Journey to the Isle of Freaky Toys – Mixed Media Workshop

April 13-22, 2027, Mexico City

From Michael deMeng

I’ve always had a soft spot for old toys. The freakier the better.

Not the shiny new ones. I’m talking about the forgotten ones—the doll missing an eye, the action figure bearing the unmistakable teeth marks of a toddler, the plastic critter languishing in a thrift store bin wondering where it all went wrong. 

But what’s even better than a freaky old toy? A freaky old toy you make even freakier with the magic of assemblage and a bit of acrylic paint.

Duh nah nah nah… nah nah… nah nah… Super Freaky.

Our inspiration comes from one of Mexico City’s strangest destinations: the legendary Island of the Dolls. There, hundreds of weathered toys hang from trees, stare from the undergrowth, and slowly surrender themselves to the elements. Creepy? Perhaps. Fascinating? Absolutely.

In this workshop we’ll rescue a few toys of our own and give them a second life.

Using found objects, sculptural materials, paint, and assorted bits of creative mischief, we’ll transform ordinary toys into extraordinary oddities. A plastic western gunslinger and a toy cow might become a literal googly-eyed cowboy. A forgotten doll could evolve into a strange home for tiny train folk. A cheerful toy monkey might become a spider monkey.

Literally. The black widow kind.

Along the way I’ll share my favorite tricks for mutating toys, adding sculptural details, incorporating found objects, and convincing a bit of plastic that it has lived a long and peculiar life. I’ll also share plenty of painting techniques to help bring your newly transformed oddities to life.

So gather your misfit toys and prepare for a freaky time. In a freaky place:

The Isle of Freaky Toys.

Mexico City

It’s perfectly okay to imagine yourself in one of the most fascinating cities in the world, hunkered down in a studio space in a 4-star hotel for four days, sawing heads off dolls, mutating thrift-store treasures, and using Apoxie to shape bodies into fancy-fun visions from your twisted imagination.

Welcome to Mexico City.

Land of magical realism and real magic.

We’ve centered this tour in Mexico City’s Centro Histórico. You’ll be sleeping in the heart of a city built upon the ruins of the Mexica capital. Long before the Spanish arrived, great temples, marketplaces, and works of art flourished here. Today, Mexico remains one of the few places where Indigenous culture is not simply remembered—it continues to thrive in everyday life.

Centro Histórico is a remarkable place to wander. Within a few blocks you can encounter ancient stone ruins, towering colonial architecture, bustling markets, hidden courtyards, street vendors, and unexpected wonders around nearly every corner. The layers of history are impossible to miss.

Of course, Mexico City is also a paradise for artists, dreamers, and curious explorers. You’ll find museums, murals, sculptures, music, parks, architecture, street art, lucha libre arenas, and enough visual inspiration to fill a dozen sketchbooks. Nine days isn’t nearly enough time to see everything, but we’ll certainly make a dent.

Our excursions will lean toward the strange, the playful, and the mysterious. Toys will be a recurring theme throughout our adventure, culminating in a visit to the legendary Isla de las Muñecas—the Island of the Dolls.

Most of all, we’ll immerse ourselves in Centro Histórico, the throbbing heart of Mexico City.

And it’s waiting just outside our door.

Itinerary

Tuesday – April 13
Arrival Day
Folks are arriving at various times so there are no formal plans. For those who have arrived by evening, we’ll meet for an informal dinner and walk around the Zocalo (city center).

Wednesday – April 14
Walking Tour of the City Center
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we’ll enjoy a walking tour of Mexico City’s centro historico district. The city center is a wonder to behold, overflowing with cultural history, from ancient Aztec archeological sites to gorgeous colonial cathedrals. We’ll see amazing architecture all around us and visit world class art museums, magnificent sculptures and glorious murals by the country’s great artists. We’ll have lunch with the group at one of the city’s plethora of delicious restaurants. Your evening is free to rest or further explore.

Thursday – April 15
Excursion Day
Breakfast at the hotel. Then we’ll head out with the group and a wonderful local guide on a full day excursion. We’ll visit the wild and whimsical antique toy museum, with 3 stories of treasures to behold. After that we’ll visit the charming neighborhood of San Angel and the once studio and home (now museum) of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. We’ll enjoy lunch with the group in the Plaza San Jacinto then we’ll head to the beautiful 17th century Carmelite temple which has a rich history, lovely art collection, interesting wax sculptures and real mummies! Your evening is free.

Friday – April 16
Workshop day
Breakfast at the hotel. It’s our first full workshop day with Michael. Time to freakify your toys! Our workshop space is in our hotel. After the workshop we’ll have dinner and head to a real live luchador match at Arena Mexico. It’s going to be quite the spectacular scene!

Saturday – April 17
Workshop day
Breakfast at the hotel. Another full day in the studio with Michael playing Dr. Frankenstein with your toys. After the workshop we’ll visit the religious store for glass eyes and other unique art fodder. Dinner on your own. Evening Free.

