SYNOPSIS

Plush is a unique facet of the burgeoning designer toy arena, in that virtually any interested artist or designer can turn a character design on paper into a tangible form with just a needle, thread, stuffing and fabric. No epoxy resins, molds, manufacturing facilities or otherwise are needed.

Plush is also soft and special, and reminds us of a carefree time in our lives when our career was imagining, and a simple creature could provide the security we needed when lightening flashed and thunderstorms raged above. For these reasons and many others, we trust in plush.

This exhibition curated by Shawnimal Smith and Rotofugi brings 25 similar and not-so-similar plush artists together to display the plush-based by-product of a set material list and simple instructions. Each artist included in this group exhibition was sent a package consisting of the same supplies.

In addition to the materials provided, artists are also allowed one optional material which they can choose. Also allowed will be any plastic or glass eyes or similar items that are hallmarks of the artist. The goal is for each artist to use the supplies provided (plus the optional one) to make one or more piece within the realm of plush, and then put it on display with the other pieces to see just how varied they can be, even though the base materials were essentially the same.

copyright © 2005 shawn smith / shawnimals & rotofugi