Monday, July 28, 2008

The curios that dwell in this cube


A while back I chatted with a few fellow bloggers about being a toy junkie (which means collecting way too many plastic toys/figurines/curios/knick-knacks/etc. for our own good.) Like all the other toy junkies, my inner child cannot resist holding on to these little treasures. I decorate around them and build little obsessive shrines to them. It's a testament to my interest in cartoons, character design, and imaginary worlds.


Despite my serious interest in the collection of these strange little products, I can't help but think that non toy junkies view such collections as tacky displays of kitchy cartoon nostalgia. While one could argue that an adult that collects such trinkets is emotionally stunted or trapped in a permanent adolescence (haha...possible?), I argue that we are the truly enlightened members of adulthood. We've come full circle: from childhood to adulthood, and then back to childhood. We don't take the world seriously. We daydream and live in our heads. We see the humor and irony in these strange mounds of colorful plastic...and we know that in one hundred years, these will be the odd relics that societies in the future will marvel at, tilting their heads in confusion and wonder. Imagine if aliens visited our planet and searched for manmade products to take home with them. Do you really think they'll confiscate some vase from Pottery Barn over some bizarre cartoony figurine? No way, not if they're really advanced.


With that said, I'm devoting this post to pictures of my home's cartoon curios. In part, I am fulfilling a long-overdue promise to my Mom to post pics of my apartment for her to see how I live in New York. Otherwise, this is for all you other artists and toy junkies out there! I wanted to show my work-space and toy decorating inspiration. I hope you enjoy it. I'd love to see your toy junkie collection as well, if you have one. Please keep in mind that due to the size-challenged apartment situation in Manhattan, I've had to...(sob)...appraise and discard part of my collection over the years. But the select few that remain can be seen scattered across my mid-century inspired decor. :)


The center of distraction and procrastination (above)


See that little white cream puff/turd-on-wheels? I couldn't part with that.


My friend, Danita, gave me the Little Enid doll. The elephant and deer were too cutesy and kitchy to not love.


Cupie dolls and a fawn...can it get any more sappy?


My "pride and joy" plush collection. The green whale was a flea market find. The bunny with tie is by Julie Dumolin. "Marty" the pink devil is by Ingri Von Bergen. The little orange guy is from George Widmer, and the green atari-looking dude is by Michael Reagan.


We zoom out to see the whole living room


My architect friends, David and Gloria, gave me this coffee table. It's so mid-century and I LOVE IT.


I designed this cow for Cowparade. The "Hee!" book is by Ivan Brunetti, master of sick comics (the "Misery Loves comedy" book is also by him). Weird, red, nude guy painting in back by awesome street artist.


I can't resist colorful bed spreads.


Duckies!


I love my UFO-inspired salt and pepper shakers on the microwave.


'nuff said.

10 comments:

Pakito said...

I love ur site... and i really amazed on what u can do by following what u desire on life... u are my rol model!!
Ur work'space and ur drawings a re fantastic... iwh i was as talented as u... count me as ur #1 mexican admirer! lol....

Anonymous said...

Love when people show their work spaces and inspiration walls. great toy collection also.

Thanks for sharing

David DeGrand said...

Dude! Your collection RULES!! You have the Baseman Kaiju figure, I would kill to get my hands on one of those!! I'll calm down now, really awesome stuff man, thanks for sharing. Can I hire you to come to Texas and organize all my stuff this well?

this just in said...

Hey ya'll. Thanks for the love. You make life worth living, I tell ya. My digital camera can't focus for shit, but thankfully, you're still able to make out the images despite the blurriness.

Thanks for saying hi Pakito. I don't know if I'm a good role model, but I'm glad you like my junk. :)

Thank you for saying hi, Robert. My toys wanted exposure to the outside world. That's why I did this post, really. They were begging.

Howdy David! I tell you what, if you really want one of those Baseman Kaiju figures, I know a place here in NY where I can get you one. Or...I think Kid Robot has a website. I promise to come and organize your toys, but you might find that some will go missing... ;)

mar said...

niiiiiceeeee! So lovely figures!!!! I´d go crazy if I saw them up close!!!
Please tell me you cleaned up before taking the pics. My bedroom is such a huge mess, and your entire house seems so tidy and clean!!
Loved it.
Your cow reminds me of a current exposition here, it´s a group of real size cows painted by different artists freestyle and placed them in popular areas of Buenos Aires...
here´s a link if you wanna check them: http://buenosaires-en.cowparade.com/cow/gallery/2
I think yours would´ve looked great in there
See ya!!

David DeGrand said...

Man that would be great if you could get me one of those figures, next time you come across one let me know how much it is. Man, what a pal!!

ALBERT PARDO said...

GUESS THE SUMMERTIME HAS YOU TOO BUSY FOR DRAWING, UNDERSTANDABLY SO... IS THAT A WORD...?

Anonymous said...

awesome collection of toys ,I like the fawn it is super cute!

tokyobunnie said...

Your house is amazing!!! What an awesome collection!

MareAmaro said...

Lovely table! and who did the drawing of the man with striped t-shirt hanging on the wall?
Piero (just started my blog as fashion illustrator)