EXHIBIT

Imaginations are stirred by exhibit of toys made by artists

Row Fish by John Morgan
Row Fish by John Morgan

— Look but don’t touch.

That’s a hard rule to follow when there are pull toys for yanking, handles for cranking and marbles for rolling.

The “Toys Designed by Artists” juried show, an annual event at the Arkansas Arts Center, can make adults feel like children.

But, except for a windup music box titled Freebird (“The Shadow of Your Smile”) by Little Rock resident Elizabeth Barenis, these toys are strictly hands-off.

“Toys are intended to be played with,” curator Brian Lang says. “So, an exhibition of this type is somewhat masochistic because, with the exception of this one piece, the visitors aren’t allowed to interact with the toys.”

photo

Octopus Skateboard by Douglas McKee

What they can do is look, admire and imagine.

Wouldn’t it be fun to take a ride on the wooden Octopus Skateboard made by Douglas McKee?

Or what would happen if you were to turn the crank on Cecilia Schiller’s The Beast? Would the alligator clamp its jaws shut on that tiny bird that’s trying to fly away?

photo

The Beast by Cecilia Schiller

Visitors of all ages can judge for themselves at the exhibition, now in its 38th year.

“I think there’s a popular appeal to toys,” Lang says.

“Who doesn’t like toys? Even as adults we enjoy playing with toys.”

It’s not the only long-running annual exhibit at the center these days. The 44th “Collectors Show & Sale,” which brings a taste of New York galleries to Little Rock, opened Nov. 30 and continues through Dec. 30. This year’s showcase includes works by artists Gaston Lachaise, Stefano della Bella, Edouard Buillard and Arthur Dove.

As for “Toys,” it’s a juried exhibition, meaning the pieces were selected from entries by a juror - this year, Washington glass artist Tim Tate.

A winner will be chosen from the 60 pieces, but as of this writing, Lang had not yet made his decision.

To enter, artists “have to be a practicing artist,” Lang says.

“These are toys designed by artists who aren’t traditionally known for making toys. But each of them is inspired by toys.”

There are no geographic restrictions. While 10 of the works are by Arkansans, the others are by artists from all over the world, as far away as South Korea and Germany. And some artists are repeat entrants.

Tate says, “The breadth and ability of so many artists to look at toys in perhaps a new way was astonishing.”

The theme may be “toys,” but there’s quite a bit of variety on display. When it comes to art, all toys aren’t created the same way.

Some are art works inspired by existing toys, such as Feats created by Janet Orselli from old bocce balls and roller skates.

Some are created with “repurposed” materials, like Writable Fortune, for which artist Elliot Lux took old CDs to create a simulation of the old paper fortuneteller game. Or there’s Push Car, two cars made by Bill Durovchic out of old Swingline staplers, which Lang calls “completely ingenious”: “The aerodynamics of the 1930s and ’40s is the perfect form to be repurposed into these push cars.”

On the completely original front, check out House Car by Brian Cowdery, an amazingly detailed model mobile home made out of steel.

“He completely handcrafted this,” Lang points out.

“If you could shine a light in there you could see the painstaking detail of the furnishings.”

Not all toys are cheery and happy. Some are downright creepy and this exhibit has its share.

One of the first pieces visitors see is The Flock by Little Rock resident Rachel Trusty, a collection of small linen creatures with very unhappy, Sharpie-drawn faces, looking something like a demonic daycare.

There’s also what Lang refers to as a “cabinet of grotesque toys” that’s now home to a Dirty Root Rattle by Wendy Malinow and Wooly by Amanda Coates, a rag doll with bulging eyes and a vicious underbite: “I don’t know what child might not be frightened by that rag doll.”

They’re joined by Manchild With Robot Arms by Ian Henderson and Danny White - a sculpted glass creature with robot arms and panda slippers.

Several artists were inspired to create some playful jewelry/ toy hybrids.

Playing With Myself (Dexterity Puzzle Ring) by North Little Rock native Myriam Saavedra looks like a big, tear shaped ring. But if you look closer, you’ll see that it’s also a game in which the wearer would try to manipulate a ball into a hole.

The Spring Loaded Cannon Ring by Patrick Walter functions like a child’s pea shooter.

Of course, you can’t actually play with these pieces, much as you may itch to try them out. But you can let your imagination run wild and let some of that playful, wistful quality of childhood take over for a little while.

For young ones who want to try their hand at being Santa’s elves and making playthings, the museum is offering a toy making workshop for children ages 6-9, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 20 and 21. The cost is $84 for arts center members, $105 for nonmembers.

As Tate says he discovered while serving as juror for the exhibit, “There are still children hidden inside each of us ... in particular myself.”

‘Toys Designed by Artists’

Arkansas Arts Center, East Ninth and Commerce streets, through Jan. 6

Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday

Admission: Free

(501) 372-4000

arkarts.com

Style, Pages 29 on 12/11/2012

Upcoming Events