TOYSREVIL-Review: Art-Toys: Photographs by Brian McCarty
A couple of days before San Diego Comic Con 2010 [tagged] begun in the U.S., I had received my order of Brian McCarty's newly-released photobook named "Art-Toys: Photographs by Brian McCarty" ~ for which I'd love to share a little photo review for, in anticipation of the book's launch at SDCC! [blogged]. CLICK THRU for full review, including the reveal of a little "surprise" bonus that came along with the book. *WARNING: Surprise-Spoiler*
Shown below-right are the signed & numbered Special Edition copies of Art-Toys available at Baby Tattoo booth #601 @ SDCC. This edition features a vinyl slipcase with a textless cover of the book (Notice the additiional little doodles on the cover?).
Limited to 600 copies, this edition comes autographed by 18 artists whose toys are included within the book. Artists are: Attaboy, Gary Baseman, Tim Biskup, Hugh Brown, Luke Chueh, Lili Chin, Bob Dob, Frank Kozik, Joe Ledbetter, Patrick Ma, Mark Nagata, Craig Perkins, Mark Ryden, Greg “Craola” Simkins, Scott Tolleson, Michelle Valigura, Amanda Visell, and Yoskay Yamamoto. ~ Also be on the look-out for "Chase" books, which also includes Mario "MARS-1" Martinez and Sam Flores. Priced online at US$95 (sans shipping)
The book came snuggled in in bubble-wrap (removed in image above) with the book protected at edges and inclusive of a little "surprise" item not previously solicited (but more on that a little bit later down the post :p).
FYI: Cost of shipping to Singapore was the same price as the book, priced at US$40 ~ for the Regular Edition which I purchased directly via Brian's online store ~ which came signed by Brian himself. Well worth the price, IMHO. Pick it up if you folks manage to come across it at SDCC (Details and singing schedules at base of this post).
Published by Baby Tattoo Books, this hefty, hardcover book features 240 pages of over 100 gorgeous toy-photos, and behind-the-scenes snapshots and articles about the making of said toy-images (a real bonus for me personally). Each toy-image has it's own dedicated full-page. Although I have to say these are not exactly like what you see online, or via actual photographic prints, but printed images in a bound-publication ~ which does not take away the imagery of it's original visual context, but is somewhat slightly less "glossy", IMHO.
So okay, now that we've had a glance at the book, let's have a look at
what the "surprise" (unsolicited) item that came along with the book, was:
Within a little sleeved-envelope contained an awesome "ViewMaster" steroscopic photo-disc, from Hi-Fructose! Brian McCarty's "Steroscopic Series" includes images of Luke Chueh's Possessed, Sam Flores' Fatima, Turtle Camper by Jeremy Fish and others ~ totally 7 images in all. Man, I really need to get my hands on a ViewMaster module to see these images in "stereo" (before 3D, this was THE visual excitement of ages! LOL). Although I am wholly unsure if this particular item is included in every book release, or just from ordering via Brian's online shop. (Information TBC).
UPDATED 27.06: Brian has mentioned that the View-Master reel was a "special" add-on for me personally, and is not part of the book ~ Thanks for the awesomeness, Brian!
Wednesday July 21st (5pm) @ Baby Tattoo Books (Booth #601)
Thursday July 22nd (4pm) @ Hi-Fructose (Booth #4939)
Friday July 23rd (1pm) @ Baby Tattoo Books (Booth #601)
Saturday July 24th (1pm) @ Baby Tattoo Books (Booth #601)
FYI: The book will be available at both booths for the signing,
as well as limited quantities at the STRANGECo booth #4629
