I see a growing number of obviously AI generated ads, and it always makes me think two things: (1) This is a rinky-dink outfit that can't afford to film a commercial with real sets and actors, and more importantly (2) They are lying to me even more than ads usually do.

Detail of our Dickey Chapelle pewter figure, showing her #Nikonos underwater camera used for the @natgeo assignment “The Water War in Vietnam.” Support our programs by give someone (or yourself) a unique gift this holiday season! wartoys.org #photojournalist #photojournalism #photographer

War Toys will be documenting children's stories from within the US. Although kids here aren't enduring missile strikes and tank brigades, many experience levels of violence that are comparable to what their peers face in recognized war zones. It's time to give these children more of a voice.

We just added another 20 copies of Lorissa Rinehart’s brilliant biography on Dickey Chapelle to our shop. “First to the Front” chronicles Dickey’s amazing life and career and is a page turner! wartoys.org/shop/firstto... #wartoys #dickeychapelle #photojournalist #photography #photojournalism #bio

On Veterans Day, I remember the photojournalists who have given their lives while documenting the horrors of war: David Gilkey, Dickey Chapelle, Chris Hondros, Tim Hetherington, Yaser Murtaja, Gilles Caron, Kenji Nagai, Larry Burrows, Gerda Taro, Robert Capa… #photojournalism #photography

We are honored to be working with Dickey's estate. Her family provided amazing access to Dickey’s cameras, clothing, and gear – all of which was reproduced in incredible detail by sculptor David Lea in standard 1:32 scale. Your purchase directly supports our programs: wartoys.org/programs #wartoys

Dickey’s remarkable life ended in Vietnam on November 4th, 1965. While on patrol with US Marines, she was killed by a booby-trap. Dickey was the first female correspondent killed during the Vietnam War, and the first American female photojournalist ever to be killed in action. #photojournalism

Dickey started her career as a combat photojournalist during the battle of Iwo Jima in WWII. Always wearing her trademark pearl earrings and harlequin glasses, she spent the next twenty years covering conflicts from Korea to the Hungarian Revolution. #photography #photojournalism #wartoys

Born Georgette Louise Meyer, Dickey Chapelle (1919-1965) was a force of nature, beloved by the soldiers she photographed and revered as both an accomplished war correspondent and trailblazer for women working in photojournalism. wartoys.org/shop #photography #photojournalism #wartoys #armymen

To support our toy industry program, War Toys® is releasing a special, pewter “army man” of legendary photojournalist Dickey Chapelle. wartoys.org/shop #photography #photojournalism #wartoys #armymen

With Bandcamp sold twice within a couple of years and Spotify on the nose, Subvert.fm is tackling the idea of an artist owned internet, or rather, an artist run, collectively owned music marketplace. Interested? It's easy to become a supporter or artist/label founding member. #subvertfm

Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.

I'll die a thousand deaths on the hill that we should have never lost the cultural shame involved in "selling out"

My thanks to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and photographer Staci Vandagriff for covering the “War Toys: Ukraine” exhibition at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History. (I’m not on the right 😉)

I’m grateful to the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts for hosting a talk with Ben Grimes and I. Ben is the creator of a theater program for vets struggling with PTSD called The Breach. Coincidentally, we both were in Iraq in 2017. It was interesting for us each to get a different perspective of the war.

Apologies for the short notice, but I’m participating in a discussion at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts in Little Rock on Thursday (9/18 at 6pm). Come and hear about what’s been keeping me so busy! events.arkmfa.org/event/dual-p...

Still have lots of cleanup to do, but just finished two very long years of work and pushed all 40 translations of @wartoys.org’s educational board game live!!

Warms my heart seeing this, knowing how much its loss was felt by Iraqi kids displaced from Mosul during the war against ISIS. AP: Iraq reopens historic mosque in Mosul 8 years after Islamic State destruction apnews.com/article/iraq... #wartoys #photography #alnurimosque

When I was little, the U.S. military came to our home at gunpoint and took me and my family away. We were imprisoned for years in barbed wire camps simply because we were Japanese American. I have spent my life telling that story, hoping it would never be repeated.

Forgive O Lord my little jokes on Thee… #toyphotography #devo #art #boojiboy #photography #qee #deevolution #mask #desert #arttoys #designertoys

“Hadil” drew her life before the war in #Syria, her dad watering a tree at home. She then drew the #refugee tent she was surviving in with her brother and sister in #Lebanon. Her father has been notably erased from her drawing of the camp. #photography #toyphotography #wartoys #worldrefugeeday

“Hadil” drew her life before the war in #Syria, her dad watering a tree at home. She then drew the #refugee tent she was surviving in with her brother and sister in #Lebanon. Her father has been notably erased from her drawing of the camp. #arttherapy #childreninwar #wartoys #worldrefugeeday

Shooting something I think folks are gonna like a lot… #photography #wartoys #behindthescenes #bts

At a #Syrian #refugee camp in #Lebanon, 11-yr-old “Hana” drew a seemingly happy scene of her family at dinner. She revealed it was the last time she saw her dad alive. He got up to investigate sounds of gunfire outside and was killed steps from their door. #wartoys #toyphotography #photography #art

At a #Syrian #refugee camp in #Lebanon, 11-yr-old “Hana” drew a seemingly happy scene of her family at dinner. She revealed it was the last time she saw her dad alive. He got up to investigate sounds of gunfire outside and was killed steps from their door. #wartoys #arttherapy #childreninwar #war

