Archive | Designer Con

Photos: Designer Con 2016


Here’s some photos snapped via iPhone 7+ on Sunday, November 20, day two of Designer Con 2016. It was a fantastic event, and we’re looking forward to Designer Con 2017!

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11/19-20: Designer Con 2016 – More Space, More Fun!


Designer Con 2016!

Designer Con 2016

Designer Con 2016
November 19-20th, 2016
Nov. 19 (Saturday) : 9 am – 6 pm
Nov. 20 (Sunday) : 10 am – 5 pm

Location
Pasadena Convention Center – Exhibit Hall
300 East Green Street
Pasadena, CA 91101

www.designercon.com

Entering its’ second decade, Designer Con returns with a BANG in 2016, adding 20,00 sq ft of space and an additional venue! Among this year’s event plans, DCon is working with Adventures in Design to MC special panels, presenting an art show exhibit with 1000 toys from Japan, and teaming up with Crewest Studios for a Saturday night party! Last year, Designer Con geared up its’ time machine for a slight diversion to the ’80s. This year, the event’s soft theme will be the 90s! And, that’s not all — Designer Con 2016 has, even more surprises to be announced, so stay tuned. Be sure to pen November 19-20 in your calendar!

Designer Con LogoDesigner Con Growth
Designer Con began in 2005 and took place in a 1100 square foot room at the Pasadena Civic Center. Each year the show grew in attendance, vendors, attractions, and space to hold it all; from 1100 sq ft, to 3000 sq ft, to 10000 sq ft, to 25000 sq ft and this year, to a whopping 100,000 sq ft of art, toys, customs, apparel and more!

The 2005 show featured 10 vendors. In 2016, Designer Con will host nearly 400 amazing companies and artists! This year the show is, for the first time, adding a venue. The Rose, which is across the street from the Pasadena Convention Center, will host panels with special guests, as well as the official Designer Con Saturday night party!

Need more info, images, interview opportunities, media credentials? Contact me via the contact form on this website.

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Paul Kaiju – Designer Con 2015 Nov 21-22 – Booth 533 with Splurrt

Kaiju


Looking forward to seeing everyone out in beautiful Pasadena! At Designer Con 2015, Paul Kaiju will be sharing booth 533 with Splurrt. All figures at the booth will be available by random drawing, just like last year!

Saturday and Sunday’s offerings will be on display throughout Designer Con, so come early to check out all the pieces and pick out your favorites.

Follow Paulkaiju and SPLURRT on IG for sneak peeks!

Booth 533 Schedule
Saturday November 21st:

9:00am: Free tickets available for Saturday Drawings
12:00pm: Paulkaiju Random Drawing
3:00pm: Splurrt Random Drawing (Saturday only!)
Sunday November 22nd:

10:00am: Free tickets available for Sunday Drawings
12:00pm: Paulkaiju Random Drawing

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Designer Con 2015 This Weekend! Event Updates…



Designer Con 2015 happens This Weekend!
www.designercon.com

dcon2015_front_big

Nov. 21, 2015 (Saturday) : 9 am – 6 pm
Nov. 22, 2015 (Sunday) : 10 am – 5 pm

Pasadena Convention Center – Exhibit Hall
300 East Green Street
Pasadena, CA 91101

Paid parking is available at the Pasadena Convention Center and several surrounding parking lots including Paseo Colorado directly across from the convention center.

Click here for $5 online tickets. Ticket prices at the door are $7 per day.

About Designer Con

Designer Con is an annual art and design convention that smashes together collectible toys and designer goods with urban, underground and pop art! DCon is over 70,000 sq. ft. and features over 300 vendors, art & custom shows, live demonstrations, and much more! The show coordinators, Ayleen Gaspar & Ben Goretsky, strive to provide a fun, safe, comfortable environment for fans, artists, and vendors to meet. Join us every November at the Pasadena Convention Center for a weekend of fun, toys, and art!

Click Event Links for Updated Info!

Designer Con 2015 Vendor List and Map
Designer Con 2015 Event List
Designer Con 2015 Exclusives

Back to the Future Art Show

For the first time ever, the private collection of Ben Goretsky’s Back to the Future art will be on display at Designer Con. Over 250 pieces of art all related to the timeless classic trilogy.

