ToyCyte: Toy Culture Collected

Gallery1988 has harnessed and curated an edgy estrogen-fest in San Francisco, but then of course, someone’s gotta go and screw it up with a Valentine’s Day bomb threat. Some King of Wonderful opened Friday, February 6th, and Katie was kind enough to let ToyCyte in for a full photo session prior to any potential terrorism. The show features a talented roster of some familiar names from previous G1988 shows and Hi-Fructose, as well as a few new artists–some of you may want to put on your list of ones to watch.

Japan’s d’Holbachi-Yoko may resonate with ToyCyte readers as her work ($500-$1800) recalls the characters of Jim Woodring and are cute at the onset, but the deeper you look, the less ideal and pleasant the characters’ fates becomes. Both d’Holbachi-Yoko and Sydney, Australia’s Nanami Cowdroy had laptop, iPod and iPhone Gelaskins on hand as freebies for early-comers to the gallery. Nanami’s artwork ($400-$600) featured a laser-etched skatedeck and many beautiful black and white illustrations that (apologies!) were frustratingly hard to photograph due to the glass frames and lighting. Ontario, Canada’s Sarah Joncas‘ work ($350-$1,700)  included a solo-female in each painting: an alter-ego of Sarah’s for expressing issues of her own world and the world at large. Lost Angeles’  Rachel J. Wong injected some humor into the exhibit with her trio of canvases ($400-$1,1100) featuring, among other things, a crocodile trying to lure a bunny with a carrot entitled, “That Old Trick.” Another Los Angeles artist, Rebecca Artemisa Urias had several detailed acrylics on wood ($350-$1500). The third Los Angeleno (by way of Nagoya, Japan) in the show was Mari Inukai, a name we’re seeing around a lot lately. Mari’s oils on canvas ($900-$2,200) featured realistic designs with a backdrop of looming creepy-cute (almost Uglydoll-like silhouettes). Milwaukee’s Cherri Wood had several watercolors (all $350) most of which have already sold out based on their simple yet captivating designs. Portland’s Kendra Binney used resin and pencil on wood to create unique art pieces ($125-$1,200), which have also already come close to selling out. Last but not least we have Charlottesville’s Allison Sommers whose gouache pieces (seemingly undervalued at $100-$600) have so many layers and details you just have to stare for a while and interpret at your own will.

Some Kind of Wonderful runs through February 28th. Gallery1988 is still standing and located at 1173 Sutter Street (b/w Polk and Larkin). Please enjoy the clickable thumbnails below and head over to the dedicated 1988SKW blogspot for exact pricing info.