Gilbralta. On this outcrop there is a famous - or infamous - colony of Barbary Macaques (also known as Barbary Apes although they are not true apes).

This provided an ideal opportunity to make another realistic, stylised animal, coconut shell face for the most oppropriately named venue.

Prepatory Studies

When dealing with an unfamiliar animal subject I like to draw a number of studies to get a feel for the form, distinctive features and character of a species.

I started with some black lead studies to get a feel for the expression and profile...

... and finished with a colour study of what I regard as the Clint Eastwood of Barbary macaques.

The Finished Product

Souvenir, detail of nose

The nose is made from the end of another coconut shell in order to create more depth as well accuracy of nasal form and profile. One end of a coconut has 'eyes', the other usually has something that can be formed into a common mammalian nose.

Souvenir, detail of eyes

The glass eyes were painted from the front and back of plain glass droplets. Inspired by techniques used in stopmotion animation, a small turn table was involved ... and a great deal of trial and error!

 Souvenir

12 x 11.5 x 9

coconut shell, glass, acrylic paint, enamel paint, PVA glue

Souvenir was exhibited as part of Dear Father at Lord Coconut.

Open : customised Popobe bear for Toy to the World 2014

 Open

thermoset polymer clay, tissue paper, acrylic paint, enamel paint

15 x 10 x 5

My second customised Popobe bear for the Toy to the World, fundraiser show. All funds raised went to the Victorian AIDs Council. This exhibition was part of the MidSumma Festival program

Part of the project was to shoot work in progress photographs in order to create an animation.

Wish

Wish

15 x 15 x 6

corn starch packing pellets, chicken bone on mount board

Exhibited in Small Worlds, as part of the Big West Festival. Runner up in the Environmental award category.

Artwork now in stock at Lord Coconut

Delivered today to Lord Coconut!

Clockwise from top left, detail of:

Mr Croak SOLD

Quench,

Feather Longwing, and

Flight of the Crayfish.

Click on titles to see images.

For further information please visit the Lord Coconut online store or the shop itself.

The Art of the Cuff @ Lord Coconut

Coming in September to Lord Coconut:

Reef of the Turretfish

dimensions variable

lace coral, barnacles, polyester thread, marker, nylon, tracing paper, acrylic, closed cell polystyrene, tea stained French cuff (cotton/polycotton). 

Reef of the Turretfish, detail

The Art of the Cuff

A Fringe Festival exhibition

28th September - 13th October, 2012

Lord Coconut

Suite 3, Level 4

Carlow House

289 Flinders Lane

Melbourne 3000

Enquiries: 0450 015 263

Heliconius vestis rubrica (H. red carpet)

18°, Heliconius vestis rubrica (H. red carpet)
paper, steel pin, cardboard, closed cell polystyrene foam,
enamel paint, acrylic paint, nylon filament, ink,
steel jewellery cord, steel crimping beads,
polystyrene, magnet, found object (Galileo thermometer weight).
12.5cm wingspan

Installed as part of an assemblage titled 2º, exhibited in 2 @ Wunderkammer

Given a more traditional context...  

... and framed sans Galileo thermometer weight.

Paper butterfly: N. sept et triginta, Nymphalidae thirty seven.

N. sept et triginta, Nymphalidae thirty seven.

paper, steel pin, cardboard, closed cell polystyrene foam, 

enamel paint, acrylic paint, nylon filament, ink

wingspan 10.5cm

Commissioned for a birthday gift. 

The recipient's favourite number is thirty seven while her favourite colour is purple.

Bat Pods Sculpture: Series IV, Pod III, Little Reds

 Series IV, Pod III, Little Reds

seed pod, paper, nylon filament, acrylic paint, enamel paint, 

closed cell polystyrene foam, cedar, shellac

12 x 8 x 10.5

Series IV, Pod III, Little Reds, detail

2º: A butterfly installation inspired by Global Warming.

2º

mixed media

variable

This sculpture has been named 2º for two reasons:

• it incorporates the glass bubbles from a broken Gallileo thermometer which go up in two degree increments
• the Copenhagen Accord agreeing to not allow more than two degrees of overall global warming above pre-Industrial levels.

