Giant Robot Store and GR2 News
Tell Me A Story 4: kozyndan from 2001 to now The first day kozyndan walked into Giant Robot, they were students at Cal State Fullerton. This was perhaps in 2001, soon after the store opened. The couple led by the more talkative Dan, showed me a portfolio of drawings including a panoramic rendition of their apartment. We probably discussed their process since I doubt I knew what else to talk about, but their talent was undeniable. The drawing style wasn’t perfect contours, it had some artistic license. The color choices took the image to new places. It’s obvious their apartment wasn’t many shades of pink. A week or so later, they came to shoot photos at the Giant Robot Store for a new panoramic and I had no idea that I’d be included. I’m wearing an old jersey shirt that says “Oxnard” which I picked up at the Buddhist Temple yard sale. I’m scratching my head in some kind of nervousness. It’s me. The image captures the early look of the Giant Robot Store along with robots. I see items by Takashi Murakami, Yoshitomo Nara and Groovisions. I see the Superflat banner and books that are now out of print and pricey. The “ladders” that became the front display are leaning against the wall behind me. Not too long after their completed image, I remember Kozy walking in and saying, “it’s different” perhaps in some kind of disappointment. Within a year, we held a kozyndan exhibition at the shop. What was art like in 2002? Unlike these days at least in Los Angeles, there weren’t multiple exhibitions by younger artists every weekend. Most people in a youth demographic weren’t looking to purchase art, it was something relatively new. Art fans didn’t exist like they do today. On that day, people showed up and comfortably adopted art. It was something new to us. 11 years later, we’re exhibiting kozyndan again. In between time, I’ve shown kozyndan in various capacities while our lives and careers grew on separate trajectories. Now, kozyndan creates art and illustrations so they can travel the world. The GR shops continue to grow pop culture and art. If kozy says, “it’s different”, I’d like to think although “it” looks different, we’re the same kids from 2001 – our futures still mysterious and hopefully intertwined. I stitched together images. This isn’t quite how it looks as a whole, but you get the idea.
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End of Summer Never Ends New works by Kozyndan (featuring Leah Chun) September 7 – September 25, 2013 Reception: Saturday, September 7, 6:30 – 10 PM It’s been years since artist duo kozyndan has exhibited in their home city of Los Angeles. In fact, it was more than a decade ago since their first exhibition at the Giant Robot store which then prompted the opening of Giant Robot 2. We’ll be seeing a new range of work, from their paintings to their newer craft of sculpture. Their influence from their worldly travels will continue and they’ll also have a special guest artist and collaborator, Leah Chun who’s works are driven by popular culture. End of Summer Never Ends will continue the legacy of the artist duo. Event Preview Adrian Tomine Books & Comics We have a handful of new and classic books and comics from famed Giant Robot cover artist Adrian Tomine. Nikki McClure Blank Greeting Cards Nikki McClure creates complex, yet natural designs by cutting away from a single piece of black construction paper. Uglydoll Ninja Batty Shogun & Ket Pillow The popular and cuddly double-sided Uglydoll pillows are back in stock at the Giant Robot online store! A Little Misfortune Vinyl Figure (Series 2) Series 2 just in! A Little Misfortune lucky cats aren’t so lucky. Collect all 16. Enkyskulls Sea Serpent Plush This Enkyskulls Sea Serpent plush is beautiful. 100% handmade in Los Angeles. Show reviews: Billy Bragg and Wayne Kramer at Amoeba Hollywood, Rocket From The Crypt at Del Mar By MARTIN WONG It was pretty cool to hear the two legendary artist activists share stories and play songs that they perform to prisoners. >> Interview: Sandra Vu on the new SISU record and tour with Dirty Beaches By MARTIN WONG Add to the list of rad musicians in a ton of impeachable bands Sandra Vu. I dug Midnight Movies, love Dum Dum Girls, and am a massive supporter of her psychedelic goth solo gig, SISU. >> Tell Me a Story: Return to Disneyland By ERIC NAKAMURA On Sunday, an email inviting me to Disneyland appeared in my inbox, and Monday I was among tens of thousands on a 90+ degree Labor Day. >> Interview: Brian Ralph on the Reggie 12 collection and book tour By MARTIN WONG While many of this year’s Comic-Con attendees geeked out on The Walking Dead, Dr. Who, and superhero movie panels, I was foaming at the mouth over Drawn & Quarterly‘s advance release of the Reggie 12 anthology. >> Tell Me a Story: The Truck (La Isla Bonita) By ERIC NAKAMURA La Isla Bonita is a taco truck parked on Rose, usually mid-block between 5th and 6th in Venice. I’ve feasted on their seafood since 1989 when taco trucks were a necessity and before they got trendy. >> 2015 Sawtelle Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90025 2062 Sawtelle Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90025
