Giant Robot Store and GR2 News
giant robot time: 6.28.13 | art by: dan mccarthy Yukinori Dehara: Nendo Pro Wrestling June 29 – July 24, 2013 Reception: Saturday, June 29, 6:30-10 PM Giant Robot is proud to host Nendo Pro Wrestling – clay sculptures by Yukinori Dehara. Wrestling culture has been popular throughout contemporary Japanese popular culture. Alongside of Mexico and the US, the wrestling scene has continued alongside and overlapping with Sentai (Power Rangers) shows. Superheroes have traversed in each others genres. We’ll be sure to feature clay sculptures and more from Yukinori Dehara! As with his previous exhibitions, Dehara’s work is often containing deep ideologies of our culture presented through his colorful characters. Dehara will be here in person! More Info | Facebook Yukinori Dehara: Figure Painting Workshop Sunday, June 30, 2 PM AND 3:30 PM We’ve just added an additional workshop session at 3:30 PM! Sign up here. Learn the secrets of painting a vinyl figure! Space is limited to 15 people (per session). Enrollment fee $15 and it includes a mini Dehara figure. He’ll bring the rest! Sign Up | More Info Lucky Peach Issues 4-7 Lucky Peach is a journal of food writing, published on a quarterly basis by McSweeney’s. Uglydoll Magnet Sets Uglydolls on magnets! Put them on your fridge. Totoro & Ponyo Plushes Straight from Hayao’s Miyazaki’s whimsical animated films. Approved by Studio Ghibli. Godeleine de Rosamel Ceramic Sculpture Beautiful handmade ceramic sculpture by artist Godeleine de Rosamel. Found only at Giant Robot. 281_Anti-Nuke Art Retrospective in Roppongi By BRETT FUJIOKA Get your fix of both art and politics at 281_Anti-Nuke’s exhibition at the Pink Cow bar in Roppongi, Japan. Tourists and Tokyoites may have seen 281′s work conspicuously stickered on public property throughout the city. >> Show reviews: Heavy Blanket (w/ J Mascis) and Obliterations, The Mattson 2 w/ Money Mark at The Satellite By MARTIN WONG The Satellite has become a backup to The Echo in recent years, so I was stoked to see two rad bills there in the same week. Gotta love being able to walk to shows, especially when it’s a friend’s band. >> 2015 Sawtelle Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90025 2062 Sawtelle Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90025
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Things are heating up again in Japanese politics. The House of Councillors election for the Japanese Diet’s upper house is expected to take place in July 21, 2013. As a result, it’s J-Politics all the time in the Japanese news cycle and until then, we won’t find out whether the ruling party, LDP, will have a firmer foothold. Until then, you can get your fix of both art and politics at 281_Anti-Nuke’s exhibition at the Pink Cow bar in Roppongi, Japan.Tourists and Tokyoites may have seen 281′s work conspicuously stickered on public property throughout the city. Giant Robot did a brief entry on sighting on his designs last Fall. Since then, 281′s prominence has grown as more news outlets have reported on his work. His art stands on its own, but his agenda is a bit bit clearer now that he’s agreed to a few interviews. His position on nuclear energy is a given. Most of this is an extension of his opposition to Japanese politicians in general who he feels carelessly put the country in harms way due to poor regulation of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants that underwent a meltdown after the Earthquake and Tsunami in March 11,2011. He agrees with critics who accuse the Japanese government and TEPCO of (unintentionally) ‘creating’ the nuclear disaster through their own corrupt mismanagement and incompetence. Hence why both ex-PM Yoshihiko Noda from the political ‘left’ and current PM Shinzo Abe from the ‘right’ are targets of his rage. They’re each a part of the establishment that enabled TEPCO to haphazardly play dice with the country’s future. It’s this political context thatt has led connoisseurs to deem him Japan’s ‘Banksy,’ an English graffiti artist who–like 281–operates anonymously. Most of 281′s art is still visible on the streets of Shibuya, Shinjuku, and other parts of Tokyo. However, a lot of it has either faded or been defaced, so it’s more preferable to see his art in a more preserved state at The Pink Cow. Even if political activism is beneath or beyond you, you can at least act like you know. The Pink Cow 5-5-1 Roppongi Roi Bulding B1F Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032 Open 5pm-Late (Closed Mon) Last food order: 10:30pm Reservations and Info: cowmail@thepinkcow.com For more information: visit www.thepinkcow.com.
