SheWalksSoftly

New Mark Ryden Merchandise

April 10th, 2009

It’s happening…it’s really happening. Mark Ryden is coming out with his first vinyl toy, slated for a mid-summer release from Necessaries Toy Foundation.

Ryden let his son Jasper choose the design; a three-eyed, bunny-eared, amorphous totem from the painting entitled YHWH.

The original painting:

First promo shot:

Even the box is predictably phenomenal:

I wish all of Ryden’s characters would be manifested in 3-D.

Check out more pictures and info at High Fructose.

The next new item is the collectors edition Tree Show book.

This hard-bound book includes over 130 color images of paintings, drawings, studies and sculptural works as well as a wealth of Mark’s inspirational reference materials. Each signed and numbered Special Edition book comes in a handmade clamshell box covered in a fine Japanese silk. The edition also comes with a collection of “Vintage Souvenirs” including a postcard set, commemorative pin, pennant, bookmark and pencil.

Sadly, though I’m absolutely salivating over this book, I can’t spare $350.00 for it. But what a fantastic item for serious collectors.

Source
Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab

April 10th, 2009

I received links to this kit from a number of people, and it is indeed quite post-worthy.

From Oak Ridge Associated Universities: “This was the most elaborate Atomic Energy educational set ever produced, but it was only only available from 1951 to 1952. Its relatively high price for the time ($50.00) and its sophistication were the explanation Gilbert gave for the set’s short lifespan. Today, it is so highly prized by collectors that a complete set can go for more than 100 times the original price.

The set came with four types of uranium ore, a beta-alpha source (Pb-210), a pure beta source (Ru-106), a gamma source (Zn-65?), a spinthariscope, a cloud chamber with its own short-lived alpha source (Po-210), an electroscope, a geiger counter, a manual, a comic book and a government manual ‘Prospecting for Uranium.”

Source
Touched by Fire

April 9th, 2009

The incredible Jessica Palmer recently featured this exhibit on her blog. After a fire decimated the Parisian taxidermy shop Deyrolle a year ago, Martin d’Orgeval documented the destruction in a series of compelling photographs.

These large-scale photographs show the shop in the aftermath of the fire—the walls, floors and furniture are charred and damaged almost beyond recognition. However, natural sunlight filters through the wreckage, emphasizing the beauty of decay. In a striking juxtaposition, some of the animals stand unscathed among the rubble.

D’Orgeval’s statement in the press release beautifully encapsulates the concept of the series:

“That which Man and science had taken from the natural cycle of life and death and fixed forever for our wide-eyed pleasure was partially brought back to its original destiny: the fading and disappearance that awaits any creature. Time had been made to stand still, and Nature had reclaimed its rights.”

See photos from the exhibit at the Adamson Gallery.
Zhang Peng

April 9th, 2009

Don’t expect to get too comfortable while looking at Zhang Peng’s art. His traditional paintings evoke a sense of pathos in the viewer with their disquieting imagery.

Photography projects feature sad, precocious children in surreal landscapes or situations, often somewhat dark and disturbing.

This is one of my very favorites (what a great birthday card it would make!):

See more at the artist’s site.
Trilobite Triptych

April 9th, 2009

I would absolutely love to see a trend in paleontology embroidery! Etsy seller Donkeywolf has a great example: the Trilobite Triptych.

Wonderful color choice for a uniquely “fossilized” look, and each Trilobite is unique.

Thanks to Evolution I now have my own Trilobite fossil.
The Body They Built to Fit the Car

April 7th, 2009

Ah, the video montage…a beloved art form that distills hours of uninteresting footage into a hyper-concentrated cocktail of pure

Here, the band Blurt showcases a series of vintage exercise machines and beauty treatments.

Funny how easy it is to scoff at these “primitive” measures when current methods involve paralyzing poison injections, plastic threads under the skin that yank the face in different directions, and the now commonplace bulbous sacks of silicone.

And just for fun, see how Strong Bad makes a montage. Nowhere else can you hear the lyric “You’re a girl…or maybe a wagon, filled up with pancakes.”
Belated Birthday Kick Knacks

April 6th, 2009

A few people who couldn’t make it to my birthday party last month took it upon themselves to send some neat stuff and I’d like to thank them.

The lovely Agmac got this adorable crocheted tummy:

…and one of the more unique fetus ornaments I’ve seen to date. It’s wonderfully shiny, spiky…and unborn. I wonder how people would react if I wore it as a necklace. I could just say it’s an “Earth mother with an edge kind of thing.”

Matt P. found this rare and elusive coloring book. There is almost no info available about it, except for the fact that it was created by Matthew Laznicka, about whom I had previously posted. The images are incredibly fun…I’ll have to feature some of them in future posts:

I was grateful to Julia for surprising me with one of the pieces I had posted about as well. The Aroha Sihouettes laser cut LP book necklace is every bit as awesome as it looked on the website.

She also included some little lowbrow art trading cards.

This next one was a small part of a much larger gift from Matt C. and Steph. Louisa and I were unnaturally fascinated with this confection, so we decided to do some research. Turns out Zitner’s Butter Krak eggs have quite a cult following in the Philadelphia area. Since I can’t eat coconut, I enjoyed this one as an intrigued spectator.

Many thanks!
Brandi Milne

April 5th, 2009

I’ve been a fan of Brandi Milne for years. I wish I could see her new solo show at Thinkspace Gallery.

She is another one of my favorite maniacal food illustrators. Check out these examples from her “Sugar Fiend” series:

I’ve considered ordering this as a laptop skin (available from Gelaskins:

See more of her wonderful work in the website gallery.
Fire Spitting Robot Baby

April 5th, 2009

Wouldn’t you love to see a giant robot infant spitting fire on a street corner? Yanobe Kenji has made it a reality in Tokyo’s Roppongi district.

This 24 ft. mechanical baby dances, sings and spits fire (as any decent infant should).

More pictures at the source.

Artist site
Jacob Magraw-Mickleson

April 4th, 2009

I tend to be picky about what I can only call “rainbow-ish art.” I have an odd resistance to certain usage of *IN YOUR FACE* color. But Jacob Magraw-Mickelson manages to make brilliant use of a very varied color palette.

I love his sinewy, plant-like structures, like the flora of an alien world.

This next one looks like someone decorated the Matterhorn for a party, and did a stellar job.

Some strands of color have an almost “vascular” quality to them. So difficult not to anthropomorphize…

See more on the artist site.

There’s a great collection on the Richard Heller Gallery site.