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End of Summer Never Ends New works by Kozyndan (featuring Leah Chun) September 7 – September 25, 2013 Reception: Saturday, September 7, 6:30 – 10 PM It’s been years since artist duo kozyndan has exhibited in their home city of Los Angeles. In fact, it was more than a decade ago since their first exhibition at the Giant Robot store which then prompted the opening of Giant Robot 2. We’ll be seeing a new range of work, from their paintings to their newer craft of sculpture. Their influence from their worldly travels will continue and they’ll also have a special guest artist and collaborator, Leah Chun who’s works are driven by popular culture. End of Summer Never Ends will continue the legacy of the artist duo. Event Preview Adrian Tomine Books & Comics We have a handful of new and classic books and comics from famed Giant Robot cover artist Adrian Tomine. Nikki McClure Blank Greeting Cards Nikki McClure creates complex, yet natural designs by cutting away from a single piece of black construction paper. Uglydoll Ninja Batty Shogun & Ket Pillow The popular and cuddly double-sided Uglydoll pillows are back in stock at the Giant Robot online store! A Little Misfortune Vinyl Figure (Series 2) Series 2 just in! A Little Misfortune lucky cats aren’t so lucky. Collect all 16. Enkyskulls Sea Serpent Plush This Enkyskulls Sea Serpent plush is beautiful. 100% handmade in Los Angeles. Show reviews: Billy Bragg and Wayne Kramer at Amoeba Hollywood, Rocket From The Crypt at Del Mar By MARTIN WONG It was pretty cool to hear the two legendary artist activists share stories and play songs that they perform to prisoners. >> Interview: Sandra Vu on the new SISU record and tour with Dirty Beaches By MARTIN WONG Add to the list of rad musicians in a ton of impeachable bands Sandra Vu. I dug Midnight Movies, love Dum Dum Girls, and am a massive supporter of her psychedelic goth solo gig, SISU. >> Tell Me a Story: Return to Disneyland By ERIC NAKAMURA On Sunday, an email inviting me to Disneyland appeared in my inbox, and Monday I was among tens of thousands on a 90+ degree Labor Day. >> Interview: Brian Ralph on the Reggie 12 collection and book tour By MARTIN WONG While many of this year’s Comic-Con attendees geeked out on The Walking Dead, Dr. Who, and superhero movie panels, I was foaming at the mouth over Drawn & Quarterly‘s advance release of the Reggie 12 anthology. >> Tell Me a Story: The Truck (La Isla Bonita) By ERIC NAKAMURA La Isla Bonita is a taco truck parked on Rose, usually mid-block between 5th and 6th in Venice. I’ve feasted on their seafood since 1989 when taco trucks were a necessity and before they got trendy. >> 2015 Sawtelle Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90025 2062 Sawtelle Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90025
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Before they played their songs at today’s noontime free in-store at Amoeba Hollywood, Wayne Kramer and Billy Bragg talked about Jail Guitar Doors. The organization was started in England by Bragg, with the intent of raising money to give guitars to prisoners. Not so they’ll be musicians when they are released but so that they have a creative outlet for the rest of their lives. Of course, its namesake is a song by The Clash, and when Bragg was telling the MC5 guitarist about the cause and the tune, Kramer’s response was something like, “That song is about me!” Bragg was embarrassed but excited when the Detroit musician agreed to sign on to spearhead the U.S. arm of the group. When the British punk/folk singer relayed the story to Mick Jones, the singer of “Jail Guitar Doors” didn’t even remember that Kramer was in it!
Before they played their songs at today’s noontime free in-store at Amoeba Hollywood, Wayne Kramer and Billy Bragg talked about Jail Guitar Doors. The organization was started in England by Bragg, with the intent of raising money to give guitars to prisoners. Not so they’ll be musicians when they are released but so that they have a creative outlet for the rest of their lives. Of course, its namesake is a song by The Clash, and when Bragg was telling the MC5 guitarist about the cause and the tune, Kramer’s response was something like, “That song is about me!” Bragg was embarrassed but excited when the Detroit musician agreed to sign on to spearhead the U.S. arm of the group. When the British punk/folk singer relayed the story to Mick Jones, the singer of “Jail Guitar Doors” didn’t even remember that Kramer was in it!