Sunday – April 18
Workshop day
Breakfast at the hotel. Another full day in the studio getting freaky. After the workshop we’ll walk to the National Palace to see Diego Rivera’s world famous murals of the history of Mexico. Dinner on your own. Evening Free.

Monday – April 19
Last Workshop Day and Critique
Breakfast at the hotel. Last day of the workshop with Michael. End of workshop art share and critique time. Dinner on your own. Evening Free.

Tuesday – April 20
Excursion to Doll Island
Breakfast at the hotel. Today is our full day excursion to the infamous and eerie la Isla de las Muñecas, Doll Island, with an eerie story and hundreds of decaying dolls strewn about. We’ll take a van to the Xochimilco borough, known for its ancient Aztec network of canals. From there, we’ll take a long, lovely boat ride on a colorful trajinera to la isla de las muñecas to experience this place of mystery and wonder for ourselves. Return to the Isle of Creepy Dollies Gone Wild. On our boat ride back we’ll enjoy a special lunch together provided by a floating boat kitchen. The last stop of the day will be the incredible Dolores Olmeda museum with glorious grounds and a collection of art by world famous artists that will take your breath away. Dinner on your own. Evening Free.

Wednesday – April 21
Free Day
Your day is free to further explore, shop, and savor Mexico city to your heart’s content.
There will be an optional excursion to Casa Azul Museum (home of Frida Kahlo) and Diego Rivera’s Anahuacalli Museum. This day trip will be organized by our local guide and must be paid for separately. Another must see experience is the incredible Anthropology museum in Chapultapec park with you can taxi or uber to. Farewell dinner with the group at one of Mexico city’s finest restaurants.

Thursday – April 22
Departure day
We hope you enjoyed Mexico city as much as we enjoyed sharing it with you.

• Itinerary is subject to change

• Airfare is not included.  When searching for airfares the Mexico City code is MEX.

• Included: Workshop, hotel for 9 nights, 9 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners and guided tours.

• Alcoholic beverages are not included

Price

Single                     $4,495
Shared Double  $3,995
(price if sharing room with another person taking the workshop)
Tag along             $2,895
(Someone sharing a room with a single price workshop taker but not taking the workshop. Price includes everything except the workshop.)

Deposit
$1000 non-refundable deposit is required to complete your registration. This deposit is used to secure hotel accommodations and other event-related commitments that must be prepaid by the organizers and cannot be recovered.

Remaining balance is due February 1st, 2027

Cancellation Policy
No refunds will be issued for cancellations unless your spot can be filled from a waitlist. Travel insurance is required.
We strongly recommend purchasing Travel Insurance that includes “Cancel for Any Reason” (CFAR) coverage.

Hotel Information
NH Collection Mexico City Centro Histórico
C. de la Palma 42
Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc
06000 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
https://www.nh-collection.com/en/hotel/nh-collection-mexico-city-centro-historico

Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is REQUIRED.  We recommend at least $100,000 of medical coverage, and at least $500,000 of medical evacuation coverage. It is also worth adding the “Cancel for Any Reason” coverage in case your plans change for reasons not covered by the list of reasons covered by the basic policy.

Check out Rick Steves for recommendations and advice on types of coverage.
www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/trip-planning/travel-insurance

Squaremouth.com is a good place to start to look for the travel insurance that best meets your needs. It will provide you with a list of options and prices for various levels of coverage.

Withfaye.com is an affordable option that our participants have used in the past, and may be worth including in your search for the best travel insurance option for your needs.

To Enroll

CLICK HERE to go to registration form

Complete and submit the form to reserve your spot. Mija will then contact you regarding payment options. If you have any questions email Mija at mija.matriz@gmail.com

MICHAEL DEMENG

Michael is an assemblage artist from Vancouver, Canada who exhibits and teaches throughout the world.  He has written three books exploring his methods, Secrets of Rusty Things, Dusty Diablos, and the Art Abandonment Project, published by NorthLight Books.

In his art, he addresses issues of transformation. Discarded materials find new and unexpected uses in his work; they are reassembled and conjoined with unlikely components, a form of rebirth from the ashes into new life and new meaning.  Often using myths and legends as source material, Michael use his assemblages as metaphors for the evolutions and revolutions of existence: from life to death to rebirth.  These forms are examinations of the world in perpetual flux, where meaning and function are ever-changing.

JON LABROUSSE and MIJA MATRIZ

Creativity flourishes with good company. And DEEP ENERGY.

Mija and Jon are creators and connectors. We are passionate about our potential for human expression and collaboration. We have a vision for a more connected world, a more celebratory world, a world that delights in the challenges and rewards of cooperation.  A world we ALL want to live and participate in.

We’re both artists, ourselves. Mija is a mixed media visual artist. Jon is a poet and musician. And we have a gift for holding space for artistic exploratoin and development.

We’re striving to build an International Art Collective that honors every creative who is willing to bet on themselves, who feels moved to thrive in community.

Our tours offer a perfect balance of creative time, and exploration time. You’ll grow and learn, as an artist. We all will. Your Creative Community can expand with us.