Michael Workman

Buying affordable art for holiday gifts keeps getting easier, with events like this September's Renegade Craft Fair in Wicker Park, and the DIY Trunk Show, that took place in November at the Pulaski Park Auditorium. As a result, seasonal shoppers have a wide range of choices. Here are a few.

Rebecca Kaufman pursued her graduate studies in painting at Cranbrook Academy. One year after her son Nathaniel was born, she was looking through magazines trying to come up with ideas for gifts. Her solution was to make one-of-a-kind felt toys that can only be described as stuffed doodles. Kaufman named them Poog Goos. "They were originally called Poogies, a nonsense word that my husband and I came up with. We did some checking and the name was being used for a computer game." So Poog Goos became the permutation of choice, though specific types of stuffed toys also have names like Pink Donut, Red Worm and Pink Blue Three-Legged Weird Eye. For Kaufman, Poog Goos are a way to continue making work. They'll appeal mostly to infants, though she also has a line of spikey-haired, blobby-faced Poog Goos fashion models, adorned in bright silvers and metallic browns. Kaufman also makes storybooks to accompany her toys.

For something a little unusual, check out the "Stuff My Stocking" sale at the Fleur Gallery in Pilsen. Directors Ali Walsh and Christy MacLear invited artists from Chicago, New York and elsewhere to submit works outside their expertise. The idea is to assemble a collection of work that spoofs the idea of traditional holiday gift baskets. Instead of the familiar wicker, the works are packed into crates that will be sold for $75 for small and $150 for the larger version.

Need a new wallet to hold all that money you're going to spend next Christmas? Parker House Rules makes duct-tape clutch purses, passport holders and hold-everything pouches for national-security fans who want to keep their money safe from biochemical villainy. Owner Diantha Parker sells them for about $30 a pop at places like Quimby's bookstore in Wicker Park.

At 1R Gallery's Small Works Show, you'll rarely see so many works assembled in such a tiny space. John Parot, who's in next month's "12x12: New Artists, New Work" at the MCA has drawings here of towering white mountains of cocaine, and Tyler Cufley offers drawings of deer grazing in the woods that have been splattered with petrified White Castle cheeseburgers. All of the art in the Small Works Show goes for between $100-$500.

Poog Goos can be found at Monkey Business Gallery, 1942 West Chicago, (773)269-3133. "Stuff My Stocking" opens December 11 and runs through December 14 at Fleur Gallery, 1833 South Halsted, (312)421-8929. Find Parker House Rules wares at Quimby's, 1854 West North, (773)342-0910. "Small Works" at 1R Gallery, 119 North Peoria, #3D, (312)738-3915, through November 29.

(2003-11-26)

Also by Michael Workman

Tip of the Week
"Slang Minimal" at TBA Exhibition Space in the River North neighborhood will have a painfully short three-week run
(2003-11-19)

Eye Exam
Vancouver-born artist Rodney Graham's three new films, now at the Donald Young Gallery, manage to both ask and dodge the answer to some elephant-size questions
(2003-11-19)

Tip of the Week
Raising eyebrows and even occasionally a few hackles since his rock-star debut at last May's Stray Show, UIC grad student Siebren Versteeg has discreetly found his place in the sun
(2003-11-13)

Eye Exam
The Chicago art cooperative Spareroom communicates a familiar problem: where can artists find the space to pursue their work?
(2003-11-13)

TP or not TP
(2003-11-05)

Eye Exam
(2003-11-05)

Tip of the Week
(2003-10-29)

Eye Exam
(2003-10-29)

Ghost hunter
(2003-10-23)

Eye Exam
(2003-10-23)

Tip of the Week
(2003-10-22)

Tip of the Week
(2003-10-16)

about Newcitychicago | about Newcity magazine | advertising | privacy policy | FAQ | employment