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Carry On, Beasties!

Set & Drift Presents… CARRY ON, BEASTIES!
Contemporary art for your little beast!

When our son Harlan was born we were tempted to delight his eyes with strange creatures from the minds of our favorite artists. And so was born this gallery, where we share a procession of these so-called “beasties” from a grand selection of international artists & designers. Just a small spectacle of contemporary art for the little beastie in your life!

Cartoon Network at Comic-Con

It’s Cartoon Network’s 20th birthday, and it’s Comic-Con, and hence, San Diego celebrates.

Going on this week: the Cartoon Network’s 20th Anniversary Exhibit at Jett Gallery in Little Italy July 11-14th. Over 75 international artists have been assembled to reinterpret their favorite characters.

Fear and Courage by Jack Teagle

Meanwhile, the Cartoon Network pops up again at the New Children’s Museum (a stone’s throw from the Comic-Con craziness itself) with the Adventure Time “takeover” July 11-15th. Harlan was pleased with the giant character that graces the downtown skyline.

I had no previous knowledge of the “Adventure Time” show, but I’m quite sure its fans would enjoy what they would find. There is a transformed side entry to the museum that involves a brief journey down a darkened staircase with characters suspended on high and keys which open lockers filled with Adventure Time paraphernalia.

More intriguing to us was the so-called “fan art” gallery upstairs in the museum, in which artists have re-interpreted the Adventure Time characters in their own pieces.

(bottom: Grant Coghill)

The museum is a gem, as always. The exhibits draw the kids in as much as the modern lines do.

Boo!

“There’s a play area over there, but I’m checking out this modern design,” says Harlan.

Architect Rob Quigley has created an environmentally sustainable space that’s proved to be well-suited to the wandering of the kids and adults alike. Windows are open. You can see outside. You can blow bubbles on balconies.

The current exhibit features trash — a kind of a recycle-reuse theme. One of the main exhibits involves an activity from Brazilian artist Vik Muniz and his brilliant documentary Waste Land. It’s on Netflix streaming — Do it…

So go ahead, Comic-con. We approve, and thanks for providing for the youngins!

 

Carry On, Beasties! #1 feat. Jolby

Set & Drift gladly presents #1 in the “Carry On, Beasties!” series: a delightfully art-beastly piece by Portland based designers/illustrators Josh Kenyon & Colby Nichols (Jolby).

Ever since we first laid eyes on their work in ’09 at Subtext Gallery in San Diego, we’ve been quite enamored with their wily creations. So without further ado, for the little monsters in your life, here are some beasties… from Jolby to you:


Click the picture to inspect closer >>

“Up on a Hill There Is a Place” by Jolby

Name: These creatures are called “Shapesters”!

They are free-flowin’, easy-goin’, relaxed creatures that are all about having a good time.

Habitat: They all live in this house on a hill in Portland, Oregon, and they share everything.

Superpower: Shapesters can take on any shape they want including animals, plants, and objects.

They also have the ability to make anyone smile. You’ll never see a Shapester frowning. (They are always happy.)

“Encima De Una Colina Existe Un Lugar” por Jolby

Nombre: Estas bestias se llaman “Shapesters”!

Son criaturas muy relajadas que solamente quieren divertirse.

Hábitat: Ellos viven todos juntos en una casa en una colina en Portland, Oregon. Comparten todo.

Super Poderes: Los Shapesters pueden transformarse en cualquiera forma, incluyendo animales, plantas y objetos.

También tiene la habilidad de hacer sonreír a cualquier persona. Nunca verás a un Shapester triste. Siempre están contentos.

About the artists:Josh Kenyon & Colby Nichols (Jolby) were both born in California and currently live and work in Portland, Oregon. They create their work with pen, ink, pencil, acrylic paint, and on the computer. They illustrated a children’s book “The King’s Sixth Finger” and are working on a second children’s book! You can find a print of this picture at their shop, and you can visit Jolby here: www.jolbyandfriends.com.

Acerca de los artistas: Josh Kenyon y Colby Nichols (Jolby) nacieron en California y ahora viven y trabajan en Portland, Oregon. Jolby crea sus obras usando el bolígrafo, la tinta, el lapiz, la pintura acrílica, y la computadora. Ellos dibujaron las ilustraciones para un libro de niños que se llama “El Sexto Dedo de Rey” y ahora están trabajando en su siguiente libro para niños! Pueden encontrar esta obra aquí y pueden visitar a Jolby aquí: www.jolbyandfriends.com.

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(Besos to Odette Alvarez, Maria, & Maya for the translation assistance!)