ToyCyte: Toy Culture Collected

A giant octopus, a fearful squid, Japanese cranes, a tiny geisha, pirates, and even a zombie will be there! It may be the day after Halloween but it isn’t a costume party: It’s Lana Crooks’ Crooked Critters show at A.Okay Official. This solo exhibit features all new plush work and other curiosities.

Lana, a self proclaimed “plushinator”, creates illustrative works with fabric. They are soft sculptures with an attitude. From plush that fits in the palm of your hand to the larger than life, each has been injected with a bit of twisted humor, a dash of whimsy and a whole bunch of cotton fiber. Her pieces are not cuddly throw pillows, most hang on the wall, fixed in place, while others are in fact content to sit on your couch.ToyCyte readers will be familiar with Lana’s critters from Rock the Future and Monster Art Rally. This exhibit showcases Lana’s new hand-made and one-of-a-kind works (and a few custom vinyls). Crooks’ Crooked Critters opens November 1^st 2008 and will be up for viewing until November 30^th at A.Okay Official in Chicago, IL. Stay tuned to ToyCyte after the show closes when Lana will bring her blend of crooked arts to the custoMONDAY project…

Check out a virtual view of the show at the A.Okay Gallery here.