Ties into Designer Con 2015’s theme of Back to the 80’s the Back to the Future art show will display a majority of the private collection. Art from around the world focused on the movie will be on display in place for fans to see.

Art forms from all mediums will be on display. Canvas, print, sculptors, designer plush… all focused around the movie.

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Designer Con 2015 Annual Art & Design Con Nov 21-22 Pasadena!


Designer Con is an annual art and design convention that smashes together collectible toys and designer apparel with urban, underground and pop art!

DCon2015dates-940x360

Nov. 21, 2015 (Saturday) : 9 am – 6 pm
Nov. 22, 2015 (Sunday) : 10 am – 5 pm

Pasadena Convention Center – Exhibit Hall
Exhibit Hall
300 East Green Street
Pasadena, CA 91101
www.designercon.com

Designer Con Facebook

Designer Con Twitter
Designer Con Flickr

Paid parking is available at the Pasadena Convention Center and several surrounding parking lots including Paseo Colorado directly across from the convention center (parking map).

Hotels:
We are proud to announce that we have again partnered with the Hilton Pasadena as the official Designer Con 2015 hotel! More info on rooms will be available closer to the show, so please check back here!

Hilton Pasadena
168 South Los Robles Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 577-1000
2 blocks from convention center

There are also several other hotels near the convention center including:
Sheraton Pasadena
The Westin Pasadena
Pasadena Inn
Courtyard Los Angeles Pasadena/Old Town

DESIGNER CON 2015 VENDOR LIST IS NOW UP!
All your favorite artists and brands in one room!
www.designercon.com/vendor-list

  • Over 300 vendors and artists!
  • Art shows!
  • Show exclusive items!
  • Panels and presentations!
  • More fun and surprises!

DesignerConCrew

Designer Con is an annual art and design convention that smashes together collectible toys and designer goods with urban, underground and pop art! DCon is over 70,000 sq. ft. and features over 300 vendors, art & custom shows, live demonstrations, and much more! The show coordinators, Ayleen Gaspar & Ben Goretsky, strive to provide a fun, safe, comfortable environment for fans, artists, and vendors to meet. Join us every November at the Pasadena Convention Center for a weekend of fun, toys, and art!

Desinger Con is all about having fun and meeting all your favorite artists, designers, manufacturers, and vendors! Designer Con was founded in 2006 under the name Vinyl Toy Network. The show was created to bring together artists, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers in the vinyl toy/collectible figures market. The first show was in an 1,100 sq. ft. meeting room at the Pasadena Convention Center and has now grown into over 70,000 sq. ft. with over 300 vendors, art & custom shows, live demonstrations, and much more. Designer Con now incorporates everything in the world of design including apparel, plush, printing, sculpture, designer toys, and art ranging from fine to urban. The show was founded and still run by companies who are also vendors which is why we strive to provide a fun, safe, comfortable environment for fans, artists, and vendors to meet! We look forward even bigger and better shows every year through the continued support of our amazing vendors and attendees. Without you, this show would not be possible, so from all of us at Designer Con, thank you

Show Coordinators:

Ayleen Gaspar

AyleenHaving collected toys for as long as she can remember, Ayleen has a soft spot for Ewoks, horror movie figures, and Batman. A lifelong Lego maniac and plush aficionado, Ayleen’s toy addiction started as early as she can remember with classic 80s toy lines like He-Man, The Real Ghostbusters, G.I. Joe, TMNT, Cabbage Patch Kids, and My Little Pony. From there her obsession grew to include Monster In My Pocket, McFarlane action figures, and a plethora of designer vinyl. When not coordinating Designer Con, Ayleen spends her time making toys as co-owner of October Toys, producing/hosting Toy Break, and visiting Disneyland frequently.

Twitter: @AyleenGaspar
Instagram : AyleenGaspar

Ben Goretsky

benBen is a toy producer and art aficionado. He owns and operates 3DRetro, coordinates the annual toy/art convention Designer Con, and publishes the L.A. lifestyle magazine Divulge. When not making toys or buying art, you can find him watching Back To The Future and noshing at his favorite food trucks.

