War Toys at PhotoVille 2023

War Toys is honored to be exhibiting at the PhotoVille Festival, opening June 3rd in Brooklyn. Now in its 12th year, PhotoVille showcases impactful work by photographers from around the world. The festival features over 80 public art exhibitions, inspirational walking tours, in-depth panels, and interactive workshops.

Our installation, housed inside a shipping container in Brooklyn Bridge Park, will highlight War-Toys collaborations from 2011-2022 with children from Ukraine, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip. Brian McCarty will be there opening weekend to talk about the work and invite viewers to understand war from a new perspective—as a child, for whom the “bad guy" is whoever is shooting at them. 

📅 June 3 – June 18, 2023
📣 Opening Weekend June 3 and 4, 2023 in Brooklyn Bridge Park
📍 80+ exhibitions across all 5 boroughs
✨ visit photoville.nyc to learn more

City of West Hollywood Event: War Toys in Ukraine

Brian McCarty, Photographer and Executive Director of the War Toys® nonprofit organization, recently spent 5-weeks in Ukraine collaborating with children to narratively recreate their firsthand accounts of the war. He will present a special preview of the resulting, art-therapy-based work and discuss the effects of the war on Ukrainian children. A brief Q&A will follow. This project is supported in part by an arts grant from the City of West Hollywood.

February 16, 2023 @7pm

West Hollywood Library
Community Meeting Room
625 N San Vicente Blvd 90069
Free & open to the public

 

War Toys at the Musée de la Photographie

The renowned Musée de la Photographie in Charleroi, Belgium is hosting a large exhibition of War Toys work with children from Ukraine, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Palestine. The exhibition features a selection of 31 photographs and children’s drawings from over a decade of work in the field. Photographer and Executive Director of War Toys Brian McCarty will be on hand for the opening on January 28th, 2023.

The show runs from January 28th until May 21st, 2023

"Déflagrations" at the MUCEM in Marseille, France

Brian is honored to have War Toys work included in the exhibition Déflagrations, curated by Zérane Girardeau, at the MUCEM in Marseille, France. With support from the French Ministry of Culture and organizations including the UNHCR, UNICEF, SOS Villages D’Enfants, Human Rights Watch, and Doctors Without Borders, Zérane has built a remarkable exhibition that focuses on children’s graphical accounts of war and mass crimes. It is an extension of the work she does as director of the nonprofit association Déflagrations which seeks to preserve and present children’s often-undervalued perspectives on their own traumatic experiences, shared through creative expression.⁣

Prints of the photo/drawing pair “Survivor. Alone.” appear in the exhibition. The photograph was created in 2016 in response to an anonymous, Syrian, refugee girl revealing her feelings of intense isolation and guilt over surviving an airstrike that killed the rest of her family in Aleppo. In an art-based interview, conducted by art therapist and War Toys board member Myra Saad at a Kayany Foundation school, the girl drew herself crying in a field of ash, protected by an invisible shield from the missiles falling above. Note that the girl’s name has been pixelated on the top right of her drawing to preserve the anonymity that she requested.⁣

The Mucem is currently closed due to current COVID-19 restrictions within France, but the show’s run has just been extended until 29 August 2021.

War Toys at the Grenze - Arsenali Fotografici in Verona, Italy

Grenze_Exhibition.jpg

I’m honored to have a selection of War Toys work included in an upcoming international photo festival in Verona, Italy. The 3rd edition of Grenze – Arsenali fotografici opens on 9 September 2020 with the theme of "Als Ob” after a delay of several months due to COVID–19. War Toys photos and accompanying reproductions of children’s drawings will be exhibited at the main venue – the Former Military Arsenal. With the pandemic continuing to limit travel from the US, Brian McCarty will sadly miss out on attending the festival. Our gratitude goes to festival co-director Simone Azzoni as well as TdH Italia, Kayany Foundation, UNRWA, Artichoke Studio, and everyone who has supported the work. ⁣

War Toys Launches as a 501(c)(3) Organization

When I began the War Toys photo series – first as a study in 1996 – I couldn’t have imagined how far it would come. Over the past nine years, I’ve been honored to gather and tell the stories of hundreds of children who have been profoundly affected by war, advocating on their behalf through exhibitions, presentations, and media engagement. Yet with each milestone, I’ve said and felt that I’m just scratching the surface. There’s so much more that can and should be done for children, both inside and out of recognized war zones.
 
It’s more than I’ve been able to do on my own as an independent artist (with the resources to match). Although poor in funding, I’ve had a wealth of supporters. Many of you have publicly and privately been endless sources of encouragement, fueling my determination to continue the work and shine a spotlight on what children are facing around the world.

