Giant Robot Store and GR2 News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Art Exhibition at GR2 I Am Fine – Eishi Takaoka May 5 – May 30, 2012 Opening reception Saturday May 5th 2012, 6:30-10pm GR2 – 2062 Sawtelle Blvd LA, CA 90025 www.gr2.net 310 445 9276 Giant Robot 2 (GR2) presents: I Am Fine Solo exhibition by Eishi Takaoka Eishi Takaoka’s work is coming back. Although the sculptures of Eishi Takaoka all portray the same serene expression, their outwardly calm façade belies a world of bottled-up emotions. With nowhere to go, these intense feelings manifest themselves in outlandish formations that sprout out of the top of each figure’s head. The uniquely sculpted heads of Takaoka are rooted in a personal fantasy world that is fueled by the emotional ups and downs of daily life in lower-middle class Japan. He instills his frustration with life in Kagoshima and feelings of isolation into each of the pieces, which are comprised of carved wood painted with raw mineral pigments placed atop empty glass medicine bottles. Takaoka’s pieces have been seen in group shows in Tokyo and New York, one-person exhibitions at Giant Robot New York and GR2 in Los Angeles, and on the cover of novelist Haruki Murakami’s Kafka on the Shore. For this exhibition, Takaoka will create 34 sculptures at Giant Robot 2 in Los Angeles. He is currently attending school in his hometown of Kagoshima, Japan and will not be in Los Angeles for the opening. Giant Robot was born as a Los Angeles-based magazine about Asian, Asian-American, and new hybrid culture in 1994, but has evolved into a full-service pop culture provider with shops and galleries in Los Angeles as well as an online equivalent. Eric Nakamura Giant Robot Owner/Publisher eric@giantrobot.com (310) 479-7311
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THEY ARE US NEW WORK BY AKO CASTUERAAPRIL 7 – MAY 2, 2012 NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE Ako Castuera often shows at Giant Robot in group exhibitions. This will be her first solo effort at Giant Robot. Castuera’s work involves a look into the past which has brought us into the present. Along with her sweeping watercolor hills and valleys are dinosaurs and prehistoric animals. Castuera relays their significance as a dreaming point as well as their contribution in our ecosystem.Also in this exhibition will be sculptural work also depicting prehistoric animals captured in a modernistic style. Castuera’s work is colorful, dreamy and captures a concept that explains who we are and where we came from. MELTING MOUNTAIN DESERT AND BLOOM PRINT See the exhibit SPRING SALE SAVE 20% IN-STORE // SAVE 25% ONLINE APRIL 6 – APRIL 22, 2012 Online checkout code: grweb25. Artwork excluded from offer. TOKIDOKI UNICORNO BLIND BOX The Unicornos were once 10 little ponies that were out trotting and wandered into a magic waterfall. Passing through the waterfall, the ponies transformed into unicorns and found a hidden magical kingdom. YUMMY YOUTOAST SCARF Yummy You by Twinkie Chan! Inspiring style and appetites when worn! Yummy You Clothing does not want to just sit on a shelf, waiting to get noticed. It wants YOU to get noticed! HALF PINTHERB GARDEN Start your herb garden with this Half Pint Garden. Comes with Basil, Mint and Thyme seeds. Peat pellets and your water help it grow. Perfect for a windowsill. MICROGIARDINISUNFLOWER PLANTER Microgiardini Flower Cans are produced in Italy! Simply pop the can open, add water and place in sunlight for a mini garden. GAMA-GO BITE ME BOTTLE OPENER This stainless steel vampire teeth bottle opener is sure to allow you to quench your insatiable thirst. Surprise your friends! I vant to drink your beer! MOMIJI SNUGGLE MUG Momiji’s new mug collection is sure to brighten your morning. This Snuggle mug is so cute! UPPER PLAYGROUND DAVID CHOE SKATEBOARD T-SHIRT A classic David Choe image of faces and limbs collided together to create this great design. KOZYNDANWAR OF THE MONSTERSPRINT From Kozyndan: “We wanted to capture the chaos wreaked on the city and its denizens by the player.” ANIMAL STYLE SKATEBOARD VIDEO PROGRAM SATURDAY, APRIL 14TH, 3:15PM FAAIM SHOWCASE 2012 – CHICAGO, ILLINOIS By MARTIN WONG One of the best things about working on Giant Robot magazine during its 16-year run was providing a showcase for rad work by talented friends. This weekend I get to do it in a different setting–a film festival. With the encouragement of FAAIM director Tim Hugh, I put together Animal Style. The first part collects indie skate videos by Asian Americans, while the second section cherry picks pieces from Asia itself. More info. MOTHERFUCKERLAND: INSTALLMENT 13 By ED LIN Read author Ed Lin’s new serial novel, Motherfuckerland. New installments will be released weekly. Lin, who is of Taiwanese and Chinese descent, is the first author to win three Asian...
