Toys aren't usually categorized as art, but one creator in Brattleboro is breaking that mold.
Mark Logan, self-taught toy maker and artist, is co-owner of the Teeny Tiny Toy Store in Brattleboro. He creates fanciful, one of a kind sculptures from fabric. One of his toys of Pres. Obama even made it all the way to The Smithsonian, taking a spot in their permanent collection.
As for his creative process, Logan says "I sort of tend to go at it like it's sculpture, just with a different medium than working with clay or marble. I sort of more concentrate on playing around with shapes and colors, like in an origami way but with fabric."
He says that he starts with an un-organized box of fabric to help spark his creativity. He digs through the box to try to find the right kind of fabric, not being afraid to clash patterns once in awhile. All of his toys are one-of-a-kind. "I'm usually just exploring with color, but I always to try think that what I'm making is an heirloom," Logan says.
"It's not high brow art. There doesn't need to be a big wall between those two things. At the end of the day, these are also stuffed animals that you can carry around with you and hug." - Mark Logan, toy maker and artist
As for the toys, "it's not high brow art," Logan says. "There doesn't need to be a big wall between those two things. At the end of the day, these are also stuffed animals that you can carry around with you and hug."
You can learn more about Mark Logan's dolls on the Teeny Tiny Toy Store's website here.
