The kind and talented Sneaky Raccoon is putting on a great custom and more extravaganza to celebrate 5 years of sneaky goodness at Kidrobot London and you’re all invited! So get on down and spend all you can as everything you buy will be putting more and more pennies into the hands of Macmillan cancer support, a worthwhile charity indeed.

The many moons of earth have aligned and so I’m part of a customs show within the UK. Because of such rarity I am making it my sole purpose in life to show my face on opening night so be there! We can shake hands and kiss baby bonces! Now here’s the press release full of exciting information nuggets.

Icons – Custom Toy Show.

Launch Party – Friday 28th October 2011 – 6pm till late

Exhibition runs through till Thursday 3rd Novemeber

Fullcircle Gallery, Kirkstall Rd, Leeds, LS3 1JL, UK

NO ENTRY CHARGE

‘Icons’ is the debut show from The Hang Gang – The Visual Culture Outlet. They have gathered together the best of british toy customisers, from legends such as Pete Fowler and Matt Lunartik JOnes to nu-school stars Jon Paul Kaiser, Squink and Map Map, for a group event of immense proportions. Also, from across the pond and by special invitation, US super talent Drilone, is taking part. The Anchoring theme of the show is simply ‘Icons’ and we have left how that’s interpreted firmly in the hands and minds of the artist.

This will be one hell of a party, besides the art exhibition there will be live painting from the likes of Guy McKinley, Hugh Rose and Tom J Newell. Music will be provided by upcoming, Leeds indie pop band, Escort Knights and brining his eclectic mix of party grooves is J.Cub, head honcho of E.A.R Recordings. There will be tons of giveaways, a fully licensed bar, pop up store and much more.

All the pieces from the show will be available to purchase on the night on a first come, first served basis. So if you want to snag something by your favourite artist they suggest you get down early. Any remaining customised artworks will be available via their online store: www.thehanggang.co.uk after the exhibition has finished.

The show artwork was created by the super talented, Leeds based illustrator, Drew Millward. It is going to be produced as an A2, 3 colour screen print with an edition size of 100 and will be available to purchase at the show.

Curator and Hang Gang owner, Barry Darnell said, “Why do all the cool parties have to take place in LA, NYC or LDN? We thought it was about time the North of England got some love and in particular, Leeds. People say nothing like this ever happens around here, well all that’s about to change!”

To be in with a chance of winning a signed copy of the show poster simply follow the Hang Gang on twitter: @thehanggang between now and the 28th October and they will pick 2 lucky winners at random.

For more details and press enquiries please e-mail Barry: curator@thehanggang.co.uk or visit www.thehanggang.co.uk 
for more information.

In life there are few true necessities. Water, tea with a biscuit, & mushrooms, oh maybe a drink that’s really nice after a hard day. Well me plus a small pod of scientists have found the secret extra necessity in the form of giggle, gasp and bellow inducing doodles placed upon the pages of a guardian weekend magazine. From that small clump of words you’d think I may be finished. You are kind of right…click the links below, look around and then think up the rest of the sentences I would be writing here. They would be complimentary with maybe a few spelling mistakes?

Website: http://www.freakleap.co.uk/Joelist/Index.html

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/joelist

Store: http://freakleap.bigcartel.com/

I’m riding on a hint of paint stripping fumes at the moment so this may be short odd or not have a shred of sense…either way I want to say look at Kookizu’s magical work. Riding the fantastic lines of cute, beautiful colours and some times a little sinisterly secret-ish, al in a cleanly executed way. then beyond the style there is the range from perfect little character jewelry, to her vibrant illustration and recently I spotted signs of an amazing art toy the I’m keeping an eye out for. So check the links and grab as many trinkets and an eyes full of amazing characters as you can!

Also look around for the Kookizu Cyriak animated collaboration, you won’t be disappointed

Website: http://kookizu.wordpress.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Kookizu

Store: http://kookizu.bigcartel.com/

]]> http://map-map.co.uk/blog/?feed=rss2&p=79 0 http://map-map.co.uk/blog/?p=75 http://map-map.co.uk/blog/?p=75#comments Thu, 19 May 2011 18:28:41 +0000 MAp http://map-map.co.uk/blog/?p=75

It’s been a while since anything appeared on my store and beyond Tom Stik it’s a very barren place for customs, so in between jobs I’ve been sitting in front of episodes of Campus and making theses little Gregory’s horror show customs. I don’t think they’re the most commonly used platform but I’ve not attempted too many angular characters so jumped on these and here is the result. I hope you like how they came out.

I’m in busy mode so finding time to get some better photos and put them all on my store will be a little later than I’d like, probably early next week. But last night I did make them available to my newsletter pals (if you want to be there for such newsletters next time go HERE and sign up at the bottom of the page) a few are being held by people but if you see one you like please send me an email and I’ll get back to you to help in anyway I can.

Wow it’s an amazingly busy time at the moment. If you’re one of the fine people that’s making that so with your kind words, critical comments of real value, or became the owner of any of my work thank you heartily and hopefully you’ll see the spoils of such kindness in the months to come!

For now though I hope the picture of Hurdy above is enough? He is now on show in the amazing exhibit “Ghost in the Machine” at My Plastic Heart to see more please go to http://www.myplasticheart.com/ and if you’re in the New York area go to 210 Forsyth Street, New York, NY 10002 from what I’ve seen the who collection is amazing and something that the eye really should see in the flesh if it can, also buy a piece or two, I’m not a materialistic person but buying any piece from the show WILL make you happier…

Ok I may flash back with a really fast new post but about some “Gregory’s horror show” customs very soon…if not Ok,ILoveYouBy!

Oh my! Oh my! Oh my! First I’ll say I discovered the wonderful work of Gary Ham way later that I want to believe. In a first step to forgiving myself I’m trying to stop anyone else having to feel such very acceptable guilt by saying look at and enjoy the work you can find from this point! The guy instantly won my heart when I saw his wooden work from Hermees to Topper and beyond, anyone who makes a great looking step around the great but more common vinyl look will always creep into my hear but the way he does it never stops me smiling with a little non grudging envy. I’ll also add the he does a great collaboration to boot! So if you want some style that to me harks back to a toy related part of my life I wish existed click the links and don’t waste those precious Gary Ham filled years I missed out on.

Website: http://haminals.blogspot.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/GaryGepetto

Store: http://www.superham.bigcartel.com/

www.myplasticheart.com/