gr2

UglyCon

June 15th – June 26, 2013 2-9pm

For any other information on or about any of the artists or anything else contact Eric Nakamura at Giant Robot.

UglyCon

June 15th – June 26, 2013 2-9pm

Saturday, June 15, 2013
2-9 PM
GR2
2062 Sawtelle Boulevard
Los Angeles CA 90025
http://gr2.net/

eric (at) giantrobot.com
310 445.9276

Photos from Game Night 14. Special thanks to Hyperkin for making it all happen. Watch for the upcoming Retron and get your Supaboy soon. Also the Oculus is quite cool. See photos of people tripping out on Sky Rim in the round. An amazing and fun night on Sawtelle, complete with the raffle of two Supaboy units! See you soon at the next Game Night.

The first photo in the set is a panoramic! Click on it to check out the street!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Author Signing – Matthew Specktor
American Dream Machine
Sunday May 19 2-3pm

GR2 – 2062 Sawtelle Blvd LA, CA 90025
www.gr2.net 310 445 9276

Matthew Specktor is the author of the novels American Dream Machine, which is currently being developed into a series for Showtime, and That Summertime Sound, as well as a nonfiction book of film criticism. His writing has appeared in The Paris Review, The Believer, Tin House, Salon, and numerous other anthologies and publications. He is a founding editor of the Los Angeles Review of Books.

For any information:

Eric Nakamura
Giant Robot Owner/Publisher
eric@giantrobot.com
(310) 445-9276

A great reception. These pics by DJ Tony Jr.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Game Night 14

Featuring Retron 5 and Supaboy by Hyperkin

May 18 6:30-10pm

GR2 – 2062 Sawtelle Blvd LA, CA 90025 www.gr2.net 310 445 9276

Scheduled are two Retron 5 consoles which as of this date has not been released along with 10 Supaboy handheld consoles. We’ll also be giving away 2 Supaboys and customized buttons. We’ll also be an official LA Streetpass event so bring your DS!

Hyperkin

Since its inception Hyperkin® has rapidly established a reputation for developing innovative, reliable and cost-friendly video game peripherals. Hyperkin® designs, manufactures and distributes a wide variety of accessories for every major platform including; Nintendo® Wii™, Sony® PlayStation® 3, Microsoft® Xbox® 360, Nintendo® DSi®XL, Sony® PSP™ as well as an extensive catalog of peripherals for classic platforms like NES, SNES, GameBoy™, SEGA® Genesis™, Saturn™ and Dreamcast™.

For any information:

Eric Nakamura
Giant Robot Owner/Publisher
eric@giantrobot.com
(310) 445-9276

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Art Exhibition at GR2

Waiting – Eishi Takaoka

May 25 – Jun 12, 2013
Opening reception Saturday May 25th 2012, 6:30-10pm

GR2 – 2062 Sawtelle Blvd LA, CA 90025 www.gr2.net 310 445 9276

Giant Robot 2 (GR2) presents: Waiting

Solo exhibition by Eishi Takaoka

We’re not changing a thing.

“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 including the Giant Robot Biennale I and III, and on the cover of novelist Haruki Murakami’s Kafka on the Shore.

For this exhibition, Takaoka will create new 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.

For any information:

Eric Nakamura
Giant Robot Owner/Publisher
eric@giantrobot.com
(310) 445-9276

Thanks DJ Tony Jr!

A fun reception filled with friends, family and fans. From the beginning to the end, a stream of folks walked through his exhibition, Out of the Films. Yes Iwai Shunji has a following that includes a legion of adoring fans, many who are Chinese. It turns out Love Letter and Hana & Alice are two films that were huge hits there. Also see the work of Iwai Shunji available now at: (GR – Iwai Shunji) We’ll post more photos soon.

