The Drunkard

Anthony Ausgang was born in Trinidad and Tobago in 1959 to a Dutch mother and Welsh father. The family moved to Houston Texas in the early 1960s, a particularly difficult time for an immigrant family to parse American culture. Nevertheless, Ausgang's father made brave attempts to assimilate by attending custom car shows and demolition derbies. Ausgang eventually encountered Ed Roth and before long had a shoebox full of Rat Finks, a small plastic figurine of a noxious rodent that had somehow become the embodiment of Hot Rod and Custom Car Culture. Ausgang's mother continued the European traditions by dragging her son to endless operas, symphonies and art museums. This combination of High Art and Low Art was to prove a fertile cultural mulch for Ausgang's artistic inclinations. After a short stint studying art at The University Of Texas in Austin, Ausgang succumbed to the myth of California and moved to Los Angeles where he began classes at The Otis Art Institute. Disappointed to find out that the curriculum there didn't include target practice, admiring cars or watching surf films, Ausgang dropped out to start showing his artwork to as many galleries as would tolerate his frequent visits. Finally accepted by the AdFunture provided their 3” blank Yoka panda bear vinyl figures and DKE Toys co-founders Dov Kelemer and Sarah Jo Marks found over 200 artists to participate in the Custom Yoka Show. Featuring work from 20 countries the show turns the quirky little panda into everything from a dirty thug to a sweet snail in this tremendous exhibition. Pieces range from $25 to $800 and will be available for purchase through Black Maria Gallery. The Custom Yoka Show is meant to coincide with the release of Yoka Series One, a blind boxed collectible figurine that is now available. http://www.adfuntureworkshop.com/feature_show.php?ft_id=42 Yoka is a series of vinyl art toys created and produced by Adfunture, first released in June 2008. The collection includes figures in two primary sizes: a larger 10-inch figure and smaller 2.5-inch figures, each individually blister-packed. The Yoka series has featured numerous editions and collaborations with various artists and brands. These collaborations have made Yoka figures a canvas for artistic expression, appealing to both collectors and artists within the designer toy community. The series’ limited editions and unique designs contribute to its enduring popularity among enthusiasts.