I'll be posting 10 Questions with... a number of artists who are taking part in the Aim, Destroy, Transform: Play for Change Toy Show , presented by Medialia Gallery & The Ethyr and taking place November 4-25 2017 in NYC.
1. Where are you originally from?
I was born and raised in Queens, New York.
2. Who is your favorite artist (any artist, any medium)?
I dabble in a variety of media because I like experimentation in creativity. Recently, I've gotten back into sculpting and learned how to make silicone molds to cast resin copies. On the regular, my favorite tools of the trade are bristol papers/ cardstock, oil color pencils, premium inks and Copic markers as I often use these in my comic work.
3. What was your favorite toy line as a child?
When I was younger, I didn't really have a favorite toy line, but I did have an eye for well made figurines of my favorite characters.
4. What's your most prized collectible?
I love the manga Soul Eater, so my prized possession is Square Enix's remake of their Maka and Soul static arts figure.
5. What was the last film you watched?
The last film I've watched is Wolf Children. I'm an animation nerd.
6. Do you unbox and display or keep MIB (mint in box)?
Theres not much space to inbox every figure I have for display, so I usually keep them MIB.
7. What was the last book you read?
The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Album. It's and enchanting story about the history of music that keeps you at the edge of your seat.
8. Star Trek or Star Wars?
Star Wars because I was familiar with it first.
9. What motto/creed do you try to live by?
I stand at the door of my own cave mere inches away from where I once thrived willing myself to have courage- because to stand in the brightness of day at the risk of showing my scars, is better than becoming a beautiful image in an ugly place.
10. What was the inspiration behind the piece that you produced for the Aim, Destroy, Transform: Play for Change toy show?
I am a very picky cartoon watcher. Lately, I've seen a instant craze surround this new Anime called "My Hero Academia." The kids I work with at my school are aware of this show/manga and find deep value and inspiration in the characters motives to use the powers they were born with for the purpose of helping others. I gave it a watch and loved the instant theme of self-introspection I was hit with. There is a saying in Japan on Children's Day, "that a karp who swims upstream against the current will one day become a dragon." The characters' growth of courage in the series are tracked since they were 4 years old. I decided to depict some of my favorite MHA characters as dragons in these resin sculptures. The characters show the most intense want to destroy preconceived notions of people with powers (or "quirks") in their world to prove they have what it takes to be a useful force for good and not destruction.
