Art-Showcase: Flying Friend with 20 Pyramids by Manuel Heischel

Manuel Heischel (of cikcuk dunia fantasi) sends over snaps and words of installation artwork named: "fliegender freund mit 20 pyramieden" ("flying friend with 20 pyramids") ~ as seen on display at Plaza Indonesia Shopping Center, Jakarta Indonesia, for their "Plaza Indonesia-20th Anniversary Art Festival". The 1.3m x 1.3m x 1.3m plush Flying Friend was first previewed here on TOYSREVIL. I hope it does not offend Manu too much if I mention that this would make an exceptionally kitschy-kool piece of furniture, and should be mass-produced ~stat!

[CLICK THRU for more pics + words]


Artist: Manuel Heischel
Name of the work: fliegender freund mit 20 pyramieden (flying friend with 20 pyramids)
Material: Synthetic leather
Size: 1.30m * 1.30m * 1.30m
Media: Stuffed doll, hand crafted
Time of crafting: Two weeks


CONCEPT (Words by manuel): Why flying friend? My works are dominant by the influence of first: toys during my childhood, especially German wooden crafts for decoration for all seasons and wooden crafts decorations for Christmas or Eastern, wooden toys, mouth blown glass-toys and decorations, and second by the otaku and kawaii culture from Japan.

Throughout this in each new art work I create a new character or art toy fused from both influences, and because to show my relationship in my art works I call them friends. Further, why flying? In this art work the flying is synonym to what the character belongs, it belongs to Christmas-bowl a German Christmas decoration for the Christmas tree, which will be hung to branch of the Christmas tree. In that matter hanging = flying.

The 20 pyramids are the edition of the 20th Anniversary of Plaza Indonesia and are very important icon in all my art works which will be used in other media as triangle or teeth. The media stuffed doll fits better to context of a shopping mall, a smooth and soft big plush doll which waits to get bought by the shoppers.

Toy-Release: Neopolitan Morsels by Gary Ham (April 3-drop)

Gary Ham of SUPERHAMS-fame prepares for a release this coming Saturday April 3rd, of his NEOPOLITAN MORSELS figure! Standing 8 inches tall (upon a metal base) and sporting curves to swoon over for, only 5 x Neopolitan Morsels will be made available at US$185 each (plus shipping). Interested parties are to have your clickers on the ready @ 12pm (Mountain Standard time) online via superham.bigcartel.com.

But if you folks have a Twitter, you can stake out Gary's at http://twitter.com/GaryGepetto, as he will tweet a "bonus code" on the morning of April 3rd that will give you free shipping to any where in the world!

Designed by Gary Ham, sculpted by Bear Williams, and manufactured by Pretty in Plastic, this third colorway- edition of Morsels (after Peppermint and Chocomint) 100% made in the U.S.A.

MONSTREHERO @ WonderCon 2010

Besides (the previously posted) Sparkleminons available at Lulubell Toys booth #233, MONSTREHERO will also be offering a special trio of Victims (#1, #2, and the brand-new #3) on display Neon Monster's "Wondercon Resin Showcase". See them at booth #944 and 946 ~ WonderCon, April 2nd to 4th, 2010.

Also note that Sean of MONSTREHERO will be in attendance at Lulubell's booth on Saturday 12noon to do a release+signing. "He'll also have a few one-offs and random goodies that he'll show you if you ask really nicely."

Lulubell Toys @ WonderCon 2010 (with MonstreHero + RealxHead + Cure + Shikaruna)

Kaiju and resin-delights comes to WonderCon this April 2-4th in San Francisco, courtesy of Lulubell Toys @ booth #223!

CLICK THRU to have a peek at what exclusives they have in store, which includes glittery-resins from MonstreHero, and kaijus from Real x Head, Cure and Shikaruna!


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PRESS: Presenting MonstreHero x Lulubell Toys WonderCon exclusive: Sparkleminion ~ They will be released at WonderCon, booth #223, Saturday at noon. Sean from MonstreHero will be at the booth with these super-glittery beauties. US$75 each.


LULUBELL-PRESS: Finally, we are leaking some shots of the goodness to come! Lulubell is happy to join our NorCal friends at WonderCon this year, and we're bringing tons of special goodies to share.

