Through the Toy Shop and Behind the Curtain: The Artistry of Gina M. will reopen to the public on August 23rd at the Don B. Huntley University Art Gallery!
Exhibition Statement
Enter a toy shop of childhood fantasy, fun and games! But look closely: what you think you see, may not be what you think.
Well-loved toys and plush animals gradually melt into a melancholy menagerie of misfits, displaying their busted and corroded wheels, sorrowful and broken faces, and worn-out and rusty exteriors. On display are the nostalgic elements of one’s youth –a toy box of whimsy, over-stuffed with humor and symbolism. Upon first glance, they are full of joyful memories. Upon closer look, they are aged and ragged, unmasking the gloomy overtones of childhood desolation.
Gina M.'s solo exhibition Through the Toy Shop and Behind the Curtain is a full-scale immersive space installation combining both whimsical, found-object assemblages and trompe l'oeil ceramics --which fool the unsuspecting eye. The exhibition is an ‘open toy chest’ of nostalgia, whimsical fun, and ironic humor that gently leads the viewer to a darker repository of coded narratives and thoughtful allegory, disguising the anguish and loneliness that is all too often a part of a child’s youth.
Her life-like sculptures are made of high-fired clay, oxide washes, encaustic paint, and found objects. Their homespun construction and textured surfaces simulate threadbare fabric, tattered fur, and the broken button- eyes of careworn and faded toys that ‘come to life’ in a toy store-full of mischievous characters, stuffed-animal oddities, and dented train sets. Her sculptural assemblages made of antique found objects and vintage collectables, become stand-alone, Jack-in-the-box-esque creatures, ‘Freak Show’ specimens, and marionette- theater figurines. Together these lovable minions combine to create a large-scale installation that tantalizes the senses, triggers memories of childhood, oftentimes along with subtly, painful trauma.
With a dewy-eyed innocence, Gina M. reasonably questions the concepts of adulthood and its repercussions. Her vocabulary of iconic childhood imagery exudes urgent warnings of the inevitable loss of one’s youthful innocence, in exchange for the advancement to ‘adulthood’. While on a wild journey of happy spectacle, and sorrowful memory, lies the resurrection and self-love of her metaphorical inner-child –and with this, perhaps even one’s own.
Image at top: Installation View, Front of Gallery, Through the Toy Shop and Behind the Curtain: The Artistry of Gina M. Exhibition.
Artist Biography
Gina M. comes from an unconventional creative family. In the 1970s, her parents owned a puppet theater in California where she spent weekends developing shows, building puppets, and hosting birthday parties for strangers’ children. As a lonely child, nurtured by puppets and their puppeteers, her connection to anthropomorphic forms began early. She was often found in the corner of the playground, twisting grass and twigs into small figures.
In college, she studied interior design and color theory with a focus on painted murals, trompe l'oeil (fool-the-eye), and faux finishes. For twenty years she had a successful artistic wall treatment business—a career that greatly influences her art.
Her work incorporates innocence and whimsy, drawing the viewer in like bait; upon closer inspection layers of meaning emerge. Using iconic images from childhood, Gina M. explores the lingering emotional residue of her youth and creates three-dimensional narratives to release it and channel it into personal development.
Her current body of work combines assemblage with ceramics. These trompe l'oeil sculptures are made of high-fired clay, oxide washes, encaustic paint, and found objects. Their homespun construction and textured surfaces simulate threadbare fabric, tattered fur, and the broken button eyes of careworn and faded toys.
She selects materials based on their authenticity to the process. Clay represents fragility, a relationship to the earth, and the tradition of arts and craft. Recycled materials such as wood and found objects represent nostalgia and reference aging, decay and decomposition. Finally, encaustic wax and resins speak to her faux finish experience and love of historic art materials.
Gina M.’s work is exhibited throughout California. In October 2017, Gallery 825 hosted her solo show Midway. Two of her ceramic and assemblage pieces have received honorable mentions at the Ink & Clay 42 exhibit and at TAG gallery in the 2018 LA OPEN. El Camino college art gallery requested her work for inclusion in two group shows, Personal Matters and Mother and Child.
Gina M. is a member of Los Angeles Art Association and Pasadena Society of Artists. She currently lives and works in Los Angeles, California.
Installation Pano View, Entrance to Gallery, Through the Toy Shop and Behind the Curtain: The Artistry of Gina M. Exhibition.
Installation View, Entrance to Gallery, Through the Toy Shop and Behind the Curtain: The Artistry of Gina M. Exhibition.
