Art of Bruce Whistlecraft

From the 12th of October to the 11th of November, the Manhattan art-toy gallery and store MyPlasticHeart hosted my first New York solo show.
(Click pics to enbiggen.)

A year in the making this show exhibited my most complex and largest works so far. It stretched me in many creative ways, and I could not have been happier with the final event.

Vin and his staff at MPH went well out of their way to make this a real top notch affair. They repainted the walls, added velvet drapes and sourced many antique boxes for the display. Any idea I threw at them they ran with. They were the most amazing hosts for my art and for myself as I made the trip out to the Big Apple for the opening. And what an opening it was. The New York Comic Con was running that same weekend, which did mean there were a lot more art-toy type people in town, but also meant that there were a lot of other shows on the same night. Even so the crowd was buzzing, busy and never ending. Advertised as being from 7pm till 10pm, people began arriving around six and were still turning up when we finally closed the doors at midnight.

So many of my fellow artists turned up to see my work and I was truly flattered by all the great feedback. People really did love it. Lots of collectors also arrived, some of which I had never met before, so it was a real treat. I didnt stop taking all night, so many friendly and interesting people.

Later in the evening a very special guest made an appearance. Film director Guillermo Del Toro has been a supporter and collector of my work for some time so it was a special pleasure to have him attend the show in person. He bought with him Travis Beacham who is a fellow Bowler hat lover and the writer on Del Toro’s  latest film epic “Pacific Rim”.

All in all it could not have been a better experience and a high point in my art career to date. Thank you to everyone who came out to support me. And again to Vin and his team for all their hard work.

Voltaire and the SuckLord..

Amanda Louise Spayd and Chris Ryniak. ( Not looking at all like their creations in any way..oh no..)

Kev from Big Kev’s Geek Stuff..

Sarah Jo and Dov from DKE toys and Toy Girls..

Media commentator, columnist and social manipulator. Harry sits at the centre of a far reaching societal web.
A social networker of the highest order. He manipulates the unwary and influences the masses.
Planting seeds of ideas with one whisper whilst taking credit for others overheard plans.
His ultimate motives are unclear. It just all seems to be a game from which he derives his own dark pleasure.

Vinyl, Brass, Epoxy resin, Polymer clay, Polyurethane resin, Rubber, Lead, ABS, Glass, Leather, Vintage draughting tools, Vintage clock parts, Found Objects, Vintage wooden base.
26″ tall. (27.5″ tall on base.)

For the “Postcard from New Yorkshire” solo show at My Plastic Heart in New York opening 12th October.

One of the cleverest denizens of Retropolis. He and Mr. Head run the royal academy of science among other things. They work closely together  to forward the knowledge and learning of all Mechtorians. Winding and stocking each other in a show of unity between the two different life forces within the realm. This display is looked upon disapprovingly by the religious leaders who take it as a direct snub by the scientific and philosophical members of society against their doctrines of segregation .

Vinyl, ABS, Acrylic, Vintage clock parts, Styrene, Lead, Epoxy resin, Vintage draughtsman’s tools, Vintage glass dome on a carved wooden base.
7.5″ tall. ( 12″ tall in dome.)

For my solo “Postcard from New Yorkshire” show at MPH in New York next week.

Writer of pulp fiction, recluse and misanthrope. Montague weaves lurid tales of horror and dark fantasy for several small press magazines.
He and his growing band of loyal readers consider his mini epics insightful literature. But the critics, such as his nemesis Oscar Lynchworthy pour scorn on his compositions and deride them as trash.
But Blackwood knows he is doing great work and it is simply a matter of time before the world realises his genius.

Vinyl, Polymer clay, Epoxy resin, Rubber, Lead, Glass, Steel, Vintage draughtsman’s tools, Vintage clock key, Paper, Vintage bronze toy typewriter, Vintage book base.
8″ tall. ( 10″ tall on base.)
For the “Postcard from New Yorkshire” solo show at MyPlasticHeart New York.

Vladimir Cobweb  –  The Curator –
Collector of strange and wonderful things, Vladimir is unfortunately not the most organised of souls.
His Museum of Oddities is a place of wonderment and reflection for the citizens of Retropolis.
The small detail that some of the item’s annotations are a little wide of the mark factually doesn’t seem to have bothered anyone.

