Giant Robot Store and GR2 News
I was in teacher mode for the second time in a month. This time, I was in Orange County to a room of 30 or so kids ranging from 6 to middle school. Why not show them that custom figures can be art? From the first time out teaching, I learned that there’ll be one who can’t get a start. How do you overcome this? I asked her some question and get negative answers. “No, I can’t do that, no I don’t like that.” My trick was to get her holding a pen. I told her to start by writing her name on the bottom and coloring the base of the figure a solid color. Next thing I knew, she was off to the races. Of course at the end, I said, “good job, it came out fine.” And she said, “no, it’s not.” But I came back with, “I think so” and split out before she could reply negatively. The styles ranged from coloring clean to abstract assembly – most of the works was in a style that I couldn’t fathom. Somehow this project was green lit and disguised as part of a “career day.” Yes, someone or a few among this bunch will go on and do art and maybe they’ll remember custom figures too.
I think the figure below has the cutest cat face ever. Who taught this kid how to do the eyes like this? …and green nose? Love it. I could go on about the goodnesses of each piece. There’s something in all of them that I like. Well, most of them, even from the one who couldn’t get a start.
Thanks Kizuna, DKE, OCBC and JANM.
Tons of kids, each with a custom figure.
See how tiny the girl in orange with the pink glasses is? She’s 6 and did a great job with her figure.
The JANM Gala Dinner is an annual event. In 2006, I received a Visionary in the Art award and since then it’s been 3 Biennale Exhibition and a Zen Garage show along with some fun events. Yet, it’s not that much. Last night honored the late Daniel Inouye, the highest ranking politician who was Asian American. Along with him, 2012 was a tough year for Japanese Americans and the night honored them too. The thing about their great accomplishments isn’t about their “day jobs” that’s what they did 9-5. It’s the huge list of things they’ve done outside of it. That’s where they shined.
The silent auction included special lunch with George Takei. That would be fun no matter what.
Norman Mineta, Greg Kimura, and Gordon Yamate. Thanks much for the work, y’all and thanks Gordon Yamate. Glad I didn’t drink the vodka.
What seems like bean soup is actually the bean soup that Daniel Inouye used to eat. It’s the actual recipe for the soup from DC. Evidently, he’d invite people to eat bean soup with him if you donated a certain amount to a certain place. It was nice to have it with him. A great idea for the night if you think about it.
After party shenanigans. That’s a silhouette of Edwin Ushiro waving against a projected photo of… Edwin Ushiro waving. Photo from GR Biennale 3
Holy crap! I got to see Bad Religion at The Echo. And Quicksand back together. And FIDLAR for free. But first things first. Last week was the closing of the Giant Robot Biennale 3 at JANM, where I got to see my friend (and rad artist) Jack Long play with his band, White Dove.