Okay, okay. I’ve been neglecting my duties, and you aren’t the only ones yelling at me. Both the cherub and the demon on my shoulders are telling me I gotta post something. I get it. Here I go:

The Circus Punks show was really incredible. There were something like 227 punks by 100+ artists, and they filled the little space that is Toy Tokyo Showroom in New York to the gills. I went to the VIP opening on Thursday, September 29, as well as the public opening on the 30th. The VIP opening, which I expected to be more exclusive and quiet, was an absolute zoo. People everywhere. The line curled around the corner as people waited their turn to get it. Local street (and otherwise) artist, ewok, slipped in faster by virtue of his name, cutting ahead of Andrew Bell, a few people ahead of me, and the rest of us who didn’t have the balls to speak up. “Hey, I’m an artist in the show, too!” My name doesn’t make that work yet… Soon, though?

When I got inside, I was very excited to find my two Punks front-and-center on the table just across from the door when you walked in. Not only were they prominently displayed, they sat two shelves below Tim Biskup’s and Gary Baseman’s Punks. Also in close proximity were Seen and Tara McPherson.

Unfortunately, there weren’t any nametags, so I am sure I missed meeting some very cool people for lack of knowing who was an artist and who was just checking things out. I chatted briefly with Andrew Bell again, who I met previously at his Take That Back show at Wootini. I introduced myself to Tara McPherson, who looks just like her paintings. And I met the owner of OX-OP in Minneapolis, who happens to know and like my friends Michael and Dan of Aesthetic Apparatus. I also talked with Tim Biskup for a little bit while he was drawing something for the Toy Tokyo folks, but he was pretty distracted.

Anyway, all told, the show was all right, but it was easier to see the work on the second night, since almost nobody was there. I talked with the Circus Punk guys for a while, and it was great to put faces with names. Jim Koch was super-nice and we chatted for a while. He also lamented the lack of nametags the first night.

The real bonus of the trip was my host, Mike Krol, who interned at Planet last summer. He is a senior at SVA, and was feeling burned out that weekend, so he just became my personal tour guide. We walked and subwayed all over town, going to museums, galleries, toy stores, and comic shops. I admit it, I was geeking out. I also finally found something for John Martz to use as payment for his toyware fonts. Such a good idea!

Unfortunately, my Punks haven’t sold yet, but they are still up on the Toy Tokyo site for a while longer.

Well, I think that covers the Circus Punks show. But that was a month and a half ago! More updates to come. Soon.