Bax Bears World Tour

BEARS IN THE CITY!

Keep Six Contemporary and OSO Design House presents
Dates: March 28th to April 6th

Friday March 28th
Press reception 4-6pm, public reception 6-10pm
Music by DJ Nic Carlino

All events are free and child friendly

8″ Custom painted vinyl DIY Bax Bears. Featuring over 150 of Canada’s top artists and illustrators.

Artists include:
Fiona Smyth,
Erin Zimmerman,
Steve Wilson,
Aaron Leighton,
Clayton Hanme,r
Chris Hutsul,
 Leo,
Tomo,
Jon Todd,
Dennis Chow,
Matthew Daley,
Reyo, Luke Gustafson,
Leon Vymenets,
Dalton Sharp,
Robert Farmer,
Harvey Chan,
Yumi Onose,
Allan Ryan,
Yukiko Otsu,
Steve Manale, Charlene Chua, , Diana Mcnally, Joe Morse and more…

Location: Keep Six Contemporary: exhibition and project space (www.keep6c.com)
938 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Canada, M5R 3G5


Talking Series:
Sunday April 6th

4-5pm: ILLUSTRATION AND BEYOND
On the panel, Anne Koyama, Clayton Hanmer, Steve Wilson

This talk will focus on the perspective from the artists and their involvement with projects that challenge the creative thought and execution, from two dimensional to three dimensional. The artists will discuss how they started in the field of illustration and the direction it is going, from magazines to galleries. Also on the panel, Anne Koyama will give her perspective as a publisher and the importance of her contributions as a publisher.

Anne Koyama is a former film producer who started a new venture working with artists in 2007

Koyama published the book TRIO MAGNUS: Equally Superior, under the moniker Koyama Press, with local artists Clayton Hanmer, Aaron Leighton and Steve Wilson.

In addition to producing commercials, documentaries and feature films, Koyama also volunteered at the Aids Committee of Toronto and served on the board of directors of Art City in St. Jamestown for the past two years.

Koyama will continue contributing her time and efforts to inspire a new generation of artists.

Clayton Hanmer (aka CTON) has worked with many great clients over the years including The NY Times, Nickelodeon, National Geographic Kids, The Walrus, explore Magazine, The Globe & Mail, Wrigley's, The Progressive, and Mini Cooper. www.claytonhanmer.com
Steve Wilson Steve Wilson is a bio-writing specialist who draws, paints and designs in his spare time. He has drawn / painted / designed for such clients as MuchMusic, Nickelodeon, Reader's Digest, Playstation, Billy Talent, and Kelloggs but finds bio-writing more lucrative and fun. Ok? www.stevewilson.ca

5-6pm: HAPPY PLASTIC: IT’S FANTASTIC!
On the panel, Steve Cober, Kristin Weckworth, Derrick Hodgson

Steve and Kristen will talk about the philosophy of Magic Pony and its significant role in supporting contemporary culture through exhibitions. In the second part of the talk we will hear their opinions regarding the start and rise of vinyl toy culture. Artist Derrick Hodgson has played a significant role in this movement. His drawings have morphed into sculptures over the years. Hodgson will talk about the beginnings, from how he started in illustration to getting his characters produced as vinyl toys.

Magic Pony was created by Steve Cober and Kristin Weckworth in 2002. It began as a small circle, importing a rare selection of designer toys from Asia and selling it to a small group of collectors.



To date the gallery has exhibited both local and international artists, including Kozyndan, Gary Taxali, Team Macho, C'est Moi Ce Soir, Sonja Ahlers, Derrick Hodgson, Space 1026, Dalek, Nathan Jurevicius, Moira Hahn, Gary Baseman and many others. www.magic-pony.com

Derrick Hodgson’s drawings are renderings of complex social spaces crowded with familiar and mutated characters. Using aspects of cartoon, graffiti and contemporary design, Hodgson’s concept has quickly advanced him to the forefront of contemporary art and character design. Hodgson has exhibited his work in Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles, Milan and Melbourne. In addition to this he is the first Canadian artist to be recognized by Sony Creative in Japan where his character illustrations are transformed into 3-D art figures and sold in gatcha-gatcha machines across Japan. This quick rise to success led Hodgson to be a key speaker at the Berlin Pictoplasma conference in 2004. www.madreal.com


7pm
Film screening, “Toys are Us”
Executive Director, Brian Stillman

Toys Are Us: A Revolution in Plastic explores the creative, sophisticated, and oftentimes challenging world of designer vinyl toys through the eyes of the designers and collectors who help create it. The film features interviews with such artists as Frank Kozik, Patrick Ma (Rocketworld, IWG), Tara McPherson, Kano (Moneygrip), Erick Scarecrow (ESC Toy, Liberty), Mark Nagata (Max Toy Co., Captain Maxx), Brian Flynn (Super 7), Mars-1, Jermaine Rogers, J Neth and more, as well as collectors and fans. The DVD also includes additional interview footage with Mars-1, Patrick Ma, Brian Flynn, and Frank Kozik—who also takes viewers on a tour of his personal toy collection! High energy and fast paced, Toys Are Us is a celebration of new forms of artistic expression, DIY culture, and, of course, toys!

Toys Are Us was filmed on location at the artists' and collectors' homes and studios, various toy stores, and Comic Con International 2006, and features a soundtrack with music by Mindless Self Indulgence, Longway, Brian McCarty, Stick Shift, and I, Synthesist.

8-10pm
Reception: Artists will be present

For further details about any of the participants please contact: ask@keep6c.com
or call 647 436 6594

Links:
www.keep6c.com

www.blog.baxbear.com

www.baxbear.com
www.magic-pony.com
www.jasonpultz.com
Facebook Event page:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=11076440473
Facebook Bax Group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=11186480862