Giant Robot Store and GR2 News
I used to like attending ASR at the San Diego Convention Center. It was a great chance to see friends in the skateboarding world trapped under the same roof, and we got a couple of Giant Robot articles that way. Of course the action sports retail trade show was famously ditched by vendors who refused to be gouged by the show’s organizers, but these days it’s been somewhat replaced by a streetwear version. I’d never attended an Agenda show, but my friend Sophia Chang suggested I check out this week’s Long Beach event since she had curated a group exhibition for it. The Babe Show was totally worth the registering, driving out, and braving the crowd. It was a cool mix of familiar favorites (Deanne Cheuk, Esther Pearl Watxon, and Sophia) and artists that are new to me (Eri Wakiyama, Chocomoo). If you’re attending on Wednesday, definitely visit it at Booth E37.
Right around the corner from Sophia’s show is Keep Company. Can’t miss the puppies and kittens at my friend Una’s indie vegan shoe booth. She says the new kitten print (above, right) is her most-liked Instagram subject ever, but I kind of like the desert boots.
So cool to see pals like Una and Sophia ruling at what they do at the trade show. But I have to say Agenda is largely a sausage party in the ASR tradition. And it’s one of the best. I caught Justin, Mike V., and Drew at the Resource Distro booth. Buyers were pretty stoked on the gnarly new Elephant decks and Paris trucks.
1) Explain about your work area / studio. What about it makes you enjoy working there?
I’m working in a big studio. It is cold in winter, has no internet connection, and there is a lot of noise from the street traffic outside. I love it. A good working space is really important. I enjoy having enough space to work on different projects during the same day – as each project has its proper “station”. I like where it is situated, and I enjoy being by myself. I also spend some time at a ceramic studio ( Echo ), I enjoy the change because working there with other people is a nice social change.
2) How does it differ from your last working area?
It differs a lot from all my previous working studios ( i moved studios a lot, 7 times in 11 years) – I was sharing the last one with an editor, I couldn’t make noise, I didn’t feel at home there. The one before that was in an apartment, it took me a while to realize how uninspiring it was. And it goes on. I really experienced how important it is to choose the right place.
3) You have other endeavors along with your fine art. Can you talk about what you do there, and how that intertwines with your work?
A big endeavor is to try to reconcile my ceramic work with my work as a children book illustrator, and that I’m finally getting there (whooohooo!), and to make it happen I had to start to write my own stories. Second endeavor is to balance work and family time.
1) Explain about your work area / studio. What about it makes you enjoy working there?
I’m working in a big studio. It is cold in winter, has no internet connection, and there is a lot of noise from the street traffic outside. I love it. A good working space is really important. I enjoy having enough space to work on different projects during the same day – as each project has its proper “station”. I like where it is situated, and I enjoy being by myself. I also spend some time at a ceramic studio ( Echo ), I enjoy the change because working there with other people is a nice social change.
2) How does it differ from your last working area?
It differs a lot from all my previous working studios ( i moved studios a lot, 7 times in 11 years) – I was sharing the last one with an editor, I couldn’t make noise, I didn’t feel at home there. The one before that was in an apartment, it took me a while to realize how uninspiring it was. And it goes on. I really experienced how important it is to choose the right place.
3) You have other endeavors along with your fine art. Can you talk about what you do there, and how that intertwines with your work?
A big endeavor is to try to reconcile my ceramic work with my work as a children book illustrator, and that I’m finally getting there (whooohooo!), and to make it happen I had to start to write my own stories. Second endeavor is to balance work and family time.