The first War Toys photo from East Jerusalem in 2011

The first War Toys photo from East Jerusalem in 2011

It is because of you that War Toys is now proudly launching as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, devoted to helping children who have been affected by war in all its forms. With the guidance of a remarkable board of directors and advisors, we will be working to expand upon the advocacy work of the photo series; educate and train caregivers in expressive-therapy-based interventions for children; and provide toys to children that comfort, promote resilience, and encourage new ways of thinking about war.

I cannot thank all of our supporters enough, and I’m excited to be on this journey with you all. Together we can make a real impact and a positive difference to the lives of children around the world.

Exhibition: Juger/Créer: Regards sur la Cour Pénale Internationale

Brian is honored to have a War-Toys piece included in the exhibition "Juger/Créer: Regards sur la Cour Pénale Internationale,” opening on 26 November 2018 at the Cité internationale des arts in Paris. The exhibition marks the 20th anniversary of the International Criminal Court and its creation by the Rome Statue.

Survivor_Alone_Pair.jpg

Organized by The Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Institute of Advanced Studies on Justice, the National School of Magistrates, the Cité internationale des arts, Creating Rights, the City of Paris, and artists including Zérane Girardeau, the exhibition and accompanying round table discussions present an original and transversal approach to the International Criminal Court by combining different disciplines: history, law, sociology and art.

A route designed around different spaces allows visitors to gradually enter the heart of the Court. From the presentation of this international jurisdiction, to the immersion in a trial, to the victims' view of the crimes they have suffered, the organizers and artists wanted both to pay tribute to this institution and to allow the opening of a dialogue and reflection on its functioning, its actions, its ambitions and its future. Celebrating this historic moment serves to remind us that the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression are a violation of our humanity and that it is essential to support the International Criminal Court's action in its fight against impunity.

The selected War-Toys image was created in 2016 and based on a young Syrian refugee’s account of being the lone survivor of an airstrike that killed her entire family. To preserve the girl's anonymity, her name has been pixelated in the top right of her drawing. Humble thanks goes to the Kayany Foundation for facilitating the art-based interview at one of their schools for refugees in Lebanon, Art Therapist Myra Saad for conducting the interview on behalf of War-Toys, Zérane Girardeau for selecting the piece for the exhibition, and Maud Saheb at UNICEF France for the kind introduction.

For more information:
https://www.citedesartsparis.net/en/exhibition-juger-creer

Media Coverage on War-Toys

In our NewsHour Shares moment of the day, Brian McCarty chronicles the horrors of war through the eyes of children, using art therapy and toys to direct his photographs.

Just after his last trip to Iraq, Brian sat for an interview with Reuters while in Beirut. The story was picked up by dozens of on-air and online outlets around the world including The New York Times, Al Jazeera Plus, US News and World Report, Indian Express, Brut/Dailymotion, and PBS News Hour (seen above).

"Kaiju vs Heroes" for the Japanese American National Museum

Shot for the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, the photo below celebrates the upcoming exhibition “Kaiju vs Heroes,” featuring Mark Nagata’s unrivalled collection of vintage Japanese toys. Born out of the cultural ashes of World War II, these distinctive soft vinyl figures became both a means for Japanese Americans to reconnect with their culture and an apt metaphor for postwar relations between the United States and Japan. The show opens September 15th, 2018 and runs until March 24th, 2019.
 
Mark is a brilliant artist, designer, and the original founder of Super7. He left to start his labor of love – the Max Toy Company. The immensely popular toys that he designs and produces (like Captain Maxx and Drazoran seen in the photo) are heavily inspired by archetypical characters from Japanese pop culture in the 1950s and 60s. Brian has enjoyed getting another chance to collaborate with Mark after so many years. He shot Mark's iconic Eyezon figure (now in the permanent collection of The Strong, National Museum of Play) back in 2008.

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Hi Fructose Feature on WAR-TOYS

On stands now, the latest issue of Hi Fructose magazine contains a 12-page feature on Brian's War-Toys series with a very thoughtful and thorough piece on the work written by Silke Tudor. Within the article are the first drafts of new work from Brian's six-weeks in Iraq with Terre des Hommes Italia and IOM / UN Migration Agency. 

UNICEF #ChildrenInWar Campaign

An advocacy campaign for UNICEF France was recently released. A series of previous War-Toys photos was posted on social media with the hashtag #ChildrenInWar, earning wide praise, including from French President François Hollande. Flatteringly, he specifically mentioned the work during opening remarks at a UNICEF-supported conference on child rights in Paris.  

Aquaman for Entertainment Weekly

Entertainment Weekly recently commissioned a unique shoot of Aquaman for their “Heroic Double Issue." Often the butt of jokes, Brian shot the Justice League co-founder at the bottom of a swimming pool as he tried to look super serious amongst resident goldfish, understandably fascinated by the King of Atlantis.

