'DREAMS TO DREAMS' VINYL TOY SHOW EXTENDED THROUGH JAN. 25 AT NATIONAL MUSEUM

The Japanese American National Museum announced that the "Dreams to Dreams" Custom Vinyl Show, the first custom vinyl toy show to be presented in a museum, will extend its exhibition run through Sunday, January 25. The show opened December 6, 2008, and was originally scheduled to close on January 4, 2009, but has been a popular attraction, especially during the holidays.

Organized by the National Museum in association with Dacosta of Chocolate Soop, the "Dreams to Dreams" Custom Vinyl Show features the works of 40 + artists who each customized a Chocolate Soop DCTO (Dream Come True Object), a futuristic vinyl version of a traditional Japanese Daruma or folk toy. Among the artists contributing pieces to "Dreams to Dreams" are Amy Inouye, Camilla d’Errico, Charles Hui, Donna Ikkanda, Koji Takei, Kazuko Shionoka and Sachiho Hino of Spicy Brown, Steve Talkowski and Qris Yamashita. All of the works on display are available for sale (many are already sold) through the Museum Store. To see what is still on sale, go to www.janmstore.com.

DCTO (pronounced dik-toe) is an urban vinyl version of a Daruma, symbol of the 5th century Buddhist monk who meditated so long he lost the use of his arms and legs. Daruma dolls come with unpainted eyes. People use a Daruma as a symbol of personal dedication to a new venture or new beginning. Painting in one eye shows commitment to a goal; once the goal is achieved, the other eye is painted in.

This show was sponsored in part by Daruma Asset Management, Inc., of New York City. For additional information contact Maria Kwong at the Japanese American National Museum at mkwong@janm.org or call (213) 830-5610. To see more about the "Dreams to Dreams", go to http://www.janm.org/exhibits/dreams-to-dreams/. For more information about DCTO and Dacosta, go to http://chocolatesoop.com/Studio/DCTO_Jibun_Project.html.