Twitter : @3DRetro
Instagra
m : 3DRetro

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Designer Con 2014 Wrap Up and 2015 News

 


DConTHANK YOU FOR MAKING DESIGNER CON 2014  A SMASHING SUCCESS!

This year, Designer Con topped all previous efforts with 330 vendors,  73,000 square feet of toys and art, and over 7,000 attendees!


 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! DESIGNER CON 2015 DATES SET FOR NOVEMBER 21 AND 22!
at the Pasadena Convention Center, Exhibit Hall.
STAY TUNED FOR DESIGNER CON 2015 INFORMATION!

Designer Con 2014 photos by Reverberations Media:
Setup
Saturday Nov. 8
Sunday Nov. 9

Select Designer Con 2014 Press
LA Magazine Guide Editors Pick (also in print Nov. 2014 issue)
Vinyl Pulse (numerous posts)
Time Out Los Angeles – Things to do
Things to do in LA
AXS.com Cool and Unique art and photography events in LA
Comics Beat – “Designer Con Tells a Toy Story All Its Own”
CultureShock Art
LAIST
The Los Angeles Beat
Macaroni Kid
Pasadena Weekly

Pasadena Star News – Top 10 Things to Do
Fused Society “The toy industry is FULL of amazing cultural fusions @ Designer Con 2014”
Toys R Evil Blogspot
Numerous posts on Action Figure Times
The Brick Fan
Nerd City Online Guide to Designer Con 2014
Rise Up Daily –  “Depression and Art Panel at Designer Con 2014
LA Weekly Slideshow

 


DESIGNER CON 2014 VENDOR AND ARTIST QUOTES

Designer Con is where imagination and art overwhelm your inner child!
-Aaron Childs

Love the show!! SO many talented artists and toy makers- I really enjoyed being a part of it. I do 30-40 shows a year and really look forward to this one because of the environment; non commercial, artist focused, and tightly run- easily one of our best shows. I can see why the attendees come back year after year- I know I will.
– Kris Kehasukjaren (Minion ME!)

Unlike most conventions where many vendors and exhibitors have basically the same stuff, each and every booth at Designer Con is unique. Ever aisle offers something new and exciting and you’re guaranteed to find something you never realized you had to have.
– Jeremy Sung, Spy Monkey Creations Inc.

There is no show like Designer Con! I’ve never seen so much variety of talent in one convention and attendees definitely appreciate this. DCon is also one of the most wonderfully managed shows I have ever sold at. This is definitely one I will be adding to my circuit.
– Emily Coleman / EmilySculpts.com

Absolutely love this show, we need more like it. The cross over between graphic illustration and hand made design is a brilliant idea that fills a much needed void in the pop culture convention world.
– Justin (Jusscope Press/ Sugar Addict Creations)

If you are an artist or company in the designer toy scene or pop-art world, then you NEED to make the trip to Designer Con to show your products and art. It’s a very well run event and THE place to be to showcase what you do to the most fans of toys and art possible. It’s an affordable event and tons of fun. I’ve networked with many talented people and made a lot of friends while doing so!
– Sean Sanford (Galactic Jerkbags)

Designer Con is seriously at the top of my list now. I loved that the focus is on original designs and art, not fan art and costumes. It’s not crazy crowded, the people are super laid back and friendly, and it’s just a nice experience all around. I came home with a bunch of new art and tons of new inspiration, I can’t wait to go back next year!
– Jeannine Schafer (The Neenerbot Shop)

One of the greatest events ever. The landscape is changing but the event is something that is inspiring and will ultimately help everyone. This convention addresses all our needs from feedback, inspiration, market testing, and plain old friendships.
– Giant Robot

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11/8-9: Designer Con 2014 Events Schedule


DesingerCon2014


Designer Con 2014 Events!


Designer Con

November 8-9, 2014
Show Hours
Saturday 9 am – 6 pm

Sunday 10 am – 5 pm

Location
Pasadena Convention Center – Exhibit Hall
300 East Green Street

Pasadena, CA 91101

Parking

Paid parking is available at the Pasadena Convention Center and several surrounding parking lots including Paseo Colorado directly across from the convention center.


