Current and Upcoming Events!

Stitched has come and gone and I just want to again thank everyone that participated, joined us at the opening and for those that visited the virtual show from afar! 

Photo by http://johnwickerphotography.com

I am Currently participating in a few shows that have recently opened! 

The first is Supah Mash-up Art Party at Leanna Lin's Wonderland in CA: May 11th - July 14th

For this show I paired up with the one and only Steff Bomb to create a three piece series...an ode (al a mode) to Pie!  Pieces are available for view and purchase here: Leanna Lin's

A show that also opened May 11th was Play, curated by Julie West for Dragatomi:

"Flying Squirrel" is a soft sculpture on an Vintage pull toy. You can see him in person at the gallery until June 1st! He is online as well over at: Dragatomi

Coming up Next:

Uglycon at Giant Robot! Opening June 15th and The 3rd Annual Tiny Trifecta at 

The Cotton Candy Machine

Work in Progress photos over on my Instagram, Facebook & Tumblr

Stitched

Greetings! It feels like it has been forever since I have updated this feed. And it kind of has been. Not for lack of projects but probably because I am super busy. Over the next few months I will be releasing and participating in a number of things. 

 I will be posting more updates in the beginning of April but for right now here is my big news...I am proud to announce that I have been working as a guest curator for Clutter Magazine's Gallery for a show called Stitched. This is a Soft Sculpture / Plush group show, featuring over 35 artists, opening April 13th! Featuring: Amanda Louise Spayd, Careful It Bites, Carisa Swenson, Cat Rabbit, Dena Rea, Denise Ferguson~Yummy Pancake, Diane Koss, Eric Diaz, Hine Mizushima, House of Darkly, Jezebel Nekranea, Jordan Elise Perme, Joshua Ben Longo, Keely Benkey-Reichman, Kelly Denato, Kit Lane, Leeanna Butcher, Lety RZ, Love & a Sandwich, Mariangela Tan ~plushPLAY, Melissa Sue Stanley, Melita Curphy~ Miss Monster, Michal Wright-Ward, Moons Creations, Nonesuch Garden, Pock-It Palz, Rachel de Urioste, Robyn Fabsits, Shawnimals, Steff Bomb, Steph Laberis, Stitches and Glue, Travis Lampe, Veggiesomething & Zoë Williams

I am very excited to be traveling to NY to install and attend the exhibit. If you are in the area please feel free to stop by and say hello. If you are not, but would like to see the show, please feel free to join Clutter's preview list: http://www.cluttermagazine.com/shop/gallery The show will also be viewable online after the exhibit opening for all of those not on the preview.

I'm Gramin!

Up until now directing people to my Instagram on the computer was somewhat ineffective. Since I only ever operated it on my smart(isn) phone, thats where the interaction stayed. Now, there are web profiles you can view on the ole computing device!

I tend to post at least once a day, chronicling my various adventures, life in the studio, WIP shots (that I sometimes share with my Tumblr and Facebook artist page) and a lot of images you wont find here. You can follow me at http://instagram.com/lanacrooks - @lanacrooks 

Fall Shows

Please forgive my being woefully behind on the post-front. I was on a magical journey, from art retreat in MA, to Visiting PA and finally landing at the NYCC! Hopefully more on that once I have caught up with all these delightful events:

Now until November 4th and online for view here until further notice:
Bewitching 2 @ Stranger Factory
Vintage Halloween inspired group exhibit. I contributed 3 spooky mounted sculptures to this event.

November 3rd

Designer Con - Pasadena, CA

Collab with Martin Hsu -Crabby Bear plush Release! info@martinhsu.com

November 9th - Was pushed back Due to Hurricane Sandy - 
A percentage of all sales to be donated to the recovery fund!
ScaryGirl 10th Anniversary Exhibit @ Toy Tokyo NYC 

Group Exhibit - re-imagining the wonderful world of ScaryGirl by Nathan Jurevicius. I contributed 2 freestanding sculptural works with custom shelving. Stay Tuned as I will post info about the re-opening as I hear.

November 10th
Día de los Muertos @ Clutter NY

Clutter Magazine proudly announces the very first group exhibition in our Beacon, NY location! For this inaugural Designer Toy show outing, we are partnering with Brutherford Industries to curate a show using the "Ice Scream Man" platform with a Día de los Muertos theme.

November 10th

Bad A** II: Fabrics Arts Group Show @ FOE Gallery, MA

Explore how 14 different fabric artists shape their own interests and aesthetics into works of art.

