Monkey by rocket… to Mars

Monkeys are braver than humans.

This monkey is not the one going, but Russia may be planning to send a monkey to Mars. They'll first test how well they do for long periods in a space suit with a robot cleaning up after them. Monkeys and robots to Mars first! Maybe NASA will send a human.

Read more about it.

Karate Mon-kid

An amusing blurb of a story about a couple of monkeys who jumped their trainer.

Paint your own fence, sensai.

Monster monkey dolls at toy art show

These monkeys were designed by Bianca Panzram.

I went to the MF Gallery opening of the 2009 MF Toy Show last night in Brooklyn, NY. There were lots of crazy toys designed by talented artists. I wanted to take everything home. Some of it was gross, some was cute, some was weird, but nothing was conventional, and everything was inspirational.

These simple striped monkeys by Bianca Panzram were my favorites.

Artists and studios included:

MF Toys

Cupco! (fun site!)

Jenny Harada

Moses Jaen

Ed Repka

Bianca Panzram

Aaron Tomkins

Bastet2329

Elmer Presslee (bonus monkey on the front page of the site)

EatYourChildren

Sara Lanzillotta - - - Monkeyhouse Toys

Aya Kakeda

Steven Lopez

Jaz Harold

Tyson Summers

Ciou

Fernando Carpaneda

Nikki Taylor (did I find the right artist here?)

Mary Doyle (bonus chimp on front page of the site :)

I'm thinking of heading back to buy a piece or two. I highly recommend it if you are into toys, in the toy industry, or just need to be inspired by some wicked art.