Exclusives sold all 3 days:
- Real x Head x Lulubell Toys Mutant Chaos - on sparkle grey vinyl base - $60
- Real x Head x Lulubell Toys Chaos Q Bean - on sparkle grey vinyl base - $10
- Cure x Lulubell Toys WonderCon 2010 version Fungah - painted $85
- Cure x Lulubell Toys WonderCon 2010 version Fungah - painted $75
- Shikaruna Cube Dorol - 2 painted versions - $55 each
- Shikaruna Cube Dorol - 2 unpainted versions (clear pink & clear smoke) - $50 each


[Above-posted Shikaruna Cube Dorol was first posted here]
In addition, Amy from Lulubell (say *HI* for me if you folks are there, thanks!) will have these on hand at Booth #223 as well:


PRESS: Not exclusive - just super cool:
We will have a huge Real x Head, Uamou & Yamazakura selection for our NorCal friends to get their hands on! Also, other special goodies like Medicom Dr. Rx Hello Kitty's - 2 versions and Secret Base x Usagrow treasures! Grab a Lulubell T-shirt, add some mini cats to your litter, and more! BOOTH #223 - the place to be. Say hi to Amy & her awesome crew from La Rosa Skateboards! (Luke won't be at this one :( Boooo.... just not the same without ya buddy)



(Packing-pics totally swiped from Amy / Lulubell-facebook)

MUTT Products @ WonderCon (Dragatomi booth 1221)

Be on the lookout at the upcoming WonderCon, for products from MUTT ~ showcasing iPhone skins and home accessories, which include wall clock and coaster sets, and even lunch boxes ~ featuring artwork from Brent Nolasco, Matthew Ryan Sharp, Project Detonate and Tyler Coey.

Make a beeline to Dragatomi's booth #1221, or if you are unable to be in San Francisco physically between April 2nd to 4th, hop on over online to procure these goodies via http://www.mutttoy.com.

What is cool is that artists are looking beyond "just" utilizing the toy-form or even the traditional paint canvas or even apparel to spread awareness of their art, and at the same time hopefully sustain a survival to continue in pursuing their said craft. So do consider products beyond your habitual spending decisions and support your indie artists.

Custom-Showcase: Itadakimarshall by j*ryu @ WonderCon 2010 (Dragatomi booth 1221)

[3 x images in slideshow above / CLICK for full-screen viewing]
PRESS: Marshall's gone japanese in a big way! Presenting Itadakimarshall Series 1: California Dreamin'; a set of 6 customs by designer j*ryu, available at Wondercon, April 2-4th at Dragatomi (booth #1221). Each set comes with a customized Marshall, wasabi skull & ginger accessories along with display stand for US$130 with remaining sets available on Dragatomi.com after the end of the con.

CLICK THRU for closer-peeks at the details of these custom-Marshalls (originally designed by 64Colors) to make your tummy and custom-toy-lurvin' hearts go YUMZ!


[13 x images in slideshow above / CLICK for full-screen viewing]

Do follow @dragatomi and @jryu for more news on other customs and future Itadakimarshall series.

Antoinette the Sympathy Girl by Necessaries Toy Foundation

DKE-TOYS-PRESS: NTF has released this great new colorway of the long sold out 2002 Sympathy for the Records Industry logo figurine. This figure is based on Pablo's art and sculpted by Nathan Cabrera.

The Blue Edition of Antoinette the Sympathy Girl (image-center with pink hair) stands (approx) 13 inch tall roto-vinyl figure and is limited to 300 pcs worldwide and has a SRP of US$40, and comes bagged with header card. Currently distributed by DKE Toys, do check with your fav retailers for availability. I'm such a sucker for a lady in tears ... aaaand I'll just leave it at that :p

Shown image-right is the first released blonde-hair version of Antoinette (image via ToyTokyo) back in 2002, while image-left shows the black-on-black Gothy Goth colorway, exclusive to 3D Retro (limited 300 pcs) ~ who had a launch recently (but has yet to reply my enquiry, but you folks shouldn't be left out of the loop in lieu, innit?).

(FYI: "NTF" = Necessaries Toy Foundation)