 
Designer Con is an annual art and design convention that smashes together collectible toys anddesigner goods with urban, underground and pop art! DCon is over 70,000 sq. ft. and features over 300 vendors, art & custom shows, live demonstrations, and much more! The show coordinators, Ayleen Gaspar & Ben Goretsky, strive to provide a fun, safe, comfortable environment for fans, artists, and vendors to meet. Join us in November at the Pasadena Convention Center for a weekend of fun, toys, and art!
To see the full list of participating artists and vendors, click here
To see previous event press click here
To see Designer Con 2013 highlights – photos, etc. click here

Saturday
10 am – 11 am
Starting With A Bang Through Crowdfunding
With Franco Te (co-founder of Tee No Evil) and Francis Te (designer and co-founder of Tee No Evil). Learn how to present your passion project through crowdfunding sites such as Kickstarter and IndiGogo. The panelists will discuss what it takes to make your project successful from beginning to end. This includes making the video, getting publicity and shipping your final product. (Stage)11 am – 12 pm Action Figure Customizing: Art, Invention and Obsession
With Jeremy Sung of Spy Monkey Creations. (Stage)

12 pm – 1 pm Developing Creator Owned Properties with Goddard Film Group
Roger Lay Jr. and Eric Carnagey of Goddard Film Group discuss the return of Skeleton Warriors and Captain Power. (Stage)

12 pm – 1 pm Signing – Chris Ryniak & Amanda Spayd (Circus Posterus 700)

1 pm – 2 pm Depression In The Arts: A Character Study
Join Las Vegas-based artists Juan Muniz & Ryan Brunty as they talk about the impact depression has on their artwork and the industry as a whole. With mental health in the headlines, it’s an apt time to speak about on an oft-not talked about issue. Moderated by Las Vegas Arts Commissioner & Zappos.com Art Curator, Brian “Paco” Alvarez. (Stage)

1 pm – 2 pm Signing – Kathie Olivas & Brandt Peters (Circus Posterus 700)

2 pm – 2:30 pm World’s Biggest Blindbox Time with Toy Break
Bring a blindboxed figure (any blindbox!) and join the Toy Break crew as they try to set the record for more blindboxes opened at the same time! (Stage)

2 pm – 3 pm Signing – Shing Yin khor & Tim Lee (Circus Posterus 700)

3 pm – 4 pm Reynolds / Smooth-On Demonstration
Join Brooke Wheeler for a demonstration with Smooth-On mold making and casting products. (Stage)

3 pm – 4 pm Instinct Toys Exclusive Crayon Mucky release (Circus Posterus 700)

4 pm – 5 pm Custom Resin Figures: Art or Theft?
A dialogue between artists, collectors and the art toy community
Jeff Rawson (Galacticjerkbags.com), The Sucklord (Suckadelic), David Healey (Healeymade), Scott Wilkowski (Waxbean Studios), Peter Goral (Killer Bootlegs), Dov Kelemer (DKE Toys) and Sean Sanford (Galacticjerkbags.com)

Perhaps you’ve seen that hot pink stormtrooper toy with the suspiciously large crotch, or those crystal clear casts of iconic toys with gnarled bone white skeletons inside. Have you wondered why someone would make a sparkly snow white esque witch and then replaced her hands with additional heads, like some sort of human Hydra? You may not even care that Frankenstein and Boba Fett would never co-exist, but a figure of the two combined sounds like a killer idea to you. Sound like you? Great, then come to this panel. A discussion of the merits and demerits of using pre-existing figure parts to make new creations as well as a look at where the scene began and where it may go. (Stage)

4 pm – 5 pm Signing – Stan Manoukian & Brandan Styles (Circus Posterus 700)

All Day DKE Toys 6th Annual Graveyard & Garage Sale
Come shop in this lot of missing box, broken piece, smudged, fudged, no arms, vinyl and designer toys all at Crazy Eddie discount prices – proceeds go to many local charities. Also visit the DKE Garage Sale with all kinds of action figures, new and loose from Star Wars, Transformers, GI Joe, Power Rangers and more. Dig through books, magazines, posters and other fun knick-knacks. Who knows what you will find! (DKE Toys 1230 )

