Getting to the Art of the matter with Mickey Mouse

Jim Hill

14 years ago

You gotta admit that – for an 83 year-old mouse — Mickey
looks good.

So what's Mickey's secret? Botox? Collagen? The fact that he's
a cartoon character that doesn't actually age? I prefer to think it's the
company that Mickey keeps.

Take – for example – Tom Whalen. Who just created this
killer Steamboat Willie print for Mondo. Which is the collectible art boutique
at the Alamo Drafthouse.

Now the good news is that this Steamboat Willie print (which
is 18" by 24" and produced with metallic inks) is relatively affordable. Just
$40 apiece. But the bad news is … Mr. Whalen only made 200 of these beauties.
And when they're gone, they're gone.

Mind you, Sideshow Collectibles will produce a variant of
this Steamboat Willie poster at some point on the future. But if you wanna grab
one of the originals, you need to contact Mondo TODAY. Because that's when this
Steamboat Willie poster goes on sale.

Of course, if you like your Mickeys less stylized … Then you
may want to consider swinging by the Art of Disney gallery at WDW's Downtown
Disney Marketplace this weekend. Because that's where – this Friday &
Saturday – Disney Design Group artist Darren Wilson rolls out his latest work
of art, Butterfly Mickey Mouse.

This piece will actually be available in three different formats:

The one-of-a-kind original piece of art. This version of "Butterfly
Mickey Mouse" is a 28" W by 22" H Acrylic on Canvas. Framed , this piece
retails for $2,875.00
The limited edition reproduction giclee version of "Butterfly
Mickey Mouse." Only 95 versions of this 23" by 15" H print have been created.
Framed, these collectibles are $360 apiece
The open edition petit print version of "Butterfly Mickey
Mouse." Which is priced to move at $17.95 apiece.

Of course, if you're not a Mickey Mouse fan … Not to worry.
Darren's also debuting two other pieces at the Art of Disney Gallery this
weekend. The Scrooge Treasure …

… and Timeless Princesses …

… which will also be available as one-of-a-kind original pieces
of art, limited edition reproduction giclees and open edition petit prints.

And then when you factor in that Wilson himself will actually be on
hand at WDW's Downtown Disney Marketplace today (from 5 to 8 p.m.) and tomorrow
(also from 5 to 8 p.m.) … Well, how many times do you get to personally meet
the Disney Design Group artist behind beautiful pieces like these? And then maybe have
him personalized the piece that you're purchasing?

And speaking of making purchases … If you were planning on
picking up that Vinylamation TaleSpin
two-figure set that was supposed to go on
sale today at the Disney Parks On-Line Store … Well, I'm afraid that I have
some bad news.

Baloo & Kit Cloudkicker have unfortunately been delayed.
Vinylmation's first-ever Disney Afternoon two-figure set now won't go on sale
to March 5^th. But the upside of this situation is … Given that only
1000 of these sets have been created …
Well, that then gives you another week
to get together the $24.95 necessary to purchase this two-figure set.

Which bring me to today's JHM reader question: Given that
you'll now all had the chance to view a number of these Vinylmation figures,
what are you seeing first these days when you look at these collectibles? The
Mickey Mouse-shaped piece of vinyl or the character that's been painted on top of
this piece of vinyl?

Your thoughts?