Installation View, Front of Gallery, Through the Toy Shop and Behind the Curtain: The Artistry of Gina M. Exhibition.
Installation View, Front of Gallery, Through the Toy Shop and Behind the Curtain: The Artistry of Gina M. Exhibition.
Installation View, Back of Gallery, Through the Toy Shop and Behind the Curtain: The Artistry of Gina M. Exhibition.
Installation View, Back of Gallery, Through the Toy Shop and Behind the Curtain: The Artistry of Gina M. Exhibition.
Installation Pano View, Back of Gallery, Through the Toy Shop and Behind the Curtain: The Artistry of Gina M. Exhibition.
-Virtual Exhibition
About the Virtual Exhibition
The Through the Toy Shop and Behind the Curtain: The Artistry of Gina M. Virtual Exhibition is a 1GB downloadable file. It is an application-based file. It can take up to 5 minutes to download and 3 minutes to open. This Virtual Exhibition is only downloadable on computer desktops and not intended to be downloaded nor viewed on a smaller device such as a cell phone or tablet.
Download Info
System Requirements: MacOS 10.14.6 or higher/Windows 10 required.
Downloading Instructions: Download the zipped folder for your operating system and follow the steps below to enjoy our exhibition. The application is not made by an Apple or Windows developer so a warning may prevent immediate operation of the file. This is normal for software offered outside the app store. To start the exhibition with a MAC, right click on the executable file with theThrough the Toy Shop and Behind the Curtain: The Artistry of Gina M. logo. Select "open" from the three options. If it does not work the first time, it should on the second try. To start with a PC, double click the .exe file and give permission when Windows asks.
Navigating Through the Exhibition
How to navigate: Navigate the space using a combination of mouse and keyboard.
To Move: W=Move Forward S= Move Backwards
A=Move Left D= Move Right Use Mouse to Interact/Navigate: When mouse cursor becomes a “hand” you can interact with the artwork. Clicking and dragging moves the view. 1. Click on the art object for the alternate views, captions, and artist statements. 2. Move close to monitors or books on stands to automatically activate videos or animate books.
Close App:Esc
Note:You can also use a game controller in combination with mouse.
To review the Through the Toy Shop and Behind the Curtain: The Artistry of Gina M. Virtual Exhibition please review and/or download the following according to your needs:
Download Here
The first button will download the virtual exhibition for any Windows users. The second button will download the virtual exhibition for any MAC users.
Enter a toy shop of childhood fantasy, fun and games! But look closely: what you think you see, may not be what you think. Gina M.'s solo exhibition Through the Toy Shop and Behind the Curtain is a full-scale immersive space installation combining both whimsical, found-object assemblages and trompe l'oeil ceramics --which fool the unsuspecting eye.
Enjoy Gina M. discussing her creations and the journey of creating her exhibition in this video of the Artists' Reception event. Watch her give thanks to her colleagues and those who have taught her along the way.
Live Action Video Tour
The exhibition Through the Toy Shop and Behind the Curtain opened at the Huntley Art Gallery in January of 2020. Due to the Covid19 pandemic, it has remained closed to the public since. Despite the closure, you can still view the show through our video tour! Take a look inside and you might find a new friend. Fun Fact: This exhibition is still safely in display among the empty halls of the library. We like to imagine all these objects are rambunctiously keeping each other company.
This video shows an artistic rendition of a walkthrough of the exhibition. Find yourself exploring the Huntley Art Gallery and learning the names of the various artworks that adorn the location.
Through The Toy Shop and Behind the Curtain The Artistry Of Gina M, Virtual Exhibition Talk and Tour
This video is a screen recording of the "Through The Toy Shop and Behind the Curtain The Artistry Of Gina M" Virtual Exhibition Talk and Tour Zoom event. Artist Gina M, with the help of the CPP art gallery staff, goes through the virtual exhibition and discuss various art pieces in her exhibition.
Artist Biography
Installation View, Entrance to Gallery, Through the Toy Shop and Behind the Curtain: The Artistry of Gina M. Exhibition.
Installation View, Front of Gallery, Through the Toy Shop and Behind the Curtain: The Artistry of Gina M. Exhibition.
Installation View, Front of Gallery, Through the Toy Shop and Behind the Curtain: The Artistry of Gina M. Exhibition.
Installation View, Back of Gallery, Through the Toy Shop and Behind the Curtain: The Artistry of Gina M. Exhibition.
Installation View, Back of Gallery, Through the Toy Shop and Behind the Curtain: The Artistry of Gina M. Exhibition.
