Giant Robot Store and GR2 News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Art Exhibition at GR2 Robots A Benefit for GR2 September 24 – October 12, 2011 GR2 2062 Sawtelle Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90025 gr2.net (310) 445-9276 Giant Robot will host a “special” art exhibition for the benefit of Giant Robot 2 – the gallery space. Giant Robot 1 retail space began art exhibitions including Ai Yamaguchi and kozyndan. The space was limiting and art as we know it today was a limited world that was just beginning to bubble. Opening in 2003, Giant Robot 2 or “GR2″ has hosted exhibitions by well known, soon to be well known and new young artists. The first exhibition in the space was by renown artist David Choe. Following exhibitions included Saelee Oh, Deth P. Sun, kozyndan, Barry McGee, Souther Salazar, Eishi Takaoka, Masakatsu Sashie, and many others who exhibit at many locations around the world. We’ve since worked with new waves of artists who’ve also moved forward at a rapid pace as well. Then yet another wave, and so forth. Giant Robot 2 has often and free exhibited young artists at an expense. In the end, who pays for the promotion, rent, staffing, etc? We do. We’re not like many other establishments who force artists into contracts. We try and nurture artists so they can have their freedom. At times it works well. Our track record is powerful. But again, how does this get paid for? The hindering economy leaves us with less options, and a benefit show featuring our artist friends will carry us for a healthy amount of time and we hope to have your support. The goal for GR2 is for the space to be self sustaining as an art space in 2012 and on. We’ll release more news on our plans, soon. Artists include: Apak, Andrice Arp, Gary Baseman, Robert Bellm, Jill Bliss, Aaron Brown, Buff Monster, Jon Burgerman, Youjung Byun, Ako Castuera, Sean Chao, Louise Chen, Shawn Cheng, James Chong, Luke Chueh, Josh Cochran, Eleanor Davis, Evah Fan, Ulises Farinas, Jesse Fillingham, Jordan Fu, Matt Furie, Susie Ghahremani, Katherine Guillen, Clement Hanami, Nao Harada, Seonna Hong, David Horvath, Martin Hsu, Mari Inukai, Yellena James, James Jean, Hellen Jo, Kaori Kasai, James Kochalka, kozyndan, Le Merde, Tessar Lo, Barry Mcgee, Miso, Junko Mizuno, Tru Nguyen, Saelee Oh, Saejean Oh, Bryan Lee O’Malley, Ming Ong, Martin Ontiveros, John Pham, Sidney Pink, Ferris Plock, Jarrett Quon, Albert Reyes, Grant Reynolds, Dr. Romanelli, Luke Rook, Souther Salazar, Rob Sato, Scrappers, Ryan Jacob Smith, Space Invader, Deth P. Sun, Daria Tessler, Mark Todd, Kelly Tunstall, Aiyana Udesen, Edwin Ushiro, Esther P. Watson, Jing Wei, Yoskay Yamamoto, Jeni Yang and more! 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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I’m not an artist. I think I can count how many paintings I’ve made on one hand. This is one of them. Balconi Coffee Company invited me to be in an art exhibition. I saw it more as a friends and family type of event which if anything would be my style. Otherwise, I’m fairly shy about doing “art”. The theme has to do with fortunes, so I received my fortune which read: An Unexpected Windfall Will Be Yours. I thought about it just a little and I came to the conclusion that windfall could easily be a bad thing. (thanks Mr Gojobori for the photo)
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – DVD Signing at Giant Robot 2 Dirty Hands The Art and Crimes of David Choe DVD Signing at Giant Robot 2 SUNDAY September 18 2-4pm GR2 2062 Sawtelle Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90025 gr2.net (310) 445-9276 Giant Robot will host a DVD signing of Dirty Hands The Art and Crimes of David Choe with director Harry Kim. David Choe is scheduled to be there as well. You probably know of the artist David Choe – and this is his life story. From his early days, to his Japan prison stint, to the current day excitement, you’ll traverse the jagged story line of his life. The film is an original portrayal filmed over nearly a decade of time and it’s now available with extra commentary of Choe’s own mother to a bonus disc of footage. Director Harry Kim began this project as a USC film student and has travelled the world with Choe with both the film and with their web series “Thumbs Up”. DVD’s will be available for sale. 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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The horizon seems to keep growing. It was a matter of time until an article in the NY Times would mention China and Art Collectors and billionaires in the same article. Of course, rich buy rich things. In the later 80s, Japanese businesses were purchasing landmarks in the US. Many of us have forgotten that it led to paranoia including car bashings, movies like 16 Candles and Gung Ho, and ultimately the murderous beating of Vincent Chin. Yet Chinese businessmen, thus far, aren’t buying buildings, they’re buying US currency which seems to be devaluing daily, oil fields, and now great art. It’s inspiring for the richer Chinese to purchase Chinese art, especially the contemporary works by the many who top auction houses like Yue Minjun since that’s the work by their peers who grew up in the same periods of dictatorship then recovery and remembrance. Yet now it’s works by the “western masters” like Picasso and even Warhol. (NY Times – Chinese Art Collecting)
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Ai Wei Wei’s essay in Newsweek. He mentions that none of his art represents Beijing, and even the bird’s nest structure that was so popular during the Olympics is something he doesn’t think about since the Olympics did not bring joy to the people. It’s a powerful essay. (Dailybeast – Ai) Photo by Ed Lin.
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