Groundhog Day 2013

Well, the groundhogs have assembled- will they see their shadows this Saturday?  Come meet them at the First Saturday Arts Market this weekend and find out!

Gordon has stepped up as the unofficial "Master of Ceremonies," I wonder what he has planned for Saturday...

 

Ginger is hoping for a nice sunny day- and perhaps some raspberries:

 

Gareth wants to try some of those infamous parmesan truffle fries:

Gauthier is hoping there will be some time for a nap- he's tired!

 

Gucci was wondering if there would be edible brains of any sort... I explained to him that we might be able to find him some gummi ones, and to please keep those thoughts to himself...

 

Graeme is looking forward to the festivities, but he is a tad bit worried as to what Gucci might do...

 See you all this Saturday!

Rain- grrrrr!

 The First Saturday Art Market was rained out this past weekend, but we're going to give it another try this coming Saturday, 12 January 2013.  The critters and I were extremely disappointed, since we were looking forward to catching up with our friends, customers, and of course, devouring some of those yummy truffle fries from H-town StrEATS!

It's on days like that one must be uber-prepared in order to avoid any serious mishaps... I'd packed tarps, blankets (yes, it was 45 degrees out), clear shower curtain liners, garbage bags, paper towels, snacks, and water, in addition to all of the display items and critters.  Soon I am going to need an 18-wheeler  to carry it all.  Mother Nature better not mess with the Yetimonsters this time- she'll be sorry if she does...

 

We're Baaack!

The First Saturday Art Market (FSAM) returns this weekend!  This new season marks the ninth anniversary of the FSAM, and our third year. The critters and I have really enjoyed spending time with our boothmate Leisa, of McCordworks, during this past year- we're looking forward to 2013!

Here's one of my favorite photos from last September, on International Bacon Day.  Where else in Houston can you see amazing art, eat delicious food, and listen to great music all in the same place?  And... now we even have wine!

Hope to see y'all this Saturday!  Please send us warm and sunny thoughts- according to the weather report, we are going to need it!

Art After Dark

This past weekend, the First Saturday Arts Market changed its schedule to evening hours.  In Houston, TX in June, you've got to do everything you can to beat the heat!  Set-up was pretty brutal, but then we were all rewarded with oodles of nice customers, great food and music, and pleasant evening temperatures.  This time, I decided to bring some of my new custom plush and other critters:

Our friend and booth-mate Leisa, of McCord Works, brought her beautiful handmade jewelry and doilies:

 

Wage is a big fan!

Time for a snack.  Those fried mac and cheese balls from It's a Wrap looked pretty yummy...

Then it was time for dessert...  I'd post an actual photo of my scrumptious cake ball  from Mr. Zrake's Cakes here, but it was gone in a split second!  You'll have to be content with a photo from his Facebook Page:

This was the "Fat Mint," which may now be my new favorite flavor!  My other faves are the Red Velvet and the Peanut Butter.  He was very kind to give me this cool mug as well:

Must remember to get more cake balls...

After our snacks, Leisa and I matched up some of her doilies with the critters- we thought they looked fab!

 

The FSAM is such a fun place- even the artists who are not showing that month frequently stop by to say hi, and spend some time relaxing...  It was nice to have a visit from our FSAM friends Cozmo and Merriweather- Wage really enjoyed taking this photo with them!

 

The next First Saturday Arts Market will be held on Saturday, 7 July 2012, from 6-10 pm.  See you there!

First Saturday Arts Market
548 West 19th Street (between Gen's Antiques and Wind Water Gallery)
Houston, TX 77008

Spring Schedule

It's Monday- grrrr! My allergies are driving me CRAZY today, but nonetheless, I thought I'd give you an update of the critters' schedule for this year. Looks like we are going to be ingesting quite a bit of pollen outside over the next few months, but at least we'll have some yummy treats from H-town strEATs and Boheme Cafe among others. Most importantly, we hope to catch up with all of you! Our favorite part of all of these shows is when our friends and fans stop by- we are always very happy to see you!