Figure : Vinyl, ABS, Rubber, Lead, Glass, Copper, Boxwood, Polymer clay, Steel.
Museum : Vintage wooden scale building model, Gold, Silk, Mahogany, Polymer clay, ABS, MDF, Found objects, Toy parts from the artist’s childhood toy collection.
Building 24″ tall by 11″ wide.

For the “Postcard from New Yorkshire” show at MPH in New York, opening 12th October.

(Click on photos to enlarge..)

A departure for me in size and subject matter. Exploring the locations in Retropolis city as well as its people.
This piece is also a sort of “Meta” representation of my artistic career and influences to date.. Read on for illumination….

Museum Interior Explained.

A    Reference to my “DTA best customiser” Award.
B    Parts of toys I owned and loved as a child. Heads from Micronauts toys and a figure from Zoids.
C    Cthulhu idol. Representing my interest and love of H.P.Lovecraft.
D    Derelict Juggernaut spaceship from Alien ( and Prometheus) Alien was to me what Star Wars seems to be to everyone else..
E    Raygun from “Bucky O’Hare”. Representing my love of cartoon action figures.
F    Qee arm. Qee was my entry level drug for the designer toy world.
G    Egyptian relics. Represent my general interest and love of historical artefacts and esoteric sculpture.
H    Hand of Tetsujin 28. I love 1960’s/ 1970’s Japanese robots. Especially the Mazinger Z school of design.
I    Retro styled electrical items… Love them!
J    Pac Gentleman.
K    The leg of a Gundam ( Zaku) Mech suit. Another japanese robot influence on me.
L    Seed pod. My love of nature and it’s wonderful organic forms.
M    Gwin by October toys. My first production designer toy..
N    A Mace head representing my work with Games Workshop. My first professional work in the toy and games industry when I was 16. (1986).
O    Vintage style camera.. My love of old mechanical objects style again.
P    Representing my interest in collecting replica weapons.
Q    The tentacle of “Bella DeLaMere”. Both a direct link to one of my favourite toy designs and a nod to my interest in tentacles n general as a thematic device.
R    Representing my growing skull collection.
S    Moustache! My good luck totem.
T    A mask as a nod to my time working in the theatre and the time I spent on stage.
U    Bubo. A nod to Ray Harryhausen. A big influence on me and my work.
V    Vampire teeth. My love of camp horror in the Hammer Films tradition.
W    A deep sea diving helmet and a reference to “The First Men in the Moon”. I love early Science Fiction stories such as those written my H. G Wells. And another Ray Harryhausen reference.
X    Nod to those crazy “Biggest ball of twine” type exhibits..
Y    An old key in reference to my interest in Kipple. Items which once had a use but no longer do. It is from these items I create find my raw materials.

My Plastic Heart has announced that they will be have a pre release of the Gin & Tonic edition of Chester Runcorn.
This version will be $64.99 at the myplasticheart booth #3313 during all of NYCC ( New York Comic Con) 2012.
And Doktor A will be there signing Chester Runcorn at the booth on Saturday, October 13 at 4:00pm.
NYCC runs October 11-14.

Ernest desires precision in all things. He is always dressed immaculately in the finest tailored clothes.
His knowledge is wide, his taste impeccable. His speech is precise and his timing punctual.
All in all is he quite unbearable.

Customised Badbot toy by Three A.
Vinyl, Epoxy resin, Styrene, Acrylic, Lead, Brass, Rubber, ABS, Found objects, Working miniature pocket watch, Vintage wooden base.
16.5″ tall.

Destined for my solo show at My Plastic Heart in New York opening on the 12th October.

I am doing a signing at Kidrobot London (19 Earlham St.) on Thursday, Sept. 6 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. to coincide with the launch of my new 8″ Dunny toy there.
Attendees will be able to pick up an exclusive Ironclad Decimator poster limited to 25 pieces for £25.
The first 2 customers will receive a poster for free, and only 20 will be at the event, so get there early if you want one!

A teaser for a piece in my MPH New York show. Oct 12th..

The Pac Gentleman “10 Doh” blindboxed mini figure, new from Squid Kids Ink..

Launching at San Diego Comic Con 2012..