Actual butterfly species are being affected by increasing temperatures with some moving to higher altitudes, or away from the equator towards the poles, in response.

Although such potentially disastrous circumstances inspired the work, the idea is behind it is to uplift the viewer on contemplating it, rather than force feed a message. It is up to the viewer/buyer whether they wish to understand more by visiting this very website. The artist realises that sometimes it is enough to just enjoy art for art's sake. This is is why the 2º group installation is being subsequently divided up for individual sale rather than as one piece.

 26°, Papilio collis viridis (P. green hill)

2º, detail featuring 20°, Nymphalidae violaceum pavae (N. violet peacock)

Exhibited as part of 2 @ Wunderkammer.

Nymphalidae nebula caerulus (N. blue cloud)

 22°, Nymphalidae nebula caerulus (N. blue cloud)
paper, steel pin, cardboard, closed cell polystyrene foam, 

enamel paint, acrylic paint, nylon filament, ink, 

steel jewellery cord, steel crimping beads, 
polystyrene, magnet, found object (Galileo thermometer weight).
14.5cm wingspan

Given a more traditional context and framed:

Nymphalidae nebula caerulus (N. blue cloud) 
Installed as part of an assemblage titled 2º, exhibited in 2 @ Wunderkammer

Coloured paper butterflies, unmounted

These are the first two butterflies from an eventual group of seven which will form 2º, a butterfly wall installation.

Apollo aka 24º, Nymphalidae junonia nebulae (N. cloud buckeye)

mixed media

12cm wingspan, unmounted

Earth aka 26º, Papilio collis viridis (P. green hill)

mixed media

11.5cm wingspan, unmounted

Exhibited as part of 2 @ Wunderkammer.

28°, Papilio aurea lymphae (P. golden water nymph)

28°, Papilio aurea lymphae (P. golden water nymph)
paper, steel pin, cardboard, closed cell polystyrene foam, 
enamel paint, acrylic paint, nylon filament, ink, 
steel jewellery cord, steel crimping beads, 
polystyrene, magnet, found object (Galileo thermometer weight).
14cm wingspan

Given a more traditional context and framed:

28°, Papilio aurea lymphae (P. golden water nymph)Installed as part of an assemblage titled 2º, exhibited in 2 @ Wunderkammer

Paper butterfly: Papilio comae delta (Delta's hair Papilio)

Papilio comae delta (Delta's hair Papilio)

paper, steel pin, cardboard, closed cell polystyrene foam, 

enamel paint, acrylic paint, nylon filament, ink

This is the first colour paper butterfly using paper from contemporary magazines. She is named after singer/song writer/actress Delta Goodrem since the wings are made up of an image of her hair.

Bat Pod Sculpture: Series III, Pod II, Little Reds

 Series III, Pod II, Little Reds

seed pod, paper, nylon filament,

acrylic paint, enamel paint,

closed cell polystyrene foam, cedar, shellac

9.5 x 8.5 x 8.5

Series III, Pod II, Little Reds, detail

Paper butterfly: Heliconius navis navis (Ship Longwing)

Heliconius navis navis (Ship Longwing)

vintage paper, steel pin, cardboard, closed cell polystyrene foam,

enamel paint, acrylic paint, nylon filament, ink

approximate wingspan 12cm

Heliconius navis navis (Ship Longwing), detail

Showing ink work done to visually balance the main wings.

Paper butterfly: Heliconius penne (Feathered Longwing)

 Heliconius penne (Feathered Longwing)

vintage paper, steel pin, cardboard, closed cell polystyrene foam, 

enamel paint, acrylic paint, nylon filament, ink

approximate wingspan 11cm

Tiny images of birds fly over the wings.

Click to buy from my Etsy.

Paper butterfly: Vanessa coleii oculus (Cole's eye Vanessa)

Vanessa coleii oculus (Cole's eye Vanessa)

vintage paper, steel pin, cardboard, closed cell polystyrene foam,

enamel paint, acrylic paint, nylon filament, ink

approximate wingspan 7cm

One of the bigger eyes used was clipped from a portrait of E. W. Cole in a Coles Funny Picture Book.