Have a great week everyone! :)

Cultured Critter Collective 2012 Schedule

7 April 2012
First Saturday Arts Market
548 West 19th Street, Houston, TX 77008
http://www.firstsaturdayartsmarket.com/

13 April-5 May 2012
Monsters on Main Street
The Rusted Nail Gallery: 158 West Main Street Mesa, AZ 85201
http://therustednailgallery.blogspot.com/

13-14 April 2012
Artists in Wonderland
Zen Artspace: 5175 Westheimer Rd., Houston, TX, 77056 (inside the Houston Galleria)
http://zenartspace.com/

14 April 2012
Craftacular Second Saturday
Hello-Lucky: 1025 Studewood Street, Houston, TX 77008
http://www.hello-lucky.com/

22 April 2012
Alternacraft
Boheme Café and Wine Bar: 307 Fairview, Houston, TX 77006
http://alternacraft.wordpress.com/

28 April 2012
Market Street Fine Arts Festival
Market Street, between Lake Woodlands Drive, Lake Robbins Drive, Grogan’s Mill Road
and Six Pines Drive: The Woodlands, Texas 77380
http://www.marketstreet-thewoodlands.com

4 May 2012
Star Wars Invades War’hous- May The 4th Be With You!
War’hous Visual Studios: 4715 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002
http://www.warhous.com/index.html

5 May 2012
Grand Re-Opening- Purple Elephant Gallery
12802 McSwain, Cypress Texas 77429
http://www.thepurpleelephantgallery.com/

25-27 May 2012
Comicpalooza
George R. Brown Convention Center
1001 Avenida de las Americas, Houston, TX 77010
http://www.comicpalooza.com/

2 June 2012
First Saturday Arts Market
548 West 19th Street, Houston, TX 77008
http://www.firstsaturdayartsmarket.com/

4 August 2012
First Saturday Arts Market
548 West 19th Street, Houston, TX 77008
http://www.firstsaturdayartsmarket.com/

1 September 2012
First Saturday Arts Market
548 West 19th Street, Houston, TX 77008
http://www.firstsaturdayartsmarket.com/

September 2012 (dates:tba)
Valerie G Solo Show
Glitter Karaoke: 2621 Milam Street Houston, TX 77006
http://www.glitterkaraoke.com/

6 October 2012
First Saturday Arts Market
548 West 19th Street: Houston, TX 77008
http://www.firstsaturdayartsmarket.com/

3 November 2012
First Saturday Arts Market
548 West 19th Street: Houston, TX 77008
http://www.firstsaturdayartsmarket.com/

1 December 2012
First Saturday Arts Market
548 West 19th Street: Houston, TX 77008
http://www.firstsaturdayartsmarket.com/

First Saturday Friday Finds: 9 March 2012

Sounds confusing, doesn't it? Today, I'm featuring a few of my fellow artists from the First Saturday Arts Market in the Heights area of Houston, TX. The FSAM was established in 2004 by our talented and intrepid leader, Mitch Cohen, to provide an outlet for area artists to showcase their work on a monthly basis in an art festival atmosphere. On the first Saturday of every month (unless it is raining), we can be found on West 19th Street, located between Gen's Antiques and the Wind Water Gallery. Since the next FSAM is not until Saturday, 7 April 2012, this gives you the perfect chance to keep on shopping until then...

Have a great weekend everyone!

Hand Forged Copper Spike Necklace
Frilled and Feathered

Louie Arfstrong
AEM Gallery

Mandala Doily Earrings
McCord Works

Birds in Trees Whimsical Home Decor
Mamapainter

Wayfinder Compass Craft
Woodworking by Joseph

Sneak Peek for Saturday...

This is a more detailed sneak peek of what I will have at the First Saturday Arts Market this weekend... hand-sculpted, Valentine's Monster Necklaces!