PAWS 2012

The End of Summer Sale and PAWS fundraising effort is currently in full swing and I have added some new and archived works into the mix! Please check out my shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/plushinator, share with friends, help me spread the word and help a homeless pet find a home (My darling fuzzy, Tanuki is a PAWS Alumni too)!

For all the sales made in my shop I will be donating to PAWS Chicago! You can get a sweet 20% discount off the work as well with coupon code PAWS20and I will donate 20% to the charity. If you prefer to not use the discount I will donate the full 40% in your name! And if you would like to donate directly and help with the fundraising please feel free here! The Sale is set to end Sept 20th when I will be turning in my funds!

And, on September 23rd I will be running the Run for Their Lives 8k for PAWS Chicago (A no kill shelter for homeless cats and dogs)… I completed this race last year with a total donation amount of $1,125 (Thank you to all who donated and participated in my sale last year, it was amazing fuel for the race)! This year I have joined Team Paws as an alumni runner. I have been training and have had an uphill battle ahead of me as I am recovering from knee surgery. But I am determined (if not totally stubborn) and will finish the race…even if its dead last!

Septenary & Adventure Time!

Two weeks ago we opened Septenary at OhNo!Doom Gallery, my second curated sculpture exhibit at this space. The opening was awesome, almost all the artists were present and we have heard lots of great feedback (to which we are super grateful)!

Melissa Sue Stanley, Jake Waldron, Amanda Louise Spayd, Myself, Miss Monster

The exhibit runs through August 4th, so there is still plenty of time to check out the show if you missed the opening extravaganza! If you are not in chicago, this could prove difficult... good thing we have an online gallery: http://shop.ohnodoom.com/collections/septenary

My contribution to the artistic portion of this exhibit include:

Still Life
A small cut felt study, about 5" on wood

Blodeuwedd (The White Lady)
My fair lady-barn owl inspired by a
Celtic Owl myth. About 13" tall
Hand sewn and feathered, accompanied
by sewn thistles on wall mounted board

Acorn Jack
Jack Rabbit and keeper of the
corduroy acorns. About 14" tall
Hand sewn on wood plaque

I had a great time creating these pieces.. The owl proved to be one of the more difficult ventures with all the feathering I had to do to get the right look. I will be posting work in progress sets for each piece on my Tumblr too for detailed shots and a more in-depth look at what it takes to make these critters: http://lanacrooks.tumblr.com/

And..... coming up quickly is the Adventure Time Tribute Exhibit @ OhNo!Doom Gallery! Opening August 11th... its going to be quite the art show, judging by the pieces I have seen coming in. 

I'm also very excited to produce my (hopefully) life size Jake and Bat sized Marceline. Here are a few sketches.. not sure what pose Jake will be in just yet...

Next Up!

I just wanted to take a moment and thank everyone that nominated me for the 2012 Designer Toy Awards! It is amazing to see my work has so much support and I can not believe how many nominations were cast for me. I may or may not make it to the short list or even win but I am super grateful!

2012 Nominations:

- Break Through Artist of The Year

- Best Self Produced - Puffer Puss Plush with Martin Hsu

- Best Self Produced - War

- Best Collab - The Duchess with Amanda Louise Spayd

- Best Collab - Puffer Puss Plush with Martin Hsu

- Best Plush Design - Coralmari 

- Best Plush Design - War

- Best Plush Design - Puffer Puss Plush with Martin Hsu

- Best Plush Design - The Captian

In addition, I have a couple shows coming up in the next two months! So what are they?

Well...

June 30th: Bear and Bird Gallery (Located inside TATES in South FL)

Sew Nerdy: Group show

June 30 - August 11

My Contribution to the show is The Robot Devil from Futurama!

July 7th: OhNo!Doom Gallery, Chicago

Septenary: A Selection of Seven Sculptors

Lana Crooks, Miss Monster, Chris Ryniak, J.Shea, Amanda Louise Spayd, Melissa Sue Stanley & Jake Waldron!

I have the honor of not only being in the show but curating it as well.

Opens July 7th - August 4th

July 7th: The Cotton Candy Machine, NY

Tiny Trifecta: Curated by Tara McPherson

Each artist was asked to create 3 tiny pieces, each retailing for $100. This is my second time doing this show and I am grateful to be a part of it. Below are my three wee arts...

August 11th: OhNo!Doom Gallery, Chicago

The Adventure Time Group Show!

Stay tuned...