 giant robot time: 4.26.13 | art by: iwai shunji 

OUT OF THE FILMS PICTURES AND WORK BY IWAI SHUNJI APRIL 27 – MAY 2, 2013 (ONE WEEK EXHIBITION) OPENING RECEPTION: SAT., APRIL 27, 6:30-10PM A solo exhibition of works by director, Iwai Shunji. “Generally, people call me a Director or Filmmaker. However I feel like I’m just a kid who’s having fun. I like drawing, taking photos, writing novels and composing music. This time, I focused on pictures I drew. Please enjoy them.” The exhibition will feature some story board art, drawn by Iwai as well as some of his photographs. Iwai Shunji is scheduled to appear in person at the exhibition reception. There will also be a special screening of Iwai Shunji’s Vampire on Friday, April 26, from 7-10pm at the Downtown Independent in Los Angeles. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the director. MORE INFO | VIEW ART | FACEBOOK EVENT STRANGE SYMBIOSIS MAY 4 – MAY 22, 2013 OPENING RECEPTION: SAT., MAY 4, 6:30-10PM Four Person Group Exhibition featuring Scott Tolleson, Leecifer, J*Ryu and Aaron Brown The world of indie toys and figures have crested and the artists involved are evolving into their own as sculptors, painters, and illustrators while they still do custom figures from time to time. The four involved will demonstrate their development and evolution as fine artists. MORE INFO | FACEBOOK EVENT   GIANT ROBOT ROBOT ARMY WINDBREAKER JACKET The classic logo speaks for itself. Good for all weather. GIANT ROBOT BIG BOSS ROBOT WINDBREAKER JACKET Represent Big Boss! Robots since 1994. Believe it. GIANT ROBOT BIG BOSS ROBOT HAT Big Boss Robot’s classic angry stare is now found on these slick snap closure hats.   One of our closest friends, David Horvath explains how Uglydoll wasn’t just born out of a plush doll, but it’s a process of drawings that aren’t just doodles like what most people would think. Uglydoll is actually born out of stories from own daily lives. The things that happen become situations between characters. It’s much deeper than you’d ever think. I’m proud to have directed David Horvath. Stay tuned for Shizu Saldamando on 5/6.     LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL MAY 2 – MAY 12, 2013 Visual Communications (VC), the nation’s premier Asian Pacific American media arts center, presents the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF) on May 2- 12, 2013 at the Director’s Guild of America (DGA), CGV Cinemas located in Koreatown, the Tateuchi Democracy Forum at NCPD in Little Tokyo, and the historic Art Theatre of Long Beach. We are Co-Presenting two films: COMRADE KIM GOES FLYING SUNDAY | MAY 05 | 5:45 PM | CGV CINEMAS 2 INFO | TRAILER Like the dizzying art of trapeze and acrobatics that is the stuff of this film’s brave young heroine’s dreams, the light-hearted comedy COMRADE KIM GOES FLYING will amaze you. Feel free to use the following discount code: GIROVC2013. SAKE-BOMB SATURDAY, MAY 04 | 4:00 PM | DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA 1 INFO | TRAILER A “Sake-Bomb” is a cocktail created by dropping a shot of sake into a pint of beer. It’s also a comedic road movie about a sarcastic Asian American and his Japanese cousin.

SHOW REVIEW: THE EVENS AT THE VEX; NEW MUSIC: BAD RELIGION, T.S.O.L., BEST COAST, BOB MOULD By MARTIN WONG Last week’s Evens gig at The Vex was great. As the progressively heavier sound of their albums implies, the live show has become more rocking as Ian Mackaye and Amy Farina’s musical partnership rolls along. >> 2015 Sawtelle Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90025 2062 Sawtelle Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90025

One of our closest friends, David Horvath explains how Uglydoll wasn’t just born out of a plush doll, but it’s a process of drawings that aren’t just doodles like what most people would think. Uglydoll is actually born out of stories from own daily lives. The things that happen become situations between characters. It’s much deeper than you’d ever think. I’m proud to have directed David Horvath.

Thanks again to Ashton Kutcher and his Thrash Lab.

Strange Symbiosis

May 4th – May 22, 2013

Four Person Group Exhibition featuring Scott Tolleson, Leecifer, J*Ryu and Aaron Brown

Scott Tolleson (http://www.stolleart.com/)

Leecifer (http://www.leecifer.com/)

J*Ryu (http://www.designpimps.com/)

Aaron Brown 

The world of indie toys and figures have crested and the artists involved are evolving into their own as sculptors, painters, and illustrators while they still do custom figures from time to time. The four involved will demonstrate their development and evolution as fine artists.

For any other information on or about any of the artists or anything else contact Eric Nakamura at Giant Robot.

Strange Symbiosis

May 4th – May 22, 2013

Opening Reception:
Saturday, May 4, 2013
6:30 – 10:00 PM
GR2
2062 Sawtelle Boulevard
Los Angeles CA 90025
http://gr2.net/

eric (at) giantrobot.com
310 445.9276

These are by Tony Sugano!

video by Tony Sugano

Contest, plush, cake, Luke Chueh, Scott Tolleson, friends, family, 3Dretro and more. Another great release of items from these two artists and 3DRetro. Enjoy the photos this fine sunday. These photos are by Carlos Lopez

Out of the Films

April 27 – May 2, 2013 – ONE WEEK EXHIBITION 

A solo exhibition of works by director, Iwai Shunji.

“Generally, people call me a Director or Filmmaker. However I feel like I’m just a kid who’s having fun. I like drawing, taking photos, writing novels and composing music. This time, I focused on pictures I drew. Please enjoy them.”

The exhibition will feature some story board art, drawn by Iwai as well as some of his photographs. Iwai Shunji is scheduled to appear in person at the exhibition reception.

For any other information on or about the artist or anything else contact Eric Nakamura at Giant Robot.

IWAI SHUNJI – Out of the Films

April 27 – May 2, 2013 – ONE WEEK EXHIBITION 

Opening Reception:
Saturday, April 27, 2013
6:30 – 10:00 PM
GR2
2062 Sawtelle Boulevard
Los Angeles CA 90025
http://gr2.net/

eric (at) giantrobot.com

Facial Recognition Reception at GR2 was a fun night with an array of visitors.

That’s Matt Furie, Jeremy Fish, and Albert Reyes.

James Kochalka and frequent GR2 visitor, Flora.

Mark Todd and Crew, many are his students!

more pics below.

(more…)

While James Kochalka in from Burlington, Vermont was installing art, a young woman walked in and said, “this looks familiar” When she found out James Kochalka did American Elf, she got excited and said she was a fan. Fans get hugs. That’s Mari Naomi who happened to be there too. It was a cute moment. Minutes later, the young woman’s mom came and said, “we have to go!”

That’s Matt Furie and Aiyana Udesen measuring out the wall. Mark Todd… where are you?!