In East Jerusalem, local #Palestinian children play a constant cat-and-mouse game with #IDF, often throwing tiny pebbles to harass them. “Mahmoud’s” drawing shows what happened to his friend when the soldiers didn’t want to play one day. #wartoys #art #photography #toyphotography #armymen #arttoys

Drawing by “Mahmoud,” made at the Spafford Children’s Center in East Jerusalem, 2011. #arttherapy #wartoys #childreninwar #israel #palestine #jerusalem

They’re Grrreat! (Fat Tony by Ron English with “Worlds Greatest Extra” Jessie Heiman) #toyphotography #tonythetiger #arttoys #ronenglish #art #popart #photography #jessieheiman #frostedflakes #toys #cereal #mascot

Adventure Time (shot for Cartoon Network) #toyphotography #adventuretime #toys #art #makeitreal #photography #popsurrealism #cartoon #cartoonnetwork #peppermint

@wartoys.org will never be as cool as No War Toys back in the 60s. I mean, seriously… The Doors played their friggin anniversary party!! #wartoys #thedoors

Laughing Squid / Aloha Oi (Commissioned by @laughingsquid.com) #toyphotography #arttoys #giantsquid #photography #art #underwaterphotography #bikini #submarine #pool #makeitreal

CALL FOR PROPOSALS - 2026 International Toy Research Association (ITRA) Conference. Artists and academics are encouraged to participate, share your work, and become part of a larger community, dedicated to toys. Deadline: 12/31/25. itratoyresearch.org/2026conference #toydesign #arttoys #toyresearch

RIP Jill Sobule youtu.be/RfzS2pEoOq0

THE SARAJEVO TIMES: Do You Know the Identity of the Boy Photographed in Sarajevo in 1992? wp.me/pgrPjy-19aq @sarajevo-times.bsky.social @sniperalleyphoto.bsky.social #photojournalism #journalism #photography

Tigerlily (toy by Tim Biskup) #toyphotography #arttoys #art #photography #makeitreal #popsurrealism #elmirage #resevoirdogs #lowbrowart

6-yr-old "Iryna" imagines her cat waiting outside of her destroyed home in #Ukraine. Displaced families had to leave pets behind while running for their lives. There wasn't time to find them; the animals ran away or hid from the explosions. #wartoys #toyphotography #photography #art #toys #cat

6-yr-old "Iryna" imagines her cat waiting outside of her destroyed home in #Ukraine. Displaced families had to leave pets behind while running for their lives. There wasn't time to find them; the animals ran away or hid from the explosions. #wartoys #arttherapy #art #toys #cat #childreninwar

This was a fun series to work on at Mattel for Hot Wheels. The “Brian” license plate is for HWC.com graphic designer Brian Fitzgerald, who died way too young. #toyphotography #hotwheels #photography #diecast #stunt

Proud to have worked with @jamuseum.bsky.social on this shot for Mark Nagata’s “Kaiju vs Heroes” exhibition. Mark (@marknagata.bsky.social) is a brilliant artist and just the nicest guy. #arttoys #toyphotography #kaiju #monster #hero #marknagata #toy #sofubi #photography #vinyltoys #janm #losangeles

The Fall of Stratos #toyphotography #toy #actionfigure #photography #motu #heman #art #arizona #stratos

A few weeks ago, I got to attend an academic conference on the study of play organized by TASP in Texas. It was an honor presenting War Toys’ work and learning everything I could from fellow presenters and attendees. #wartoys #play #studyofplay

I’m excited to be participating in a panel discussion next Monday on art & conflict hosted by the International Relations Council. For more info and for pay-what-you-can tickets to the Zoom based event: www.irckc.org/what-we-do/w...

“Yusef” was imprisoned, beaten, and tortured by ISIS because his uncle was a police officer who resisted their takeover of Mosul. Yusef was taken to force compliance, alongside other boys with family deemed a threat to ISIS rule. #wartoys #toyphotography #photography #art #iraq #childreninwar #war

Yusef said that the yellow shape is Spongebob Squarepants. Next to him is a ladybug. And at the bottom of the page is the ISIS prison in Iraq where he was beaten and tortured to force his uncle to comply. #arttherapy #childreninwar #torture #wartoys #iraq #spongebobsquarepants #drawing #war

Princess and the Frog (shot for Disney Consumer Products) There are closer shots of Tiana on this amazing set, but I love seeing the whole, movie-accurate recreation of this moment. #toyphotography #disney #disneyprincess #art #photography #tiana #princessandthefrog #toys #doll #wishuponastar

Tangled (shot for Disney Consumer Products) #toyphotography #disney #tangled #rapunzel #toys #dolls #disneyprincess #photography #lantern

"Farid" said that Lebanese were mean. Half of his drawing is about fleeing #Syria. The other shows his dream of going back to Homs and finding everything destroyed, except for his home. He was sure it must be ok, and it had to be better than here. #wartoys #toyphotography #photography #refugee #art

At the top of his drawing, a 10-year-old Syrian refugee named Farid wrote, "We thank you for welcoming us. I'm Lebanese. I wish to go back to my school." #wartoys #arttherapy #syria #childreninwar #refugee #lebanon #art #drawing

Adventure Time (shot for Cartoon Network) #toyphotography #toys #adventuretime #bmo #photography #cartoon #art