All Day Comic Bricks Lego Art Show
An art show showcasing LEGO built Vignettes, mosaics, and sculptors of Comic Book Covers. (STUDS 1210)


Sunday

11 am – 12 pm Reynolds / Smooth-On Demonstration
Join Brooke Wheeler for a demonstration with Smooth-On mold making and casting products. (Stage)

11 am – 12 pm Signing – Stan Manoukian & Brandan Styles (Circus Posterus 700)

12 pm – 1 pm Glyos – Building A Universe with Onell Design
Join Matt Doughty, one of the creators of the Glyos System, for discussion and Q&A on building an independent toy brand. (Stage)

12 pm – 1 pm Signing – Chris Ryniak & Amanda Spayd (Circus Posterus 700)

1 pm – 2 pm STUDS Presents: LEGO As An Art Medium
Join Brandon Griffith and Tommy Williamson as they discuss the elevation of simple building blocks to high art. (Stage)

1 pm – 2 pm Stranger Factory Open Submission Portfolio Review (Circus Posterus 700)

2 pm – 3 pm State Of The Designer Toy Industry
Join Ben Goretsky of 3DRetro for a discussion on the state of the designer toy industry today. (Stage)

3 pm – 4 pm Signing – Kathie Olivas & Brandt Peters (Circus Posterus 700)

4 pm – 5 pm Signing – Shing Yin khor & Tim Lee (Circus Posterus 700)

All Day DKE Toys 6th Annual Graveyard & Garage Sale
Come shop in this lot of missing box, broken piece, smudged, fudged, no arms, vinyl and designer toys all at Crazy Eddie discount prices – proceeds go to many local charities. Also visit the DKE Garage Sale with all kinds of action figures, new and loose from Star Wars, Transformers, GI Joe, Power Rangers and more. Dig through books, magazines, posters and other fun knick-knacks. Who knows what you will find! DKE Toys 1230

All Day Comic Bricks Lego Art Show
An art show showcasing LEGO built Vignettes, mosaics, and sculptors of Comic Book Covers.

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San Diego Artists at Designer Con 2014


DesingerCon2014


San Diego artists at Designer Con in Pasadena, November 8 & 9

designer_conDesigner Con
www.designercon.com

November 8-9, 2014
Show Hours
Saturday 9 am – 6 pm
Sunday 10 am – 5 pm

Location
Pasadena Convention Center – Exhibit Hall
300 East Green Street
Pasadena, CA 91101

Parking
Paid parking is available at the Pasadena Convention Center and several surrounding parking lots including Paseo Colorado directly across from the convention center (parking map).

Hotel
We are proud to announce that we have partnered with the Hilton Pasadena, as the official Designer Con 2014 hotel!
168 South Los Robles Avenue (two blocks from the convention center)
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 577-1000


Designer Con is an annual art and design convention that smashes together collectible toys and designer goods with urban, underground and pop art! DCon is over 70,000 sq. ft. and features over 300 vendors, art & custom shows, live demonstrations, and much more! The show coordinators, Ayleen Gaspar & Ben Goretsky, strive to provide a fun, safe, comfortable environment for fans, artists, and vendors to meet. Join us in November at the Pasadena Convention Center for a weekend of fun, toys, and art!

Several artists from San Diego are participating – here are some quotes and images from a few of the artists. Media: please contact me for more images, interview opportunities, event background, and media credentials if you would like to come out for the event!

To see the full list of participating artists and vendors, click here
To see previous event press click here
To see Designer Con 2013 highlights – photos, etc. click here


 

San Diego Designer Con Participation List:

Color Ink Book
Stephen Budko
Tara Magboo – Magboo
Jordan Gorence – Armpit Lazers
Matt Spangler – Robots by Matt Q. Spangler
Chika Sasaki – GUNNZO
Paul Copeland – Paulkaiju
GMONIK
Tania Kelvin – Interspecies Planet

Steve Budko 
This coming DCon will be my third, and it’s been really interesting watching it grow as much as it has in just the past three years. I first participated in 2012, and in fact that was my first art con ever. I picked a good one. I had a table for the first time at WonderCon in Anaheim this past April. Although it was a great experience, it just didn’t have the intimate DIY vibe and sense of like-minded camaraderie that you get at DCon. Living in San Diego, I try to make it up to LA at least once a month, so the trip to Pasadena for DCon each fall is just par for the course. However, if DCon were anywhere farther away, I’d still definitely make it a point to participate. sbudko.com