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THEY ARE US NEW WORK BY AKO CASTUERA APRIL 7 – MAY 2, 2012 RECEPTION: SAT, APRIL 7, 6:30-10PM Ako Castuera often shows at Giant Robot in group exhibitions. This will be her first solo effort at Giant Robot. Castuera’s work involves a look into the past which has brought us into the present. Along with her sweeping watercolor hills and valleys are dinosaurs and prehistoric animals. Castuera relays their significance as a dreaming point as well as their contribution in our ecosystem. Also in this exhibition will be sculptural work also depicting prehistoric animals captured in a modernistic style. Castuera’s work is colorful, dreamy and captures a concept that explains who we are and where we came from. Preview images SPRING SALE SAVE 20% IN-STORE / SAVE 25% ONLINE APRIL 6 – APRIL 22, 2012 Online checkout code: grweb25. Artwork excluded from offer. DIVERSIONS MARCH 10 – APRIL 4, 2012 MONYO MONYO, JUDE BUFFUM, PAUL ROBERTSON, FERIC, MEAT BUN, FRENCH, SEAN CHAO We all have interests that takes us away. Our postcard image by Australian artist Paul Robertson is hyper dense and 8-bit influenced. Jude Buffum from Philadelphia crosses 8-bit art and social and pop culture commentary. Monyo Monyo from Japan creates wearable masks that are furry and powerful. Feric from Taiwan is known for his delicate and cyber-detailed pieces. Originally from Taiwan but now a resident of Los Angeles, Sean Chao creates astonishing dioramic worlds. French from England evokes metal music and its iconography. Meat Bun, our comrades from multiple pop up shops and Game Night events will display some of their iconic work. View the exhibit. OMFG (OUTLANDISH MINI FIGURE GUYS) SERIES 1 These OMFG, Outlandish Mini Figure Guys, remind me of my miniature plastic toys I had as a kid. Series 1 are Crawdad Kid, Multiskull, Stroll, King Castor and Phantom Shithouse! All 5 characters included! ZOMBIE MINI FIGURES SERIES 2 Z.O.M.B.I.E. or Zillions of Mutated Bodies Infecting Everyone mini figures are a fresh new take on childhood toys. These zombies feature the characters School Girl, Rockabilly, Bathtime, School Boy, and the Ape! SOUND MACHINE (SCI-FI EDITION) This sound machine plays 16 hi-fidelity sound effects including aliens, rayguns, lazers, timewarps, alerts, one small step for man dialogue, monsters, flying saucers, computers, and more! GAMA-GO TALL DRINK OF WATER T-SHIRT Gama-go have the sweetest designs. Slender, slightly clumsy deers are the cutest! Printed on turquoise, fine jersey t-shirt. DELFONICS PEAR LEATHER MOUSEPAD (GREEN) The popular Delfonics brand releases the best stationery which includes journals, address books, notepads, etc. Wonderfully designed simple items! This particular one is a leather mousepad in the shape of an pear. UPPER PLAYGROUND DAVID CHOE HAIRDO WOMENS T-SHIRT David Choe and Upper Playground collaborate for this fantastic Hairdo t-shirt based on one of David’s paintings! This looks hot on all ladies! UGLYDOLL ICE-BAT PILLOW You’ve found an UGLYPILLOW™! These are a rare sight indeed. As rare as your sitting on the sofa to watch TV or play computer games, that is....
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Greetings from Chicago
Tim Hugh, one man bandleader of the Chicago Asian American Film Festival
This is Tim Hugh and his dog Helga in his kitchen in Chicago. Tim has run the only Asian American Indie Film Fest (i.e. no “imports”) for 12 of the 17 years that it’s been in existence. In this picture, he’s a one man bandleader- running it solo, something I can relate to as a solo musician. I’m in town to promote my film “Daylight Savings” which premiered at SXSW this year, and will be the opening night film this year. Joining me at the screening will be Michael Aki who plays my cousin in the film. I met Mike at this very festival in 2010 when he was showing his films Sunsets that he directed with Eric Nakamura, and his Film Noir tribute “Strangers”
I asked Tim a bunch of questions:
Goh: Why is this festival important?
Tim: It’s one of the only festivals that shows only Asian American films; produced, directed and/or about the Asian American experience. In the midwest more so than the coastal states, you’re constantly asked that stupid question “Where are you from?”… so it’s important to help define what being Asian and American is.
