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Toyetic
Exhibition Dates: January 12, 2018 through April 1, 2018
Opening Reception: January 12, 2018 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Late Night at the Library: February 9, 2018 from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM at the Manhattan Beach Library, 1320 Highland Avenue, Manhattan Beach

Toyetic is an exhibition focusing on artworks inspired and informed by the toy industry. The exhibition will include the work of emerging artist Chuck Hohng, who explores the issues of life, home and gender roles through the medium of traditional children’s toys, and industry giant John T. Quinn, the Director of Character Art for Disney Consumer Products, whose art drives the look, direction and essence of today’s largest toy and character producer: the Walt Disney Company.

Meet Chuck Hohng
Hohng's life has revolved around art and has pursued a higher education in the arts, earning a B.A. in Fine Arts and Studio Arts from the University of Southern California (USC) in 2010 and a Master of Fine Arts from Art Center College of Design in 2014. He has exhibited in several exhibitions throughout the Los Angeles area and South Korea. Chuck Hohng's art consists of various mediums including printmaking, soft-sculpture, and video. In this exhibition specifically, Hohng showcases a series of bears that resemble children's teddy bears. Evidently, Hohng's work is highly influenced by the toy industry. The message Hohng conveys in his work includes the themes of life, familial issues, and gender roles.

Meet John Quinn
From an early age John Quinn dreamed of working as an artist for The Walt Disney Company and, after graduating from the School of Visual Arts in New York City, that dream came true. John began as an intern in the Character Art department of Disney Consumer Products and very quickly established himself as a creative force within the organization. Quinn's talent led him to progression within his career leading him to his current position as the Director and Artist of Character for Disney Consumer Products. He is an experienced Art Director with a demonstrated history of working in the consumer goods industry. Quinn's vital role with Disney includes driving the look, direction, and essence of Disney's products. From sketch to retail shelf, Quinn bridges gaps between Disney character and global trends.

Meet Ross Bonfanti
Ross Bonfanti, a graduate of Ontario College of Art and Design, uses discarded stuffed toys and local thrift shops finds, to manipulate childhood objects to produce unique sculptures and mixed media works with concrete as a central medium. Each piece becomes an original, produced from a mass-produced object. Bonfanti links his own lifelong emotional experiences to his work while exploring themes commenting on commodity fetishism in our capitalist economy and the disposableness of consumer pop culture. By juxtaposing these materials he creates an arresting tension between the expectation of softness and the reality of hardness, between the fleeting and the permanent, between the memories of childhood and the stresses of adulthood. They are touched with both humour and pathos.

Late Night at the Library: Art, Drinks, and Discussion
February 9, 2018 from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM at the
Manhattan Beach Library, 1320 Highland Avenue, Manhattan Beach

Chuck Hohng speaks about the meaning behind his signature bears featured in his exhibition, “Toyetic” on display at the Manhattan Beach Art Center and Manhattan Beach Library. Light refreshments and wine provided by Critic's Choice Catering.

This event is free to the public.

Thank you to our sponsors:

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