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The Satellite has become a backup to The Echo in recent years, so I was stoked to see two rad bills there in the same week. Gotta love being able to walk to shows, especially when it’s a friend’s band. How could I miss seeing Money Mark jam with The Mattson 2 (above)? But first things first. I capped off my Father’s Day by checking out J Mascis’ latest project.
https://www.facebook.com/TheNotIts It’s Go Skateboarding Day! And we’re giving away FREE decks by The Not-Its, a Seattle kindie rock band. The first 3 kids who come in with the “secret password” (posted on The Not-Its page) get one! We have cds and stickers too. This is taking place at Giant Robot 1 on Sawtelle Blvd in West LA!
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giant robot time: 6.21.13 | art by: sun-min kim My Neighbor Totoro Plushes Officially licensed Studio Ghibli plushes straight from Miyazaki’s classic film. Uglydoll Superman Babo & Batman Ice-Bat Pre-order your Uglydoll x DC Comics plushes today. Each plush or tag will be signed by Uglydoll creator David Horvath himself. Uglydoll Headwear We’re proud to offer several new and original hats and beanies featuring Babo and Ice-Bat. Uglydoll Uglycon T-shirt| Set Released as part of the everything Uglydoll extravaganza. Yukinori Dehara: Nendo Pro Wrestling June 29 – July 24, 2013 Reception: Saturday, June 29, 6:30-10 PM Giant Robot is proud to host Nendo Pro Wrestling – clay sculptures by Yukinori Dehara. Wrestling culture has been popular throughout contemporary Japanese popular culture. Alongside of Mexico and the US, the wrestling scene has continued alongside and overlapping with Sentai (Power Rangers) shows. Superheroes have traversed in each others genres. We’ll be sure to feature clay sculptures and more from Yukinori Dehara! As with his previous exhibitions, Dehara’s work is often containing deep ideologies of our culture presented through his colorful characters. Dehara will be here in person! More Info | Facebook Yukinori Dehara: Figure Painting Workshop Sunday, June 30, 2 PM Learn the secrets of painting a vinyl figure! Space is limited to 15 people. Enrollment fee $15 and it includes a mini Dehara figure. He’ll bring the rest! Sign up at info@giantrobot.com. More Info It’s Go Skateboarding Day! And we’re giving away FREE decks by The Not-Its, a Seattle kindie rock band. The first 3 kids who come into the Giant Robot Store (GR1) with the “secret password” (posted on The Not-Its page on Fri. at 11am) gets one! We have cds and stickers too. Uglydoll Uglycon 2013 – Photo Sets By GIANT ROBOT NEWS A very special thank you to everyone that joined us for a wonderful event. Check out photos of the multitude of activities throughout the day. >> Architecture for Dogs at LBMA By MARTIN WONG World-class architects designing species-specific doghouses–how cool is that? This afternoon I was able to see some of the pieces being installed at the Long Beach Museum of Art for the west coast premiere of Architecture for Dogs. >> Street Art, Stencils, and Skateboarding on the Steppes (Interview) By MICHELLE BOROK Malou Rose is a long way from Bondi Beach. The Australian transplant has spent the last three years in Mongolia becoming an activator in the Ulaanbaatar art scene, launching a pop-up gallery, getting to know graffiti crews, and with the help of her repat partner, she’s launched a skateboarding program for kids. >> 2015 Sawtelle Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90025 2062 Sawtelle Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90025
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