I’m a fourth generation Chinese American. In the midwest, it’s usually under the assumption that you’re just “Asian”… and not “Asian American.” When I see Causasian people I don’t ask them “are you from Poland? are you European?” I just see them for who they are, not what they look like.
Goh: How did you get involved in the festival?
Tim: I was just a fan of the band Seam, and Sooyoung Park, Ben Kim and Billy Shin started the festival in 1995 after they released the Ear of the Dragon CD, which was the first Asian American Rock Compliation. I’d always go and watch everything I could. I’d never seen films like this before; Asian American characters that spoke like me; the actors weren’t forced to speak with a bad accent. I could relate to these images and characters that I was seeing at this festival.
I became obsessed and would watch everything I could, whether it be a feature, documentary, or shorts program. I just wanted to see as much as I could, because I knew I’d never get a chance to see these movies again. Plus, being able to meet the directors and hear them speak about their films was one of the coolest things for me. I remember hanging out with Justin Lin, back when he was just a shorts director.
They noticed me being there year after year, and began to recognize me. Eventually, they would ask me to do little things like hand out program booklets, take tickets, watch the table, and take pictures during the Q&A’s. Basically, I became a volunteer. I remember standing there back in the day giving out Giant Robot magazines!
THEY ARE US NEW WORK BY AKO CASTUERA APRIL 7 – MAY 2, 2012 RECEPTION: SAT, APRIL 7, 6:30-10PM Ako Castuera often shows at Giant Robot in group exhibitions. This will be her first solo effort at Giant Robot. Castuera’s work involves a look into the past which has brought us into the present. Along with her sweeping watercolor hills and valleys are dinosaurs and prehistoric animals. Castuera relays their significance as a dreaming point as well as their contribution in our ecosystem. Also in this exhibition will be sculptural work also depicting prehistoric animals captured in a modernistic style. Castuera’s work is colorful, dreamy and captures a concept that explains who we are and where we came from. More info. DIVERSIONS MARCH 10 – APRIL 4, 2012 MONYO MONYO, JUDE BUFFUM, PAUL ROBERTSON, FERIC, MEAT BUN, FRENCH, SEAN CHAO We all have interests that takes us away. Our postcard image by Australian artist Paul Robertson is hyper dense and 8-bit influenced. Jude Buffum from Philadelphia crosses 8-bit art and social and pop culture commentary. Monyo Monyo from Japan creates wearable masks that are furry and powerful. Feric from Taiwan is known for his delicate and cyber-detailed pieces. Originally from Taiwan but now a resident of Los Angeles, Sean Chao creates astonishing dioramic worlds. French from England evokes metal music and its iconography. Meat Bun, our comrades from multiple pop up shops and Game Night events will display some of their iconic work. View the exhibit. FERICFEROLOGY . II FRENCHGOAT WITH PENTAGRAM MEAT BUNBEAUTIFUL SPRING PRINT MONYO MONYOUNTITLED MASKS PAUL ROBERTSONKINGS PAUL ROBERTSONMISSINGNO FACEBOX: CREATIVESTENCIL AND PEN SET With Facebox, first choose a head shape, then add hairstyles, features, sunglasses and hats. Choose carefully to create over 100,000 possible faces! HYPOTROCHOIDART SET Hypotrochoids are mathematical curves traced by a point in a circle (your pen) rolling around the inside of a bigger circle. These curves have been studied by mathematicians for centuries. KAMIO JAPANCAT STICKERS These are the silliest group of cats I’ve ever seen. Lounging, cleaning themselves, jumping in boxes and more. Stick these to your favorite accessories. SUSIE GHAHREMANIBUTTONS Susie Ghahremani is a favorite of ours and many other art fans. Her adorable animals are captured here in button form! GAMA-GODIRTY BIRD TUK TUK T-SHIRT Gama-go is serious with this style. You better tip Dirty Bird a lot when you itch a ride in his Tuk Tuk. GAMA-GOYETI SHARK PUNCH T-SHIRT Even the Great White Shark is no match for the Yeti’s punch. Gama-Go creates another classic. UPPER PLAYGROUNDDAVID CHOE SIAMESE TWINS T-SHIRT David Choe and Upper Playground collaborate for this fantastic Siamese Twin design based on one of David’s creations! GAMA-GOSWITCH POP BOTTLE OPENER This switchblade bottle opener is the real deal. Pomade and beer can’t be beat. Surprise, impress, and scare your friends! MOTHERFUCKERLAND: INSTALLMENT 11 By ED LIN Read author Ed Lin’s new serial novel, Motherfuckerland. Lin, who is of Taiwanese and Chinese descent, is the first author to win three Asian American Literary Awards....
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