Tara Magboo – Magboo
I have been exhibiting my Adorable Mayhem line for the past five years. The biggest venue that I sell at is Comic Con International which I have been selling at for five years now. I have received recognition as a featured independent artist at Comic Con through prominent news websites which include Fusion.net and Mental_Floss. I have sold my work through other comic conventions such as the Alternative Press Expo and Wondercon. In addition, I have, in addition, exhibited at craft venues such as San Diego Mini Maker Fair and the Rhode Island School of Design Alumni Craft Sale. Although I make jewelry, felt sculptures, and small paintings I felt my work was appropriate for the comic convention circuit because all the work that I make has a comic book/cartoon aesthetic. All my work is based on cute and funny yet oddly dark animal characters that I designed. I then fabricate all the resulting work by hand in San Diego whether it be metalwork or wool felting. I feel that Designer Con is a particularly good fit because it is a show that focuses on product inspired by comics or cartoons and that is exactly what I do! magboocandyandjewelry.com

Jordan Gorence – Armpit Lazers
I feel that it is important to go out to Pasadena because the LA area and Designer Con are very diverse in the type of art designers are making and the type of art people are looking for. For me it is just as important to get my artwork out to different people, as being able to see what other artists are putting out there and creating. The inspiration I find from artists helps me develop my individuality as an artist, plus it is awesome to be able to meet the artists behind the works. I have only been doing conventions for about a year and this coming Designer Con will be my 4th convention so far. armpitlazers.com

Matt Spangler – Robots by Matt Q. Spangler
Hands down, this is one of my favorite events of the year. I have never done a show where the vendors are treated so well (food when you arrive!) and have such a relaxed atmosphere. Typically show setup is chaotic and never well organized, this is the opposite. Also, the venue and quality of people that attend is exactly the demographic you would hope to have at all events! store.mattspangler.com

GMONIK
I will be showing with my fellow artists in my art collective here in San Diego, which is called Basura Social. The other artists I am showing with are Chikle, Optimus Volts, EZ Rock, and Puffer the Blowfish. We will be featuring some original art pieces, sculpture pieces, toys, and clothing. I feel Designer Con is important because it will give us a chance to meet with likeminded artists and art fans that will not only inspire our art, but push us out of our comfort zones and try new things. My art collective is trying to expand our reach outside of San Diego, and this was the perfect opportunity to do so. I have participated in the Comic Con art show and have been thinking about attending artist alley for 2015. For the past two years I have participated in Comic Con themed art shows during the convention. GMONIK.com

Interspecies Planet (by Kurathena Studios)
Tania Kelvin, Founder/Creator/Artist/Author
At Designer Con I will be featuring hand-created figurines, illustration prints, books, probably a coloring book, and other merchandise based on my characters. I’m attaching a couple of them in hand-drawn pencil illustration form. I also am offering commissioned custom figurines. I feel it’s important to travel to Pasadena for Designer Con since I really love that convention and it’s the right place for me and my art. I am especially enthusiastic that it’s a unique, intimate, and energetic convention, which showcases very talented independent artists/designers and has mostly 3D/sculptural art, which is my forte (my collection started as ceramic sculptures). This will be my first time showing my art and being a vendor at Designer Con. It’s a great place to start as a vendor, being that it’s not as huge as San Diego Comic Con. Another artist/vendor told me about Designer Con last year, so I checked it out and spent all weekend there talking to a lot of friendly vendors and doing research. The various types of art, merchandise, talent and imagination of the artists is incredible!

The weekend of October 17-19, I will be having my Interspecies Planet debut in the Artist Alley at San Diego Comic Fest. It’s a small, mellow, intimate convention that I attended for the first time last year and loved it. I felt the panels were awesome, featuring great topics, were close-up, and I learned a lot. As far as conventions/art shows/etc. go…I’m starting at Comic Fest, then Designer Con in November, and will take it from there. I will also be showcasing and selling my variety of work online…which is in development.  facebook.com/InterspeciesPlanet

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