The American Diorama
Miniature New York City – NY Lotto Commercial Shoot
Monday, March 29th, 2010 | Pop Culture Notions, The American Diorama, Tonky Graphic Design | No Comments
Have a gander at some pics from a set for a New York Lotto commercial for which I performed some design work.
Shown above is the spot’s NYC based production designer Julian Laverdiere towering in front of the Met Life Building and Grand Central Station.
I aided Julian in the creation of various generic and landmark buildings. My role was to run around to photograph various NYC sites and to grind away in Photoshop to create large-scale printable facades that would be assembled and detailed by Brooklyn Model Works.
The experience was so compelling that I bought a Mega Million ticket and …. LOST
Enjoy.
-Tonky
CREDITS:
Director- NE-O
Production Designer: Julian Laverdiere
Production Co.- SKUNK
Agency- DDB
-Tonky
The American Diorama – Original Panel
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009 | Contemporary Art, The American Diorama, Tonky Limited Editions | No Comments
This is one of the more labor intensive works I’ve made recently.
The title: The American Diorama refers to my ongoing thought experiment imagining this country a million years in the future.
Whether or not we are around still, I like to imagine what the dioramas depicting the USA will look like in the museums of a colonizing civilization of extraterrestrials.
This panel is made of birch and the medium is primarily acrylic paint layered and resisted. With some added collage elements.
-Tonky
If interested, For sale on Etsy HERE
Tonky Art Show – Gimme Coffee Brooklyn
Tuesday, August 4th, 2009 | The American Diorama, Tonky Graphic Design, Tonky Limited Editions | No Comments
Woo Woo!
I’ve hung some new work at Gimme Coffee in Brooklyn and hoping you’ll find some time to see it in person.
The piece above is titled The American Diorama and features a new development in my work. I’ve been using plotter cut vinyl as a resist to build up multiple layers of acrylic paint. The color effect is lucid and shimmery. You need to see it in person!
Gimme Coffee makes the best cappuccino in the world. They make it on the wet side and the foam is partially integrated into the liquid rather than just sitting stupidly on top. When you visit, order it to stay in a pre-heated ceramic cup and get your art on.
L train to Lorimer / G to Metropolitcan – EASY!
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-Tonky
Taxidermied Squirrel Diorama
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009 | Pop Culture Notions, The American Diorama | No Comments
My fellow woodland creatures,
Check out this scene from the American Diorama. While vacationing in Wisconsin my friend Susan Schmidt snapped this photo of an anthropomorphized taxidermied squirrel diorama at a bar called The Dirty Turtle.
Susan writes:
It was beyond incredible. This Squirrel work of artistic genuis is located at a little place called the Dirty Turtle in New Lisbon, WI.
Things to spot:
1. The Men’s bathroom
2. Women’s underwear hanging off the mirror
Also here are some worthwhile photos from the bar’s website. Polar Bear Swims ( Turtle Dunk ), Foam Parties, and fiberglass turtle statue.
Tonky Exhibition: The American Diorama
Tuesday, July 7th, 2009 | Contemporary Art, The American Diorama, Tonky Graphic Design | No Comments
Please pay a visit to the Tea Lounge in Brooklyn, NY to see my recent show The American Diorama. An alternate title could be Advetures in Laptopville. Dang do people love that free internet. Have a gander, drink a well-crafted beverage, and buy some art!
July 3 – August 3
837 Union St
Brooklyn, NY 11215-1308
(718) 789-2762
-Tonky
Visit Tonky’s Studio [ May 30 & 31, 2009 ]
Thursday, May 28th, 2009 | The American Diorama, Tonky Graphic Design, Tonky Limited Editions | No Comments
WHY Visit Tonky’s Studio this weekend?
1) 100’s of Brooklyn Artists Open Their Doors: Redhook / Carrol Gardens Open Studio Tour
2 ) Great Deals on Tonky Wall Stickers and New Original Art Objects
3) Minutes from Redhook IKEA – Go eat SWEDISH MEATBALLS and buy adequately constructed furnishings
4) FREE BEER
WHERE: Tonky World Headquarters @ Screwball Spaces | 183 Lorraine Street | 3rd Floor | Studio #12
WHEN: Sat. May 30 & Sun May 31 | 12-6 PM
SUBWAY: F or G to Smith & 9th
GOOGLE MAPS CLICK HERE
TONKY’s Octopus T-shirts – ONLY $15 (reg.$26) – This weekend only
Available for Lads and Lassies ( s , m , l , xl )
New Ink Splatter Mural in Group Show at Screwball Spaces Gallery
The American Diorama – Yale Peabody Museum – New Haven, CT
Thursday, March 26th, 2009 | The American Diorama | No Comments
Check out these pics from amazing & beautiful YALE Peabody Museum in New Haven, CT.
The museum is operated by Yale University and the Natural History exhibits and dioramas can serve as a looking glass into the history of the ivy league institution and the nature of power in the United States in general.
Simply put, it was the rich, powerful WASPs that could afford to depart on Indian Jones style safaris, traveling the world and pillaging it’s riches and collecting exotic species on display at the Peabody Museum. Of course its a double edge sword because we owe our modern “civilized” society to the scientific innovation that resulted from this aggressive knowledge gathering.
Yale University owes its name to Elihu Yale, the school’s first benefactor. Elihu worked with East India Company and amassed a fortune through illegal profiteering in colonial India. Evidently Elihu made a lot of money in the trade of precious gems and much of his collection of rare specimens are on display at the Peabody Museum’s hall of minerals. It seems to me that Yale University was founded on the 17th Century equivalent of blood diamonds.
-Tonky