Here they are going into the toaster oven:

These are a few of the finished ones- they have just been listed in the NEW Cultured Critter Collective Storenvy Shop:

See ya'll on Saturday!

First Saturday Arts Market
4 February 2012: 11 am-6 pm
548 West 19th Street
Houston, TX 77008

Scheduling and Shopping

Guess what? A few of the monsters are at the Grand Canyon this week with one of our friends for a photoshoot! We'll post plenty of photos upon their return, but I thought you might want to see them before they left:

Here is a sneak peek of the critters' 2012 schedule, so you can start planning when/where to stop by and visit us this year:


Cultured Critter Collective 2012 Schedule

28 January-6 February 2012
Mummy Mania! Customs from the Crypt
Super 7: San Francisco, CA
http://blog.super7store.com/super7-presents-a-mummy-boy-paint-contest


4 February 2012
First Saturday Arts Market
548 West 19th Street: Houston, TX
http://www.firstsaturdayartsmarket.com/


4-26 February 2012
Blow Up LA!
Aerosol Warfare/Crewest: Los Angeles, CA
http://www.aerosolwarfare.com/
http://crewest.com/

7 April 2012
First Saturday Arts Market
548 West 19th Street: Houston, TX
http://www.firstsaturdayartsmarket.com/


5 May 2012
First Saturday Arts Market
548 West 19th Street: Houston, TX
http://www.firstsaturdayartsmarket.com/


25-27 May 2012
Comicpalooza
George R. Brown Convention Center: Houston, TX
http://www.comicpalooza.com/


September 2012 (dates:tba)
Valerie G Solo Show
Glitter Karaoke: Houston, TX
http://www.glitterkaraoke.com/


Btw...we know you all like to shop, and we'd love it if you'd check out these awesome toy stores, galleries and local businesses, who are currently hosting a variety of the critters as well as lots of cool goodies from other artists:


Tenacious Toys
http://www.tenacioustoys.com/default.asp

Bean Pot Toiz
http://www.beanpottoiz.com/

The Fridge
http://www.thefridgedc.com/

Sculptures By Design
http://sculpturesbydesign.com/

Homespun Houston
http://www.homespunhouston.com/

Critter Fall Schedule

I'm still hoping to experience fall this year- how about you? It's awfully difficult to picture the colors of changing leaves and the nice, crisp weather when the temperature outside is 102! Grrr! It's definitely during times like this that I miss my fellow New Yorkers and the awesome autumn weather...

The monsters were so warm, they got lost looking for ice cream:

Regardless, the critters will be very busy this fall- I've included their schedule as of 1 October. Maybe if we all hope really hard, autumn weather will come!


Houston Area Events Coming Up:

1 October 2011
First Saturday Arts Market
http://www.firstsaturdayartsmarket.com/


17 October – 5 November 2011 (Exhibition)
21 October 2011 (Auction)
24th Annual Dia de los Muertos Retablo Auction and Exhibition
Lawndale Art Center
http://www.lawndaleartcenter.org/


5 November 2011
First Saturday Arts Market
http://www.firstsaturdayartsmarket.com/


12 November 2011
Avenue CDC: Art on the Avenue
http://avenuecdc.org/art-on-the-avenue/


18-20 November 2011
Spacetaker’s Winter Holiday Art Market (WHAM)
http://www.spacetaker.org/wham


3 December 2011
First Saturday Arts Market
http://www.firstsaturdayartsmarket.com/


Out of Town Events:

1 October 2011
Mission: Munny Show
Lift Designer Toys and Art Gallery
http://www.liftdetroit.com/events2


13-16 October 2011
Toy2R USA/Tenacious Toys Booth
New York Comic Con
http://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/


5 November 2011
Above the Radar Tour
(curated from Crewest Gallery, Los Angeles, CA)
The Fridge
http://www.thefridgedc.com/