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The shot (minus the fish) was created entirely in-camera. To protect him from the chlorine, the fish was shot separately in a freshwater container suspended within the pool to match angle and lighting. 

The shot (minus the fish) was created entirely in-camera. To protect him from the chlorine, the fish was shot separately in a freshwater container suspended within the pool to match angle and lighting. 

The issue is on stands now with Doctor Strange on the cover and a ranking of the 50 most powerful superheroes inside. Pick up a copy to see how Aquaman stacked up!

Artist Talk at Virginia MOCA

On Thursday, October 6 at 6:30pm, Brian will be speaking at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art about his experiences developing WAR-TOYS and collaborating with war-affected children in the Middle East. He will be sharing details behind the art-therapy-based project and some of its resulting photographs. The talk is presented in conjunction with the ongoing exhibition Turn the Page: The First Ten Years of Hi-Fructose.

The event is open to public. MOCA Members Free / Non-members $5

WAR-TOYS at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock

The main gallery at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will host the traveling exhibition "WAR-TOYS: Israel, West Bank, Gaza Strip" from September 1st until October 20th, 2016.

Brian will be speaking at the university on September 21st as part of a public event marking the International Day of Peace. 

“WAR-TOYS” is a striking portrait of war from the eyes of children. The exhibition features Brian McCarty's meticulously composed toy photographs, taken on location in areas of active conflict. Using an art therapy based approach and working with NGOs, McCarty invited children living in these areas to art direct his photos through supervised drawing and discussion. The results are powerful, interpretive documents of witnessed events and shared fears. 

The exhibition includes the children's drawings as well as some of the locally acquired toys used in the photographs. "War-Toys: Israel, West Bank, Gaza Strip" is curated by Catinca Tabacaru and presented by the NEA-funded Mid-America Arts Alliance and ExhibitsUSA. 

University of Arkansas at Little Rock
151 Fine Arts Bldg.
2801 S. University Ave.
Little Rock, AR 72204

Free and Open to the Public

Turn the Page: The First Ten Years of Hi-Fructose at Virginia MOCA

Beginning May 21st, the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) will feature some of the foremost contemporary artists through a ten year retrospective of the art magazine, Hi-Fructose. Turn the Page: The First Ten Years of Hi-Fructose is a collaborative initiative by two like-minded organizations – MOCA in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Hi-Fructose The New Contemporary Art Magazine in San Francisco, California. This multi-faceted exhibition will feature artists working in a variety of media including sculpture, installation, painting, ceramics, and photography as well as interactive community outreach and satellite exhibitions. A wide selection of educational programming, film screenings, panel discussions, and events will provide the public an opportunity to interact with the art and artists in exciting new ways.

Brian has the honor of being the sole photographer in the exhibition. A special reissue of his View-Master® reel from Hi Fructose Vol.3 will be shown in an interactive display. Due to clearance issues that prevented Fisher-Price from including an image in the original printing, this will be the first time the 3-D series will be seen as it was intended.

The exhibition is organized by the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art. Curated by Alison Byrne, Director of Exhibitions and Heather Hakimzadeh, Curator

Exhibition Schedule: 

Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) May 22 - December 31, 2016
Akron Art Museum, Akron, Ohio. February 10 - May 7, 2017
Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, California. June 11, 2017 - September 17, 2017

Print Auction Benefitting Kayany Lebanon

On April 9th, Artscoops will offer two WAR-TOYS prints at an art auction in Beirut. All proceeds from the sale of the prints will benefit the Kayany Foundation and fund an art therapy program at their schools for Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Both photographs were created in collaboration with boys and girls under the care of Kayany in 2014. Reproductions of the children's drawings that served as art direction and inspiration are included in the sale. 

Saturday, 9 April 2016 - 4:00pm

Le Yacht Club Gallery
Zaituna Bay
Beirut

Auctioneer: Edward Rising
Curators: May Mamarbachi & Janet Rady

View catalog online at: artscoops.com/auction

Fleeing Syria, 2014

Fleeing Syria, 2014

Refugee Camp Life, 2014

Refugee Camp Life, 2014

Disney "Dream Big, Princess" Campaign

Brian was commissioned by Disney Consumer Products to create a unique series of photos for the "Dream Big, Princess" campaign. The photo series celebrates the Disney Princesses’ incredible stories and unique inner qualities that help them achieve their dreams by recreating iconic moments from the animated movies on elaborate studio sets using Hasbro and The Disney Store dolls. Brian enlisted legendary stop-motion house Screen Novelties to hand build many of the needed elements.    

The resulting work and behind the scenes process earned extensive media coverage from outlets worldwide including Yahoo Movies, People Magazine, Seventeen, Hello Giggles, and Nerd Reactor.

A selection of behind the scenes photos can be found on Brian's Instagram.